Quote:
Originally Posted by Roberta
Absolutely the unsoftened outside water. Don't use softened water on ANY plants. You can easily get an inexpensive TDS meter online, or at a hydroponics store (I suspect easier to find where I live than where you are) But for just a few orchids, don't stress on it. It takes very little for it to manage any acidity with fertilizer. A cup a gallon should be fine. (that's 1:16, so whatever the TDS is to start with, you end up with 1/16th as much, then you add in your fertilizer and go for it)
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I have a TDS meter-just bought it a few weeks ago
I tested the tap water from multiple outdoor faucets and received results around 580-610ppm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dollythehun
Goldstar, what are you drinking? We plumbed the house so that our drinking water (cold) in the kitchen, is not softened. Perhaps my knowledge is out of date but, we were told soft water wasn't good for drinking health wise. Our cold drinking water then is filtered through a Pur faucet mount and the orchid water through a pitcher system or rainwater.
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We mostly just buy bottled water from the store, but we have a jar of RO water that we drink from as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dollythehun
Zero water filter life is only a few gallons (according to them Indiana has the nation's hardest water). My source is 100 feet down. 😁 Our water tests around 200 TDS. My reference to the hose was from being a farm girl. Nowdays not all hoses are rated as safe for drinking water. I apologize for hijacking Goldstar's thread.
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No need to apologize. Personally I love it when people hijack threads-it keeps things interesting/fun
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer
With some experimenting you could probably blend your well and RO water (with and without fertilizer) to achieve the TDS you want to apply to your plants.
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That's what I think I'll do. Thank you all!
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