Hello Everyone!
I am new to growing AV's and have two rooted semi-minis and 15 cutting I'm working with. (I may have over done it a bit, but I've fallen madly in love! LOL)
I have been using boiled tap water that I allow to sit for three days to bottom water my plants and cuttings but I've just read an article that claims any tap water will damage the plants. So far I've had nothing but great success with growth, blooming and propagation.
So I was wondering what everyone else waters with. What's the best to switch to? Collected rain water? Distilled water? Mineral water? I have a worm farm and have several gallons of worm tea on hand at all times I could use.
Any advice would be wonderful! It seems like the more I learn about AV's the more I realise I'm doing wrong LOL!
Thanks so much!
Looking for advice on the best type of water to use for AVs
I live in a dense wooded area far from the grid. I use collected rain water when I have it and well water when I don't. I have had both tested and there was very little difference in the test results.
Your rain water may be different from mine - likewise your well water. I suggest testing which is easily and cheaply done by any water softener company or by your municipal supply.
Do not use distilled water unless you have no other option. Reverse osmosis works well but is expensive to set up.
If what you are doing now works for you, why change????????
Welcome to the AV and gessie forum and your new addiction!
Doesn't sound like your doing anything wrong at all.I use rain water to when I can get it also but that's scarce here in Alabama.so most of the time I use tap water ,I let it sit out for a day or two before use it..I've also read/heared some people say they use the water that drips out from there air conditioners.They said it was the next best thing to rain water,so I'm collectioning some of that right now to try it.
Happy growing to you,Jan
I use tap water too and just let it sit out some to dechlorinate. I always thought rainwater was a bit acidic, but if your flowers are doing well with it then I wouldn't change a thing. What's the point in boiling tap water?
I live in Chicago and the public water supply is Lake Michigan. pH 7.8-8.5, high mineral content, high Chlorine content etc.
All I do is let the Chlorine escape and let the water come up to room temperature.
To prevent mineral buildup, I repot often.
I'm not claiming that that's the best possible way of watering house plants. The point I'm trying to make is that a lot of times when you start messing with the chemistry of the water, you wind up causing more problems than you solve.
jamiew: I'm not sure there is a point to boiling the water. My husband told me his grandmother kept AV's (this would have been around 1945) and always boiled the water first. I figured don't dispute the wisdom of my elders lol even if it isn't a vital step it couldn't hurt.
Everything is looking good and growing well so I guess I'll just keep at what I'm doing and start trying to learn a little more before I reach the next step with the plants grown from cuttings.
Thanks so much for the input!