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Water Quality and Humidity

House plants suffer from a variety of chronic problems arising from water quality and poor watering practices.

The above illustrates salt build up on ceramic pellets (Aliflor) used for humidity. This build up occurred after evaporation of only about two gallons of water that was first passed through a Brita water filter. Much of this build up is sodium chloride from the high sodium levels in the local Los Angeles municipal water supply, and will immediately dissolve when more water is added. Calcium and magnesium salts (hard water salts) once precipitated, require slightly acidic conditions to dissolve again. These salts will quickly build up in potting soil/medium and begin to precipitate out as lime scale if pots are not well flushed at each watering. High concentrations of salts from tap water and excess fertilizer inhibit root activity. The wicking action of the ceramic pellets concentrates the salt on the areas of highest evaporation (tips of highest pellets), and so the pellets are good indicators of water quality.

 

For an excellent discussion of water quality issues for orchid culture

please follow this link

http://www.ladyslipper.com/waterq.htm

 

To find your local water quality report posted on the web

please follow this link

Water Quality Home Pages

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