Embarrassing Obsession confession.

[greenpassion]

I got up this morning around 9. After I fed my dogs, I got my reverse osmosis countertop system out, and proceeded to spend the next five and a half hours making 16 gallons of RO water for my humidifier, which I run and my living area with 30 some-odd plants 27 of which are phalaenopsis orchids. I have a gravity-fed well, and absolutely no water pressure, about 3 years ago I got a pump for the small countertop system. That said, it takes exactly 15 minutes to fill one gallon of water.(No pressure) I have hard water here, a lot of minerals and so I want to use RO water in this humidifier. This is my one day off from work. I think about the insanity of spending so many hours filling up these gallons of ro water, and I realized that most people would think I'm insane. But I want to keep the humidity here at least around 50%. I live in Vermont, and it's getting very dry and cold out. Out of 27 phals I have 14 now in Spike. In my seven years of growing I've never had it so good! Don't know if it will keep up though. March 6th of last year, I woke up with no water at all from my Wells, and I went until the end of May without water. So while I am making this RO water I'm looking at the runoff that is wasted and feeling a little ashamed of myself in a way. And I'm worried.... About the cold.... And the water lines.... but loving the spikes and buds!

[charlesf6]

Good Girl.

[Leafmite]

I think we all do crazy things for our plants. I buy nine jugs of distilled water each week for my plant collection as most are salt-sensitive and we have a water softener.

[SG in CR]

Not sure what sort of humidifier you use, but the sort that use wicking mats aren't that sensitive to mineral build up. Might be worthwhile to get a humidifier that can deal with hard water.

[Subrosa]

Are you aware that a setup which automatically shuts off your ro unit when your collection vessel is full is easily and inexpensively installed? First pic shows a mechanical float valve installed in a collection vessel. Drilling a small hole is all that's required. The second pic is a solenoid installed on the ro unit. Basically water passes through both sides of the solenoid, unfiltered water through one side, finished water through the other. When your collection container fills the float valve closes, causing pressure to rise on that side. When it gets high enough, it shuts off the water to the unfiltered side. VERY easy to install!
Auto Shut Off Kit for Reverse Osmosis Systems - Bulk Reef Supply

[Dollythehun]

Being on a well myself, the waste of this bothered me. Then someone posted a pictured of a rainwater collector and that solved my problem. Since I have a ready supply of kitty litter jugs, storing is no problem. Taking a page from the Orchid Whisperer, I set a trash can lid with a hole onto a trugtub. I can catch a week's worth of water in one good rain. Then I simply filter it. I don't think you're crazy but, that's a lot of time I don't have.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Being on a well myself, the waste of this bothered me. Then someone posted a pictured of a rainwater collector and that solved my problem. Since I have a ready supply of kitty litter jugs, storing is no problem. Taking a page from the Orchid Whisperer, I set a trash can lid with a hole onto a trugtub. I can catch a week's worth of water in one good rain. Then I simply filter it. I don't think you're crazy but, that's a lot of time I don't have.

Rain water is always the best, but it's not an option for me once winter hits. This is holds 350 gal, and is almost full. I'm still using it, I just have to let it warm up first. But a month from now I'll need a blow torch to get anything out, so the ro system fills the bill until spring. It's normally tied into the gutters, but I was doing a bit of work and plan on relocating it in the spring anyway. The waste water can also be collected and used for washing clothes and dishes, and for watering "regular" house plants.

[Dollythehun]

Our well water is fine. I just have a few orchids that need better water so a small quantity will do. But I am running a pump (obviously) and ro requires more pumping. Still, like ES, you are ingenious and we can all find some take away from your methods.

When my "hobby" requires more stress than what I gain back, I'll give it up. BTW, there is generally snow...

[greenpassion]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I think we all do crazy things for our plants. I buy nine jugs of distilled water each week for my plant collection as most are salt-sensitive and we have a water softener.

I just hated the idea of of buying plastic jug after plastic jug that moved me to buy my own system to make my own reverse osmosis water. I reuse the same jobs over and over and over again, and discard them once a year.

[Dollythehun]

Obviously, you don't have cats. Problem solved. I use the extra for target practice.😁