Southern California Water, Tap Vs. R/O

[lenny]

I'm located in Southern California, La Mesa Area. I'm new to
the orchid scene, about 7 months. I grow outside in a shade house and use R/O water. My problem is that I spend
numerous hours watering plants and buying water. I'm retired and would like to spend some valuable time on other
projects, drinking coffee, reading the newspaper and watch
my plants grow.

I've been told tap water is bad for your orchids in La Mesa,
and I am not ready to setup a R/O filter system for these
critters. So if you from my neck of the woods and using
regular tap water how about some advice for a rookie.

My orchids are doing well with R/O water but I convienced
the soft spray of a garden hose is the way to go for me.

[cb977]

Hi Lenny...welcome to Orchidboard

Sorry I can't help with your water question but I wanted to say hello

What orchids are you growing?

[Becca]

Hi! I recently got a RO system due to the time it was taking to water and I wasn't wanting to use city water. I have always thought that the water from the garden hose would be to cold for the orchids and would shock them. Sorry I can't be of more help....but welcome to the board!

[gmdiaz]

Hello & Welcome!

I am loving using the room temp. RO water & am sure that the RO water or rain water is the best way to go. . .but there may be some orchids that don't mind tap water so much?

I'll let the others chime in. . .

[linda]

Hi Lenny, I was told and sometimes do this more often then I should and my orchids have no ill effects from it.
So here go's. I live in Fl. and in some places we have sulfur water (I am one of those places) we have system that are used to add chlorine and salt to the water to help get clean and smelling half way bearable. So I was told that I could do half and half . and that is what I do. I do half R/o water and half well water threw the system. I also when doing that will add a few drops of the aqua chlorine remover that you buy for the fish tank when setting it up. Just to remove the chlorine. And well neither to say , you have seen my plants and there not suffering. Hope I was of some help.

[Aceetobe]

The problem is with the salts in the water - calcium, magnesium, etc. If not dealt with, the salts will cake (like they do in the sink/shower), and eventually the plant will just rapidly decline and perhaps dies. The pH of the water (at least by me North Park area) is too basic. There are a couple of options in my opinion, but I'd like to hear from everyone else.

1st get RO system which you stated you didn't want to do

2nd water 2 times with city water, then on the 3rd watering flush with distilled/RO water. To deal with the pH problems of the city water, I have a siphon mixer that injects some citric acid and fertilizer to bring the pH to 6.5-6.8.

For those that have RO systems - how do you water? Pour the RO into a watering can? Or do you have the tank hooked up to a pump?

My problem is that I really like watering with a hose, and I just don't know how long it would take if I always did the watering can approach.

[magicatt]

Gee, I must be abusing my orchids because they get good old tap water. Like it or die. They like it. Anyway, welcome to the orchid board.