DoctorSteve

So a guy at the hydroponics store told me that I should not use tap water on my plants because the chlorine will kill the microorganisms in the soil. He recommended filling a 5 gollon bucket and letting it sit for a day or two before using.

Does anyone know about this? I mean it makes sense that the chlorine would kill stuff in the soil but is the amount high enough in tap water to kill the microorganisms in the soil?

So if anyone has any info on this it would be great. I would hate to use mycorrhizae or anything else and then kill it with my water.

jmoore

I've heard of that, I don't think it's the chlorine per se, but the formation of chlorides that become toxic to the plants eventually, but I don't think it's much to worry about really and it only applies to plants grown in pots where toxins can build up. In the ground they just get washed away.

JasmineT

You should check with your water district and find out if they use chlorine or chloramine. Chlorine will dissipate, chloramine will not. The stuff to get the chloramine out is available at fish and pond supplies Amquell is the one that comes to mind, but there are others. You can always do a "superflush" flood watering if you are afraid of buildup. I have an Orinocco in the ground that's 12 feet with a bunch growing, with two six foot pups. The rest were donated to a local school when they were smaller. I do a flooding watering every few months. Being in zone 9b (SF Bay Area), it stays in the ground year round. Your guy at the hydroponics store is trained to think in terms of closed circuit growing systems which informs his opinions.
Jasmine

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RobG7aChattTN

I've read an hour is enough to dissipate the chlorine. This info is from various websites with info for making "compost tea" which is basically breeding the good bacteria to feed the mycorrhizae. I just pour tap water into a 5 gal. bucket and let it sit for an hour or so before I add the compost and molasses. It seemed to work. If I am watering I usually try and fill a bunch of 5 gal. buckets and let them sit for awhile (say, during lunch or while I mow the yard) and then water my plants after some time has passed. I'm not sure it is really necessary. I've heard that the chlorine dissipates almost as soon as the water comes in contact with air. Still, if you get the AquaSafe from the fish store it is pretty cheap and one drop treats 10 gallons.

DoctorSteve

I was thinking of getting the water treatment from a pet store. I used to work at a pet store when I was younger so I know exactly what you two are talking about.

I did a little digging and it seems that our water district uses chloramine in the water so I guess I will have to use the treatment.

Thanks.

The Hollyberry Lady

Worm_Farmer

Go to home depot and buy an inline water filter. Then buy the Carbon filters, and adapters to too directly to the hose. I think my filter was $19.99 and about $10 for a new filter. I change the filters one a year or when water pressue gets low. I am more worried about the Fluoride that's in our City Water.

Otherwise I'll use water from my Rain Barrel on all my veggies and none in ground tree's.

nannerfunboi

wormfarmer..i do the same..i use a big aquarium for my dechlorinated water
for indoor watering of plants.. i use this water to make my aerated worm casting tea as well..
seems my indoor plants appreciate the extra boost of this water..
thanks to all for your experiments and insights...

MSmith

what effect does chloramine have on our plants, I know my city water has it. Sometimes when I'm watering in the morning I can smell the chlorine.

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