Using distilled water vs. tap water

Mr. So low dough low said:

I am looking for some helpful input now. It appears I have made a rookie mistake. I posted this in my grow journal but am posting here too because I don't know if anyone reads that thing. Anyway...

Thanks to @JohnDee for pointing out what appeared to be a mag deficiency in one of my other plants (I planted some bagseed while I waited for these in the mail; they have since been scrapped), I did a little research.

I have been using distilled water because my pH was over 8 out of the tap. I know some people say don't pH in soil, but a pH that high worried me. So I used some distilled water which was already a pH of right around 6.5.

I didn't realize I needed to add cal-mag to it. Thankfully I added some cal-mag last watering.

But do u guys think I should just use my tap water and use pH down to get it where I want? Or should I continue distilled with cal-mag? Or does it not matter? I would hate to put it in as it is and shock my plants or something from a drastic pH swing.

I have since picked up some Epsom salts too, just in case.

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fragileassassin said:

Do some research on your local water. Your water company is supposed to give you access to ppm testing thats done so you can see exactly what contaminates are in your water. Try to figure out why the ph is that high.

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Mr. So low dough low said:

So do you guys even use cal-mag with your water? If so, how often? Or maybe just Epsom salts?

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Lola Grows said:

I use cal mag occasionally and seaweed as well. My girls absolutely love the seaweed water, I can almost hear them saying
“ thank youuuu” lol.

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Mr. So low dough low said:

Haha I'll have to look into seaweed water

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Lola Grows said:

1. Seaweed has 60 trace minerals and ready-to-use nutrients including nitrogen, potassium, phosphate, and magnesium. It also contains hormones to encourage plant growth.

Unlike other garden amendments, such as manure, seaweed does not need to decompose before being a benefit to your garden.

2. Improved aeration. Seaweed helps aerate the soil just like peat moss does, but it has the added benefit of delivering nutrients and minerals.

3. Prevents fungus and disease. Seaweed helps you to grow strong, healthy plants, and healthy plants resist fungus and disease.

Check it out

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Mr. So low dough low said:

Sounds awesome! Thanks for the info. I'm definitely checking this out

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Mr. So low dough low said:

Sounds awesome! Thanks for the info. I'm definitely checking this out

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Tangerine_ said:

The seaweed Lola suggested is great too.

I use BioAgs Cytoplex @ 1/3 tsp per gallon. Bio Ag products rock!
https://www.amazon.com/BioAg-CytoPlus-100-24-Cs/dp/B00YCD8H2O/ref=asc_df_B00YCD8H2O/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167118301188&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7818202877292174355&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002630&hvtargid=pla-304552895976&psc=1

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Mr. So low dough low said:

Thanks. I'll probably end up getting it. It's cheap enough to give it a shot. Do you use this with other nutrients? Is this like a supplement to the main nutrients or something?

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Mr. So low dough low said:

So do you guys even use cal-mag with your water? If so, how often? Or maybe just Epsom salts?

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TacoMac said:

Neither.

Get yourself a cheap bag of lime. It's 4 dollars. You use about 3 tablespoons per gallon volume. Mix that into the soil with your perlite and you're done.

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