orchid Fertilizer question

[Traci]

Because my water is so hard I've started using steam distilled water. I've thought about rain water but worry about pollution and acidity of the water plus algal growth etc.
My plants are on different watering schedules so I might water one every day or every couple of days. Can the fertilizer be added to a jug if distilled water and kept for a week or two or is it best to mix fresh fertilizer each time?

[BigSteve]

Depends on what fertiliser it is , some well break down with a lot of sunlight & possibly be a good place for bacteria etc to grow , if you do keep mixed feriliser for any length i would use a sealed container & keep it in a dark place.

[Traci]

Ah ok. Thank you Steve. I guess I wot chance it. I've been throwing the rest of the fertilizer water on my outside plants and other indoor plants so I guess I'm technically not wasting it. It isn't worth risking the orchids to save the water.

[Orchidmorris]

Always hard to answer this. There are elements that will precipitate after they are in solution (like magnesium and phosphates). Let the mix stand for too long the chance you end up without any of these element available for your orchids is big.
I advise to start fresh every water gift.

What is steam destilled water?

Maurice
Posted via Mobile Device

[Traci]

Thanks Maurice. I plan to mix fresh. Not with the risk.
I'm assuming the steam distilled is just the method that was used to purify the water. They must boil water that has been purified and the collect the steam that evaporates and condense it down. The orchids do seem much happier with the distilled.

[lijun]

Traci,.. here said not to use distilled water, but not explaining reason,.
https://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=77

[Traci]

Thanks Lijun,
I read that and can only think that it is because it won't have calcium and magnesium as some fertilizers don't contain those. I understand no softened as sometimes that adds sodium.
I am going to try to join my local orchid society. Hopefully they can tell me what they do since we all have the same tap water.
Maybe someone here can help us figure out why no distilled?

[BigSteve]

Distilled water can still contain minerals( water is boiled & the steam condensed).
So it could have minerals in it that are not beneficial to orchids or at least it will add to the TDS of your feeding.
so it really depends on the water that you start with to how "pure" the distilled product is.
If you feed lightly i can see how distilled would be better than some tap water.

[kharma]

hi big steve
do all varety of orchids require the same level of tds when you are mixing fertilizer or do some have a higher rate than others

[citywildcat]

hi big steve
do all varety of orchids require the same level of tds when you are mixing fertilizer or do some have a higher rate than others

karma, I know you weren't talking to me but, in my opinion, it's better to be under them to be over. I believe, if you really want to get technical, you can buy something to test for tds. I'm guessing certain orchids have a greater or lesser tolerance for tds as a ratio to the pure water......anybody?