Q. In a past posting on your blog you mentioned that
using 100% distilled water for container plant irrigation might mess with the
potting soil. What did you mean by that?
using 100% distilled water for container plant irrigation might mess with the
potting soil. What did you mean by that?
A. Distilled water has no minerals in it. This can pose
problems for soils and cause the soils to “deflocculate” which means the soils
can start to seal and begin to slow the water movement through it by taking
minerals from the soil particles.
problems for soils and cause the soils to “deflocculate” which means the soils
can start to seal and begin to slow the water movement through it by taking
minerals from the soil particles.
So it is
best to add just a small amount of fertilizer…very little… so that you replace
the minerals that are no longer there. Think of it similar to drinking
distilled water as opposed to water that has some “good” minerals in it and the
effect on our bodies.
best to add just a small amount of fertilizer…very little… so that you replace
the minerals that are no longer there. Think of it similar to drinking
distilled water as opposed to water that has some “good” minerals in it and the
effect on our bodies.
So good
salts to use for replacing the salts taken out would be fertilizer salts from a
good quality fertilizer or a light compost tea. How much to add? How much salt
remains after water evaporates from irrigation water? Very little. A pinch or
two of a fertilizer salt in a gallon is enough.
salts to use for replacing the salts taken out would be fertilizer salts from a
good quality fertilizer or a light compost tea. How much to add? How much salt
remains after water evaporates from irrigation water? Very little. A pinch or
two of a fertilizer salt in a gallon is enough.