Is anyone using rainwater to water African Violets?

cork_oh

17 years ago

Is anyone using rainwater to water your African Violets?

I have saved some rain water in a large tub, but it has a brownish color. Maybe from the leaves on the roof??

If you are using rain water, do you treat it in any way?

Boil it before use? Anything else?

I would appreciate your comments. Thanks

Cork

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Comments (15)

robitaillenancy1
17 years ago
Cork,

In the old days many growers used rainwater. Now, though, I think there is acid rain and other things mixing with rain before it gets to any collection spot. I suspect this water would not be better than the average tap water for plants.

Nancy
erlyberd
17 years ago
I'd clear out the container and go for cleaner water myself. The brown is tanin,s from the leaves. Some leaves can be acid and having acid rain, we'll you get the picture.

Some collection barrels have a flapper so you can keep the rain water out until you open the flap. You want to let it rain to clear off the roof a bit and the beginning of a rainstorm the water is supposed to have trapped most of the pollution. At least that is how fish keepers do it.

I have given rain water collection a thought to, but time is not on my side. Work, work...work.

My tap water has a ph of 7.6 and I'd like to bring it down a bit. Maybe a 4 to 1 ratio would work for me.

Now on the other hand that (acidic) tanin filled water would be good for certain South American tropical fish!
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farmerSK
17 years ago
Cork - I use rainwater (melted snow as well) almost exclusively for watering my violets. I've done this for the past 2 years and the only time I don't is when I have run out. I have never worried about the colour of it. I have no complaints about the way my violets look, bloom and/or grow. I mostly wick, so I fertilize continously. I don't use regular fertilizers like 20-20-20 as I prefer to use mostly organic ones.

Just my input ........

Joan in SK
irina_co
17 years ago
Joan -

I bet your home is in a much more ecologicaly clean place than Cork's. The PH of the rainwater in Ohio can be so much off to the acid side... But they say that now we have acid rains with acid originated in China.

In any case - Cork - why won't you try the rainwater on one plant for a month or 2? And I second Erlybird - that you collect water after the first flush washed your roof from dust.

Good Luck

Irina
hummersteve
17 years ago
I havent used rainwater or snow but wouldnt be afraid to use either for my violets as I believe rain water is the purest form. Have you ever turned your face up to drink rainwater or fresh snow ? I dont use my tapwater for I have a water softener and this would be damaging to my flowers. I mainly used jug water although I dont drink from these. I need this water for my flowers as I wick all my violets and use continuous feeding.
irina_co
17 years ago
Steve -

Yes - you are right - better rainwater, than saltwater from the water softener contraption.

I remember white snow and rainwater of my childhood. We used to collect raiwater to rinse hair. But it was 40 years ago. Now I bet some places the rainwater can burn holes in an umbrella...

Irina
farmerSK
17 years ago
Well, I just find that our crops, my garden, etc. all do better with rainwater than without regardless of what impurities, etc it may contain so I don't imagine it would be all that damning to my violets. :-)) Nothing much grows without rain around our place.

Joan
cork_oh
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks Everyone

I am currently using water from my dehumidifier but am almost out and it don't run in the winter. I have a water softner so I can't use that water and we don't have a tap before it goes thru the water softner.

I have been also been taking a gallon jug to work everyday to bring home some un softened water, but I will be retiring very soon and have been looking for another source.

I did save some rain water this fall and will try Irina's suggestion to use it on one of my plants.

Thanks Again

Cork
hummersteve
17 years ago
I agree with you -farmersk --take that Irina. When you walk outside with an umbrella do you feel rain dripping on your head?

GO COLTS !!!!!
irina_co
17 years ago
Steve -

About the rain so acid - that it will make us all bald - Thanks God - not, looks like we all live in the nicer places.

But sometimes I am looking at the brown cloud above Denver, there is a red advisory - no woodburning, do not drive if you can - and after the rain everything is clear... I do not want to drink this rainwater.

Irina
joycesviolets
17 years ago
I've used rain water for many years. I add nothing to the water to adjust the pH. When it's freezing here in Ohio, I use my R/O water and also water from the tap. We use Nature's Own (potassium) in our water conditioner.
Joyce

Here is a link that might be useful: Joyce's Violets
farmerSK
17 years ago
Joyce - it sounds like we both do much the same. I'm using water from the tap now to supplement my watering, but we also use Nature's Own softener salt. There is no harm done to plants at all with this softener. I've used it now for at least 10 years.

Joan in SK
hummersteve
17 years ago
Hi Joyce

Enjoyed looking at your flowers nice site. Do you cover all your leaves when propagating? I havent noticed any Natures Own around here what kind of stores sell it. I too have a water softener and normaly use bottled water for the plants , of course I dont have a lot like you. I usually use mortons or generic form of that.
joycesviolets
17 years ago
Thank you for viewing my site. I don't cover my leaves when propagating. I plant leaves in coarse vermiculite or builders sand. Pots are set in trays of wet floral foam. When babies appear, I repot them into my soil mix. We purchase Nature's Own from a salt distributor in our area.
Joyce

Here is a link that might be useful: Joyce's Violets
hummersteve
17 years ago
Joyce, Ive not seen any course verm. around here, just the regular so I assume that has to be ordered special too. I also dont know about this floral foam you speak of

Is anyone using rainwater to water African Violets?

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Is anyone using rainwater to water African Violets?

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