General S/H question, what do you use to catch the water?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Very curious, Ray. So now you're not using RO water for most of your orchids? Is that because you've moved to a place with a more tolerable water supply? I'm still really not comfortable with the amount of RO water I need to produce each week, thus the question. Still attempting to figure out something better for myself.

My tapwater here is very pure. They add ~ 50 ppm Ca (lime) to "sweeten" the taste a bit, but it contains no magnesium, so I always supplement that.

I use the tap water for flushing, but I feed and water using RO.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Thanks waterwitching.
I value your experience and knowledge. I don’t know how to completely mitigate the drip down, especially for mutually mounted orchids, but I will certainly not incline my plants to drip in cascade.

So you must not have many plants in hanging baskets or are they just in a separate area?

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Ray

My tapwater here is very pure. They add ~ 50 ppm Ca (lime) to "sweeten" the taste a bit, but it contains no magnesium, so I always supplement that.

I use the tap water for flushing, but I feed and water using RO.

Gotcha. And how nice. What's your thought about using tap water with TDS that runs 350 for flushing, followed by RO for feed/water? I know a year or two ago, you said the total alkalinity of my tap water was of more concern. After this year's report my Total Alkalinity (as CaCO3) = 96.

Or even use 1/2 tap and 1/2 RO for flushing? Using RO to do flushing takes up way more water than I'm comfortable making each week (like 50+ gallons). Not on paphs, phrags, etc. but others less sensitive.

And sorry on the going off topic DCoconut... just getting a quick answer without reinventing the wheel. And anyone else have an opinion as well?

---------- Post added at 09:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:06 AM ----------

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Thanks waterwitching.
I value your experience and knowledge. I don’t know how to completely mitigate the drip down, especially for mutually mounted orchids, but I will certainly not incline my plants to drip in cascade.

So you must not have many plants in hanging baskets or are they just in a separate area?

I have a few... maybe a dozen or so. And they're in same area, but no orchids under them, only house plants. Most are on a couple of two-tier portable clothes racks I repurposed. Since I grow almost exclusively in S/H method these days, I don't have much hanging. Too cumbersome for me to take outside then back in each year.

Now for "mutually mounted" orchids, I presume different orchids on the same mount? I don't worry about it in that event. But I don't do a lot of mounts anymore.

[DirtyCoconuts]

roger that

and done be silly! the whole purpose of these threads is to ask questions and make the information easier for me and others to get...please ask away and hijack with impunity

[WaterWitchin]

How about if I attempt to hijack with integrity instead of impunity?

And BTW, I'm not a super careful waterer... don't want to give the wrong impression. I don't worry about a few drops that flip and splash over to the next orchid. I do have a couple of metal shelves that I set up in the summer and hang a bunch from, and just stagger their placement. It's torn down for the season, but I'll attempt to remember to take a picture when it goes up in spring.

[DirtyCoconuts]

always act with integrity...even in piracy!

id love to see any setup so i can get the old noggin turning.

thanks!

[Ray]

Honorable hijack continued...

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Gotcha. And how nice. What's your thought about using tap water with TDS that runs 350 for flushing, followed by RO for feed/water? I know a year or two ago, you said the total alkalinity of my tap water was of more concern. After this year's report my Total Alkalinity (as CaCO3) = 96.

Or even use 1/2 tap and 1/2 RO for flushing? Using RO to do flushing takes up way more water than I'm comfortable making each week (like 50+ gallons). Not on paphs, phrags, etc. but others less sensitive.

And sorry on the going off topic DCoconut... just getting a quick answer without reinventing the wheel. And anyone else have an opinion as well?

Personally, I think that's still pretty high, and I don't understand the concern about using more RO. If you've got it, use it! Orchids in the wild evolved with super-pure water, after all. If your concern is the volume of flush water, give me a call; there are things that can be done to help.

I won't claim to be a water expert, so I'll urge you to read Part 2 of Bill Argo's Primer on Plant Nutrition.

HERE'S the menu page, for folks that want to read the whole series (posted with Bill's permission.)

---------- Post added at 01:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:56 PM ----------

WW - I've been doing a little digging, and apparently an alkalinity of around 100 isn't considered to be bad, but I'd still feel better if it was lower.

I'm lucky - mine runs around 1 ppm CaCO3.

[WaterWitchin]

Haven't had a chance to read the articles yet, but will soon. Yes, flushing with the RO is my greatest concern. I go through about 55+ gallons of water per week to flush. I'll holler after I've read the Bill Argo info.

Now... having said that... I called my plumber yesterday, because we had mysteriously lost our water pressure, and no hot water in shower. For the last five or so days. Today I go to the BatCave to water orchids... guess who forgot to set a timer, and has had RO water going for the past almost week. Good GRIEF! Talk about wasting water!!! I was so mad at myself I could have spit ten-penny nails!

[DirtyCoconuts]

oh man...that SUCKS!!!

[WaterWitchin]

Yup. Can’t wait to see my water bill.