|
|
Limited Guest Access ... Welcome to the Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web !. You are currently viewing our boards as a GUEST, which gives You very limited access and no posting privileges. Register and gain full access to everything on the site. OrchidBoard membership is completely free with no tricks or gimmicks. We work very hard to make this the best and friendliest Orchid forum possible. If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact support.
|
10-12-2006, 12:33 PM
|
 |
Roots are good
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
Zone: 5a
Location: Cadillac, Michigan, USA
Posts: 7,327
|
|
A very different watering question
Has anyone tried collecting the condensate water from a high efficiency natural gas furnace and used that water (which I presume is soft) for watering orchids? Normally it goes down the drain, but I thought I could collect it in 5-gallon pail. Also, what about the water from a de-humidifier?
__________________
Ross
http://orchids-ross.blogspot.com/
I don't do most Dendros or large, "floofy orchids". For me it's minis (like Angraecoides), Paphs, and others that crept in somewhere along the line. See my orchid list for complete collection (usually not current.)
|
10-12-2006, 12:49 PM
|
 |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Mid Michigan
Posts: 535
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by rsfrid
Has anyone tried collecting the condensate water from a high efficiency natural gas furnace and used that water (which I presume is soft) for watering orchids? Normally it goes down the drain, but I thought I could collect it in 5-gallon pail. Also, what about the water from a de-humidifier?
|
I used to collect water from the dehumidifier for orchids. Actually I'd add it into my RO water container, so I never actually used straight dehumidifier water... But it should work. Don't drink it. It is effectively distilled water, there shouldn't be much in it. Maybe a bit of copper from the coils and whatever dust and schmutz has collected there.
__________________
Rob's Rules:  http://littlefrogfarm.com
1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a) See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase more orchids, obtain more credit
|
10-12-2006, 01:28 PM
|
 |
Moderator
|
|
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Queens, NY, USA
Age: 28
Posts: 7,142
|
|
On what surface is it collecting on? Not paint I hope. Obviously not, or you would be freaking out over your paint job. 
It should be fine as long as the water is not dissolving any nasty chemicals onto it where it condenses.
__________________
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
-J.R.R. Tolkien, LOTR, Fellowship of the Ring
|
10-12-2006, 03:41 PM
|
|
Roots are good
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
Zone: 5a
Location: Cadillac, Michigan, USA
Posts: 7,327
|
|
My de-humidifier is in thje basement (as, I suspect, most folks' are) and only collects (via ice) the ambient humidity and then thaws the ice into a little "jug" attached to the device. I just thought it might be a way to collect a bit of "free" water before I throw it away down the drain.
__________________
Ross
http://orchids-ross.blogspot.com/
I don't do most Dendros or large, "floofy orchids". For me it's minis (like Angraecoides), Paphs, and others that crept in somewhere along the line. See my orchid list for complete collection (usually not current.)
|
10-12-2006, 05:40 PM
|
 |
Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2006
Zone: 9b
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 2,874
|
|
Sounds like a great idea, should be free of contaminants if its in your basement...basement  whats that ... 
__________________
Cheryl
"People with goals succeed because they know where they are going - it's as simple as that" - Earl Nightingale
|
10-12-2006, 05:56 PM
|
|
Roots are good
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
Zone: 5a
Location: Cadillac, Michigan, USA
Posts: 7,327
|
|
That's what we NORTHERNERNERS have ! BTW, my Dad and Sister live in Lutz (Tampa) and I know the limitations (and oportunities) of Southern Livinging.
__________________
Ross
http://orchids-ross.blogspot.com/
I don't do most Dendros or large, "floofy orchids". For me it's minis (like Angraecoides), Paphs, and others that crept in somewhere along the line. See my orchid list for complete collection (usually not current.)
|
10-12-2006, 07:23 PM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2006
Zone: 9b
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 2,874
|
|
I remember Lutz being a sleepy town, many years ago, Southern living, and no I am not a ya'll kinda person. From PA myself but only know the southern way. Honestly though if we had a basement my husband would have his breakfast nook set up accordingly
__________________
Cheryl
"People with goals succeed because they know where they are going - it's as simple as that" - Earl Nightingale
|
10-14-2006, 09:35 AM
|
 |
Orchid Iconoclast
|
|
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Southeastern PA
Posts: 1,647
|
|
Air conditionar and dehumidifer water is just "lazy" distillation.
When we intentionally distill water, we heat it to cause vaporization of the water molecules, leaving behind the dissolved minerals, then cool the vapor and collect the pure liquid.
A/C units and dehumidifiers are merely the second half of that process, having relied on mother nature to do the evaporating.
Keep in mind that you're now working with pure water, so you cannot use your normal fertilizer as-is. They are formulated for use in water bearing dissolved minerals. Those minerals protect the solution from wild pH swings - buffering. Without those dissolved minerals, those fertilizers will push the pH to being way too acidic for your plants, so you'll have to adjust it upwards by using a "pH Up" from the local aquarium store, or an additive like Dyna-Gro Pro-teKt. ...or mix in some tapwater. It won't be as pure, but it may be sufficiently buffered.
Last edited by Ray : 10-14-2006 at 09:40 AM.
|
10-14-2006, 09:44 AM
|
|
Roots are good
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
Zone: 5a
Location: Cadillac, Michigan, USA
Posts: 7,327
|
|
Thanks Ray. I think I'll try just mixing the water I collect with tap water since the de-humidifier doesn't run much in winter and perhaps a bit of R.O. water (say 50/50) with city water. Hadn't thought about pH but since I have a garden pond I am pretty well set for plant-safe chemicals.
__________________
Ross
http://orchids-ross.blogspot.com/
I don't do most Dendros or large, "floofy orchids". For me it's minis (like Angraecoides), Paphs, and others that crept in somewhere along the line. See my orchid list for complete collection (usually not current.)
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:53 PM.
|
Linear Mode
