Any downsides to distilled water?

[Bwpz]

My tap water is basically unusable, so I figured distilled would be a good way to go. I'm using FoxFarm Ocean Forest mixed with 20% perlite and dolomite lime. Any suggestions on how I could water it without my tap water?

 

[wiseguy316]

i would suggest adding cal mag to it. most of what is in cal mag is in the tap water.

 

[Bwpz]

That's what I added the dolomite lime for

 

[MurshDawg]

buy a water filter you could use your tap and keep the cal in it and save money vs r/o

 

[wiseguy316]

i agree that should help in that area. i was reading too fast.

 

[wiseguy316]

buy a water filter you could use your tap and keep the cal in it and save money vs r/o

I have an under sink filter. i don't have to let my water sit out. removes most everything. good investment.

 

[probo24]

If your tap water is no good, maybe the water where you work is better?
If you test it and find out it is, buy a few gallons of distilled water, use it, then start
filling your jugs at work.
The only down side I see to distilled water is paying for it. So your garden size is
a factor too.

 

[Bwpz]

I only have 4 plants. I just got laid off, no job to fill em at haha.

When it comes to a water filter, I don't really have the up-front $25 right now to get one, but if I filtered it would I have to add anything to it? Would the lime still be needed?

 

[wiseguy316]

I only have 4 plants. I just got laid off, no job to fill em at haha.

When it comes to a water filter, I don't really have the up-front $25 right now to get one, but if I filtered it would I have to add anything to it? Would the lime still be needed?

i don't use any lime. my tap runs about 240 ppm.

 

[Bwpz]

I don't have a way to measure ppm this grow, that's next grow when I got a bit more money I just know our tap water is horrible.

 

[wiseguy316]

look at the annual water report. it is avail online. go to you city or county website look under public works.

 

[cranker]

I use a Brita and let it sit for 24 hours just in case. But yeah distilled water will work. Just don't use normal bottled water, since there's no regulations on it. 60% of bottled waters wouldn't pass the NYC water purities test.

 

[johnman2880]

I don't have a way to measure ppm this grow, that's next grow when I got a bit more money I just know our tap water is horrible.

tap water is filtered ALOT it has to pass epa test daily.Im sure yours will work fine I thought ours was bad but ists working great.plus weed needs cholrine to live

 

[wiseguy316]

tap water is filtered ALOT it has to pass epa test daily.Im sure yours will work fine I thought ours was bad but ists working great.plus weed needs cholrine to live

how do you figure weed need chlorine to live? I see it's benefits in hydro. How does outdoor weed get it's chlorine? It's not in rain. please school me.

 

[wiseguy316]

depending where you live most places have switched to chloramine.

 

[wiseguy316]

Do you think people that use RO add bleach to it before watering?

 

[RawBudzski]

I used distilled water my 1st grow. & it will cost you more than $25 in the long run man. I have spent over $300 bucks on distilled water before I switched to tap.

 

[slonez47]

Wiseguy. The plants use of small amounts of chlorine is beneficial to the use of oxygen during photosynthesis and is necessary for root and cell division. So says Jorge in The Bible, page 128.

 

[Bwpz]

I used distilled water my 1st grow. & it will cost you more than $25 in the long run man. I have spent over $300 bucks on distilled water before I switched to tap.

So if I use filtered water would I still need lime?

 

[slonez47]

Just putting that out there. lol