Swamp water?

[mde]

What is this "water treatment" stuff you're talking about?

[uncasteeb]

What is this "water treatment" stuff you're talking about?

It,s a product called Refresh(made by Biotal).
http://www.biotal.co.uk/garden/water...h/refresh.html

[Gin]

I collect rain water it is stored in trash cans , collected from the green house gutter , the only time I get cruddy water is when the oak trees bloom , it does not smell just a tea colored , I tested it the ph was the same as when clear . Will find out about the pond water , I have a large pond, farm type ,stocked with bass . catfish and perch ... and frogs . on the bank is a large willow tree , I bought a larger submersable . pump , moving 2 Vandas out there tomorrow . and see what happens . Gin

[L I Jane]

Pour 1/2 c-3/4 c of chlorox in your full rain barrel every so often to kill any larva of the mosquito etc.It doesn't harm the plants as it will disipate quickly for you to use it.

[Gin]

Thanks Jane , good info. I once put mashed garlic in the water I like garlic but not a green house that reeks of it . Gin

[MikeWA]

Excellent idea Jane.

On my barrels I have a small opening. I have a material that is like a giant pot scrubber and this collects most of the pine needles and other larger debris that would normally fall into the barrel. My barrels are closed so I don't have the mosquito problem.

[starwhiz]

looks like water is a big a deal. is there something wrong using regular tap water? Do i need to check/treat it?

[LJA]

starwhiz, it can be, depending on the type of plant you're growing. The species especially of various genera can be very sensitive to water quality and pH. There isn't as much problem with hybrids, and if your tap water is reasonably low in dissolved solids, you should be fine.

Gin, I can just see you standing over your bucket of rainwater with your garlic masher

[MikeWA]

Starwhiz, like Louis said. It depends on where you live. For example. My sister lives in Colorado and her water is void of any minerals like magnesium , calcium and such. It is as close to R/O water as you can get through a tap. She must add fertilizer everytime she waters.

I on the other hand have wonderful tap water. It depends on where you live.

[mde]

I forgot about this post and now its raining again, and am going to try to collect some water again.

LI Jane... you mentioned the clorox... this is bleach, right? That's sounds dangerous, but I'm assuming what you mean by dissipate is that it will evaporate out of the water kind of like the chlorine in tap water does if you let it sit for 24 hours open to the air? Is this correct? How long after you mix it in could you use the water? Any help from you or anyone else who knows would be helpful.

Thanks.

Matt E.