Flushing

[cheemo]

when I switched from using my well water to RO water, there was a definite difference in taste of the final product. my well water has calcium, lime, and iron in enough concentration to be considered "hard water". I had been growing since the early 90's and my buds always tasted fine and great quality, but had this familiar water taste. with the RO water that familiar taste is gone, am I imagining this?

I've always flushed my hydro system for the final week to 10 days, just because I was told that's what you do. took a hiatus for some years when my rugrats came along. when I started growing again, post internet, I found out I was doing almost everything "wrong" (insert sarcasm font).

 

[Lordhooha]

when I switched from using my well water to RO water, there was a definite difference in taste of the final product. my well water has calcium, lime, and iron in enough concentration to be considered "hard water". I had been growing since the early 90's and my buds always tasted fine and great quality, but had this familiar water taste. with the RO water that familiar taste is gone, am I imagining this?

I've always flushed my hydro system for the final week to 10 days, just because I was told that's what you do. took a hiatus for some years when my rugrats came along. when I started growing again, post internet, I found out I was doing almost everything "wrong" (insert sarcasm font).

I use my well water I did use ro water for a bit. If they were fed properly and dried correctly they tasted the same.

 

[Lordhooha]

Ps my well water is like 200 ppm on its own. An I never flush except for the toilet lol.

 

[Roger A. Shrubber]

when I switched from using my well water to RO water, there was a definite difference in taste of the final product. my well water has calcium, lime, and iron in enough concentration to be considered "hard water". I had been growing since the early 90's and my buds always tasted fine and great quality, but had this familiar water taste. with the RO water that familiar taste is gone, am I imagining this?

I've always flushed my hydro system for the final week to 10 days, just because I was told that's what you do. took a hiatus for some years when my rugrats came along. when I started growing again, post internet, I found out I was doing almost everything "wrong" (insert sarcasm font).

it's possible. the plant uses some nutrients as raw building blocks, and some as catalysts for the production of amino acids, hormones, sugars, carbohydrates....so a different balance of nutrients can certainly change the odor and taste of a plant

 

[cheemo]

I use my well water I did use ro water for a bit. If they were fed properly and dried correctly they tasted the same.

interesting. my drying and curing practices haven't changed, but there is a definite difference in taste. it's not a major thing, but noticeable. my well water is double the mineral content of yours, a little over 400ppm, or 0.8 EC.

 

[cheemo]

it's possible. the plant uses some nutrients as raw building blocks, and some as catalysts for the production of amino acids, hormones, sugars, carbohydrates....so a different balance of nutrients can certainly change the odor and taste of a plant

thanks. I was hoping you would see my post and respond. I appreciate your input

 

[Roger A. Shrubber]

thanks. I was hoping you would see my post and respond. I appreciate your input

thnx.
i do think more of it will have to do with the genetics of the plant, though. if a strain produces certain terpenes, you can't really change that, but you can bring out weaker terpenes, possibly even making a different one dominant, which would seem to be an almost totally different smell, but it would just be a re-balancing

 

[Dr. Who]

when I switched from using my well water to RO water, there was a definite difference in taste of the final product. my well water has calcium, lime, and iron in enough concentration to be considered "hard water". I had been growing since the early 90's and my buds always tasted fine and great quality, but had this familiar water taste. with the RO water that familiar taste is gone, am I imagining this?

I've always flushed my hydro system for the final week to 10 days, just because I was told that's what you do. took a hiatus for some years when my rugrats came along. when I started growing again, post internet, I found out I was doing almost everything "wrong" (insert sarcasm font).

it's possible. the plant uses some nutrients as raw building blocks, and some as catalysts for the production of amino acids, hormones, sugars, carbohydrates....so a different balance of nutrients can certainly change the odor and taste of a plant

OH, Now your seeing it..as to what follows.

thnx.
i do think more of it will have to do with the genetics of the plant, though. if a strain produces certain terpenes, you can't really change that, but you can bring out weaker terpenes, possibly even making a different one dominant, which would seem to be an almost totally different smell, but it would just be a re-balancing

Prt 1: Nope, I doubt it. What else changed when you changed to RO? Nutrient? Strain? ANYTHING else? There are things in water that might make some difference. Yet, they would be something more like things you don't want......
If anything, it was due to something in your tap water that effected the terp profile....More Sulfur would be the basis of my call. You could follow that up with other plant nutrient compounds that use S as part of it's compound....ie: Mag sulfate or Potassium sulfate. Each of these effect differing terp's.....One leads to a more Berry like profile and the other a more Citrus profile...
In the science of what does what to what to get x,y or z... We have a lot to learn yet about just exactly does effect each particular terp.....

Roger, you get it in the second of your quote's I listed!

 

[Roger A. Shrubber]

OH, Now your seeing it..as to what follows.





Prt 1: Nope, I doubt it. What else changed when you changed to RO? Nutrient? Strain? ANYTHING else? There are things in water that might make some difference. Yet, they would be something more like things you don't want......
If anything, it was due to something in your tap water that effected the terp profile....More Sulfur would be the basis of my call. You could follow that up with other plant nutrient compounds that use S as part of it's compound....ie: Mag sulfate or Potassium sulfate. Each of these effect differing terp's.....One leads to a more Berry like profile and the other a more Citrus profile...
In the science of what does what to what to get x,y or z... We have a lot to learn yet about just exactly does effect each particular terp.....

Roger, you get it in the second of your quote's I listed!

i'm working on it....still got a hike, though

 

[cheemo]

What else changed when you changed to RO? Nutrient? Strain? ANYTHING else?

everything was identical other than the lack of minerals in the water. from 400 ppm to zero (before adding nutrient)...I thought that would have been the difference for sure.

 

[70's natureboy]

400 ppm water may have nitrates in it. I suppose that could have an effect.

 

[Dr. Who]

everything was identical other than the lack of minerals in the water. from 400 ppm to zero (before adding nutrient)...I thought that would have been the difference for sure.

With the big unknown being just what was in that water.....
Still, end taste would be due to something effecting terp profiles

 

[cheemo]

With the big unknown being just what was in that water.....
Still, end taste would be due to something effecting terp profiles

water quality report shows iron, nitrate, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and sodium within acceptable limits for safe drinking water.

 

[cheemo]

400 ppm water may have nitrates in it. I suppose that could have an effect.

nitrate levels tested were 0.6 mg/L

 

[Dr. Who]

water quality report shows iron, nitrate, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and sodium within acceptable limits for safe drinking water.

But it didn't tell you what type of each they were..
Bet the farm some were in the form of sulfate compounds!

S holds major sway over tastes and smells.

S does SOOO much for a plant,,and effects the other nutrients as well that, it is heavily debated every year. That it should be the 4th Macro nutrient......Never seems to quite make it though..

 

[cheemo]

But it didn't tell you what type of each they were..
Bet the farm some were in the form of sulfate compounds!

S holds major sway over tastes and smells.

S does SOOO much for a plant,,and effects the other nutrients as well that, it is heavily debated every year. That it should be the 4th Macro nutrient......Never seems to quite make it though..

so back to the original question, as there is no doubt some of these minerals are absolutely in the form of sulfate compounds. will switching to RO water have an effect on the taste of my harvested product?

 

[Dr. Who]

Shouldn't be much.....If any......It depends now on the concentrations of those dissolved compounds in that water......To have an effect, That you can for sure tell a difference....They would have to be around 6% by volume....maybe more.

Possible? Yes.
Likely? I tend to doubt it.

Another very big factor here.....When you tasted the RO for the first time. Did you look for a difference?
If you did. Your mind found one, even if it wasn't really there.... You gave your mind a task....It did what it was looking to do. "Find" a difference.

This is real science! It's called "Confirmation bias"
Look that up...

 

[cheemo]

I sure wasn't looking for a difference, the only reason I went to RO water was the crazy high EC numbers I was getting after mixing nutrients. the difference in taste was noticeable in the first crop after the switch, and each subsequent crop afterwards.

 

[cheemo]

I should also mention, the taste difference is when smoking by combustion. I don't notice it when using a vaporizer, or in any of the extracts made from the harvest.