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02-26-2014, 08:32 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Posts: 264
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Can You Use a Water Softener for Watering Orchids?
I just tested my water today. It was 90 ppm. I was wondering can you use a water softener like the ones you use for aquariums?
I can't imagine it would be toxic to the plants since it is safe for animals to drink this water.
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02-26-2014, 08:35 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Zone: 6b
Location: PA coal country
Posts: 3,383
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Water softener no. Reverse osmosis and/or deionization yes.
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02-26-2014, 08:35 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Zone: 8b
Location: Southern Oregon
Age: 70
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Most household water softeners use salts to soften the water. Not a good thing to use on your plants. In fact I don't think you are supposed to drink it either.
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Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
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02-26-2014, 08:36 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Posts: 264
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I figured as much...was hoping  |
02-26-2014, 09:27 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2008
Zone: 9a
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 26,634
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No animals should be drinking it, either. There's no immediate / short term effects, but definitely not good for the long term.
Last edited by WhiteRabbit; 02-26-2014 at 09:34 PM..
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02-26-2014, 10:36 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Zone: 5b
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,077
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As others have said -- no it is not good for your orchids/plants or you or your animals. Your softener should only be hooked up to your hot water line.
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02-27-2014, 10:37 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Oak Island NC
Posts: 15,204
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You don't need to bother!!!
Most growers would LOVE to have water as pure as 90 ppm TDS. NYC tap water is some of the best for orchids in the US.
I would recommend that you use the MSU RO (or other "pure water" fertilizer), as at 90 ppm, you're probably not getting a lot of Ca and Mg.
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02-27-2014, 12:55 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Oceanside, Ca
Age: 75
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Water softeners use salt (sodium chloride) to replace manganese, calcium carbonate and iron ions. The 90 ppm is sodium chloride. Safe to drink unless you are on a salt free diet, safe to wash yourself and the kids but not good for orchids. Orchids are very intolerant of salt. I would buy RO water from the machine in front of the super market or get a simple RO unit which will fit your sink. Ray sells them and they are very inexpensive.
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02-27-2014, 04:50 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Oak Island NC
Posts: 15,204
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James, the "hardness" minerals include magnesium, not manganese, and if she lives in NYC, her tap water is probably 50-90 ppm TDS right pout of the tap, without softening!
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02-27-2014, 07:06 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Zone: 5b
Location: Ohio
Posts: 10,953
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We have such hard water that when the water enters homes, it goes immediately through the water softener. I grow a few salt-tolerant plants and they absolutely love the water but I use distilled water or rain water for everyone else. I envy all those who can use water right from the sink for all of the plants.
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