From all of the research I've been doing lately, as I have only just recently gotten into CP's. Everyone seems to say basically not a good idea. I've doing the distilled water thing. Although you have a point about the minerals being heavier.

I'm not willing to take the chance tho, so like I said I'm going the distilled water route. $.69/gallon at Albertson's.

Well the problem is this.
Those minerals are dissolved within the water, this is absorbed up into the peat mix.
Over time it will build up and over time as plants get larger their roots reach near the bottom where this hard mix of minerals would be.
If you think you have good water, either get it tested or purchase a "TDS Meter".
Its a little electronic device you dip in the water and it gives you a readout in PPM of how many minerals are in your water.
You can then make a better decision from there.

Cheers

Sheldon

It's most likely gonna kill em. Sheldon is correct, the minerals will just continue to build up. Not only that, many CPs are "acid loving" plants. My water has a pH of around 8...so even aside from the minerals - your plants aren't going to like that. For my Malawi Cichlids on the other hand...they love it! Just like home!

Just for those that now have a large collection of CP and water from Albertsons is getting a bit much.
I made an investment in a R/O unit called the Nimbus WaterMaker Mini, it set me back only about $80.00 from http://shop.store.yahoo.com/aquamallusa/watminrevoss.html
It is not one of these bulky $200.00 units that need installation either, it fits ANY standard american tap socket.
When not in use simply place in the fridge until its next use.
Mine produces 8 gallons in just under 6 hours of good clean water.
I then also got a TDS Meter from www.waterfiltersonline.com, the one I got was: http://www.waterfiltersonline.com/detail.asp?product_id=TDS-Meter-4-HMD

Over all the TDS filter is now roughly 1 year old and I produce roughly 8 gallons every 2 days, the PPM has gone from 001 to 003 in that time.
Overall the expense from this I feel is far less than constantly running up to Albertons and getting water, especially with the freakin prices of fuel now!!
Just another option which may benefit you.
PS: for more info on this lill R/O unit goto www.watermakermini.com

Cheers

Sheldon

Hey Sheldon,

The Albertsons person here. At the rate I'm going with plants, have accumulated roughly 20+ plants in about a month, I will probably be thanking you for the R/O unit info at the very least by next spring. Between what I rescue from the big box stores and the plants I'll be getting from Cobraplant as part of their plant of the month club, I'll be watering quite a few CP's for a newbie.

Of course that's if all of the ones that go dormant come back in the spring.

Anyway thanks for the R/O unit info.

Debbie

N/P :)
A really helpful guy let me onto it and gave me all the info needed, its thanx to him that I have it to offer.
The replacement filters are roughly $40.00, but the system is lasting me well over a year thus far without any replacement.
Just got 2 more Nepenthes todays, a Ventricosa for my wife and a Ventrata from Cooks, man he has been sending really nice Neps.
I paid about 5 bucks for the Ventricosa and got this bushy plant with 4-5 stalks growing out, after cutting off all the dried up pitchers the thing has about 6-7 pitchers on it still.
Also sent a real lill beut of a Ventrata, smalles Nep Ive had thus far at about 2" in diameter but a loverly looking plant.

Cheers n goodluck!!

Sheldon

Kennith,

Tap water will kill your plants. The dissolved minerals are present as ions in the water and will go where ever the water goes. They won't settle out at all. As the water evaporates, at the surface of the pot, you will begin to see a build up of the minerals as they concentrate and precipitate out of solution.

For the long term health of your plants you MUST use mineral free water, distilled water, rain water, water from an RO unit or dehumidifier. NEVER use tap water for CPs.

Has any one done the experiment to find out if tap water really harms VFT?

I haven't myself.

Hey Byron_1

The Guys at Cobraplant apparently have tested such a theory.
They stated that when a VFT or most CP's are given tap water that their growth slows down over time compared to when they are given pure water, they also say that things like leaf burn are common.
They do state though that Cp's are quite tough and can survive hard water as long as its not too bad.
They said when they have been out on trips in natrual habitats with Cp's growing that the water samples showed a PPM of 240 and over at times, yet the plants were growing happily.

I suppose it would have to do with each plant and how tough it is, I would imagine if you used hard water no and then it should not be a major issue, or if your water was say 80 PPM and you repotted the plant yearly it may be ok.

Cheers

Sheldon

I dug this topic up in a seach for something else but I had to stop and read it just because.

I think it's good to revist some of the standard good advice topics from time to time.

(just a recap... no, water tray with tap water, not good)

Here is a link that might be useful: Aracknight's Deadly Delights

Some people's tap water is actually cp safe.... but that's a rarity. And just because water may look perfectly clear, doesn't mean that there aren't things going on, on a dissolved level. I would just buy distilled water or if you can afford it, an RO system. I collect rainwater and have no problems.

I keep hearing people tell me they use mostly rain water and I can't wait until I'm somewhere where I can set up a system for that. Your comment had me wondering something though... when you water your neps, I've seen pics of your set up and you let your water drain into containers. (a system I might add, that I also use and it has helped big time with humidity)

Anyway, the question... do you re-use that water? So far, most of my run off water has been evaporating but I have been concidering sucking it up and putting it back on the neps. I don't forsee any problems with doing that since the water that ran through the soil of the neps would have only picked up the materials already in their pots. Just wondering what you think about it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Aracknight's Deadly Delights

I don't see a real problem with reusing water, unless there is something bad going on with that particular pot. I really don't get to reuse the water, though, because I water maybe once a week, when the lower tray is dry from evaporation.

gottcha. I usually water somewhere around every 3-6 days so my back pots (which are 6 inch) usually drain alot more water. :-) thanks for the confirm.