Has anyone used spring water on their orchids? I was wondering what it would be comparable to, rain water, well, tap... And if fertilizing would be any different. We have a couple local roadside springs.
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Has anyone used spring water on their orchids? I was wondering what it would be comparable to, rain water, well, tap... And if fertilizing would be any different. We have a couple local roadside springs.
It really depends on what minerals water gathers untill it comes out of the ground. The quantity of minerals is different from one spring to another. It is no way you can tell if it is good for your orchids untill the water is tested. I have here a spring wich contains water so rich in minerals (mostly calcium ) that the soap doesn't foam at all!
In general you can compare spring water to well or borewell water. Both categories are waters that have seeped through the earth collecting minerals on its way and then resurfaced due to pressure changes or the topography. But as Gabi pointed out you cannot be certain of the dissolved salts unless it is tested. I have personally seen vast differences between the well waters just a couple of hundred feet away. Using it before testing is not very safe.
Our well water, originally tapped for the lawn, is what I am currently using on my orchids. It stinks, and when I fill a bucket with it there is yucky stuff floating in there. It smells like rotten eggs pretty much...when the lawn sprinklers go off my yard smells like it until the grass dries off. I started by only watering a couple orchids with it and when they didn't dry up and die I used it on a few more. Eventually I discovered it works okay and between it and my sunny new location, my orchids are growing nicely. Just be careful at first. Some orchids are very sensitive to fertilizers and metals in well water.
How about water from dehumidifier for your orchids?
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That doesnt sound very healthy....lol thats what our tap water smells like when the council flushes the city's pipes!Quote:
Originally Posted by Cjcorner
I have used dehumidifier water before, i even bottle it in 2.25L coke bottles to use later. Its pretty free of anything here in NZ at least....
I think that goes with the "benign neglect" philosophy. If we let our orchids know they're strong and healthy enought to last without constant primping, they sometimes accept that and respond accordingly! I used to only water mine with RO or distilled water, but have tapered into giving our yucky old tap water (hard Colorado River stuff that's destined to go to Mexico if I don't use it) and guess what - they don't mind at all!Quote:
Originally Posted by Cjcorner
Thanks for the replies. I can try and find out the content of the spring water, I do believe it is tested on a regular basis. I generally use rain water. And tap when I don't have rain water. If I remember I set the tap out overnight to get rid of chlorine. I've even collected snow in the winter to use. I still consider myself new to orchids in that I'm still getting the hang of it and have a somewhat small collection. I'm sure as it grows I'll be less fussy and they will eventually all get tap :)
I used to collect rainwater...carefully measured out the exact fertilizer...and the orchid pouted. Then, back this past fall I had a spell where I rarely watered, never used a drop of fertilizer and generally didn't do much other than look at them once in awhile. I got buds and spikes....so I decided unless it's a vanda it gets neglected. It's sort of insulting that they'd really rather you just left them alone...sort of like teenagers. But I got used to it...leaves you more time for looking at orchids to buy. lolQuote:
Originally Posted by nicki
See - they just don't want for you to become co-dependent. They're looking out for your psychological health. Such lovely little things!Quote:
Originally Posted by Cjcorner