WATER used for your orchids

[PhalPal]

I would like to start a new discussion on what type of water you use to water your orchids. I'll start!
I live in a dry area and we have very hard (lots of minerals) in water out of the tap and hose. I grow cyms outside and all of them have the dry, brown tips on their leaves and I believe it is because of my hard water. Rain water is not an option since I will not see any until October. This municipal water also has flouride and chlorine added.
What do all of you use to water your orchids? Do you test for pH, total disolved solids, chlorine, etc? Do you use distilled or spring, have reverse osmosis or just a 'filter' on your tap? Since I will soon be using worm tea I know I cannot use chlorinated water so I am looking for input as to what all of you do (if anything) to treat your water.
Looking forward to this discussion!

[tom499]

i can only see bottled water as being your way out, but thats expensive with lots of orchids. i live in the UK so get enough rain for using that, although we have not had much atall this winter.

[reen]

I use filtered water since we have a Brita jug, which (according to their website) absorbs chlorine and reduces limescale. Its also good to know that the cartriges are recyclable.

Otherwise, I think I read somewhere on the forum that if you leave it out for a bit, chlorine evaporates from the water...but someone should confirm in case I am making this up.

[Anton]

Rain water ONLY!

[palito]

I try to use rain water. but when I'm out of it, tap water. I avoid plants that demand an acidic medium , since tap water around here has a very high ph.

[fred]

I use Rain water only as well

[kmarch]

I use tap water. Additives in the water will harm only the most sensitive plants (like Disas). I use chlorinated, flourinated tap water on all sorts of Paph and Phrag species and hybrids without the slightest problem. I use tap water because I have no means to collect rainwater. I used to buy bottled spring water for my Phrag besseaes but gave it up and gave them tap water, no problems. I didnt' even let the tap water sit to let the chlorine evaporate. I have watered like this for many (probably 10+) years.

[DDS2007]

i use rain-water, but i'm wondering if that needs fertelizer being added to it every 3rdy watering? or is it already "fertalized"?

[pikevi]

I have been using bottled water for a long time( 8 months or so). But the number of my orchids is growing exponentially and it is hurting my wallet.

I need roughly 24 litres of Bottled Water a week. Last week I started to 'wean' my orchids and started to introduce tap water. I ,however,plan to continue using bottled water to 'spray' the orchids.. at least for now but I have a feeling it would not be for long

[chefatplay]

I alternate between rain water and tap. Whenever I can get rain water I use it. If not, I will use tap water. My water is well water that has gone through a softening treatment(salt). I haven't seen any difference.

[Sharyn]

Tap water (Lake Michigan municipal).

For my windowsill orchids watered with worm tea (about 12 miniatures): I fill up a gallon jug and sit out for a day or two to evaporate the chlorine. This may not be an option for you if you have a very large collection or all your plants are outdoors.

The rest of my orchids get straight tap water. So far, there's been no ill effects. The orchids housed on the patio will get the same water as the other garden plants - straight from the hose. I don't have the time or room to store water for the outside plants, nor do I want to be lifting gallon jugs every time they need water.

[kmarch]

chefatplay,

I would strongly recommend avoiding the use of softened water. Water softening is done with salt and the high salt content can be detrimental to your orchids.

[janet_a]

aired off tap. i used to use filtered water (faucet mounted filter) but we had to replace the kitchen faucet and the filter unit won't fit on the new one.

they're all just going to have to learn to cope.

[PhalPal]

Thanks for all your replies. I know that rain water is the best option, it is just NOT an option for me. The property I live on is just too small to collect enough, and like I said in my first post, I will NOT see a drop of rain until October or later. My orchids can't wait that long. All of So. California has had 2" of rain since July 2006, so you can see my dilemma. Get ready for a lot of breaking news: "Wildfire in California"!

Since my tap water has a very high TDS and would get higher when I add the fertilizer, I use half tap and half rain or RO water when I use fertilizer, and I use all tap when I do the monthly flushing. In the summer I put the plants outside and let nature water the plants, but when I fertilize I use the half and half. If you decide to use bottled water, spring water can come from any spring any where and is the cheapest. Purified (RO) water is next, and is mostly pure and a bit more expensive. Distilled water is completely pure and is the most expensive. If you have a water company, you can call them and they will tell you what the TDS is.

[fzzdk]

i live in the middle of atlanta and we have smog alerts almost every day, so rainwater is out. i use straight tap water. sometimes i let it sit out, sometimes i don't. my monthly flush is sitting my plants in the sink and just letting the faucet go for a while.

ideally, i'd let my water sit out, or collect rainwater, or buy bottled water but i don't have the means or the patience. a lot of the times i remember to water my plants, i'm on my way out the door and just have to do what i can. maybe i need to work less and spend more time with my babies

[Aniko]

I'm wondering: is the rain water safe enough these days? I heard a lot about acid rain...
I use tap water for my orchids, no signs of any harm or adverse effect.

[palito]

Originally Posted by Aniko

I'm wondering: is the rain water safe enough these days? I heard a lot about acid rain...
I use tap water for my orchids, no signs of any harm or adverse effect.

it depends where you live and wind patterns but close to a major city or industrial area the rain might not be very clean...

btw bottled water is not necessarily better than tap water. many times it is just the same tap water, or water with even higher mineral content.

acid rain is the best when you have a rose garden. It kills the blackspot fungus lol.