Using rain water
 

I know its a bit early to think about moving orchids out side, but I wanted to know if it was ok to use rain water on my orchids ? I use it to water my potted plants out side all summer. I try not to use city water on my plants in the summer this way I don't get a build up of junk and its also free, I have 3 85gal rain barrels that I use all summer

I think it is the best water to use

Rain water is great to use on orchids or any other plants. But..... it can harbor fungus and bacteria as well as viruses. Chances are small but it can. I would use it in a heartbeat but then again all my orchids are rescues. Depending on where you live the pH can be high, low, or everywhere in between. That can also be good....or bad.

I use it on all my orchids and the Phrags and Masdies particularly prefer it. But as mentioned above, it depends on where you live and also what kind of roof it is coming off of, pollution levels etc. Since your outdoor plants like it, I would use it.

Collecting rain water
 

I used it very successfully for years while growing under lights. I had well water at the time that wasn't too hard, but the rain water was better for the plants. This was a collection of roughly 300 plants, 20% of them Paphs.

Do you have a diverter valve? When I collected water I would wait 15-20min. before collecting in order to get any crud off the roof. After collection I pumped the water into holding barrels I kept in the garage. This way I could use rain water most of the year.

I use a diverter valve to clean on the junk off the roof first, then let it fill all the barrels, it won't be as bad this year I took down the tree over the garage do there won't be as much junk on the roof,I use it to water all my tropicals and my veggy garden, so I'm going to use it for my orchids too
Thanks for all the help

We put a screen over the input spout which filters out lots of the leaves etc. But you need to clean it out now and then. I collect all summer and then run it into barrels which are kept in the garage for winter as well.

There is always quite a bit of ash in my rainwater from coal plants and the refinery. Most of my plants lean toward 6.5 pH (cinnamon likes it lower) so the acid rain doesn't hurt them. I have to watch the herbs, though, and a few of the plants that like 7-8pH. What pH do most orchids prefer?

Most orchids are fine in 5.5-6.5

Thanks, Ray!