Chlorine, science, myth, or fact?

RockyMtnMan

Well-Known Member
I am prepared for the shit storm to follow.
Here is some interesting stuff, you don't have to dig far to find 1000s of references to chlorine and chlorides.
On RIU however, you would think we have a brain trust of the worlds leading scientists, given the excessive attention and focus placed on chlorine.
I am no scientist, just a guy trying to understand how and why things are so readily accepted as fact, just because they are repeated over and over.
I'm sure removing chlorine from your water is not harmful, it's just given all the other elements we focus on, wouldn't it be nice to know this is one less step?
I have stopped dechlorinating my water months ago, and I see no appreciable difference.

Here's a few links and short statements. There is tons of info out there, I just haven't found the one that says it harms plants in normal levels. Yes there is info that states EXTREMELY HIGH levels of chlorides interfere with absorption of nutrients, but none of us are ever going to see anywhere close to those levels from our taps!

Chlorine is bountiful in Earth's atmosphere, soils and oceans, typically in the form of a positively-charged ion known as chloride. Chloride atoms bond and break from other atoms readily, creating many compounds useful to man. Chlorine mixed with water acts as a purifying disinfectant and keeps swimming pools and drinking water free from pathogens. Plants tolerate chlorine and utilize it in its chloride form during plant growth. However, excessively high concentrations of chloride are harmful to plants.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/info_12003849_co...#ixzz2a4sgBJRp

According to Wade Berry from UCLA, "Plants require relatively high chlorine concentration in their tissues ." He continues to state that plants suffering from a chlorine deficiency will exhibit an unnatural coloring. Furthermore, the leaves may have an abnormal shape and new leaves may wilt and die. In severe cases, bronzing will occur on the tops of mature leaves. To correct this deficiency, simply apply a fertilizer that contains chloride. The average chloride in topsoil is 10 parts per million (p.p.m.). Plant growth suffers if the level of chloride in the soil falls to 2 p.p.m. or lower.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/way_5729155_chlo...#ixzz2a4quF6X9

The optimal level of chloride in soils and plant tissues is neither universally known nor understood. With no optimal value to use for comparison in experiments, scientists have few other factors to measure and evaluate for a better understanding of chloride levels. Typically, plants can tolerate high concentrations of chloride in the soil without harm, as high as 20,000 parts per million. Dried tissues from healthy plants can reveal internal concentrations of 70 to 100 ppm.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/info_12003849_co...#ixzz2a4s6q3d6

It's kind of funny, the EPA standard for chlorine in drinking water is 4ppm. That seems like a LONG way from a harmful level to mj plants.
 

qwizoking

Well-Known Member
Cool thanks man not for the ehow article specifically. Found the references to be interesting as well....but I've known this for a while, chlorine levels are only allowed so high unless your city has non potable water which I've had that too but yea I tell everyone chlorine is a micronute and won't effect em..I've never let water sit out
 

hyroot

Well-Known Member
Chlorine is a catch 22. It promotes root growth. If you are growing organic. It will kill off bacteria, fungi and enzymes.
 

tusseltussel

Well-Known Member
Ive been using tap water successfully for over 10 years in hydro straight from the tap, in chemical fert grows and most recently Organic. Never any trouble. We do have pretty good water here but it definitely has chlorine in it, it is municipal well water.
 

aisach

Active Member
As long as you monitor the levels in your feed water. Problem is that municipalities are not required to deliver water that has consistent Cl levels. It fluctuates based on treatment methods, how far you are from the chlorinating facility (not likely to be at the treatment plant, but all over the community), which Cl compounds the water co is using, and whether they also de-chlorinate. A concentrated plug of Cl can be harmful.

Plant require chlorine, so it isn't in our best interest to eliminate it completely from the garden environment. you should, however, try to ignore the 'fear-mongers' out there that so adamantly postulate against it.

Tap water should sit for 5 days if chloramines are an issue in your community. The half-life is 28 hours, so 5 days should get it down to usable levels. After 5 days, add humic acid.

PS Go to your water co website and look for the water quality information. It is public info. Municiple water companies are issued permits by the state, those will designate the Cl levels for delivery to the public, regardless of EPA verbage. They work together to negotiate the terms, and can make allowances for facilities that are trying to resolve issues, or are awaiting capitol improvement. Don't assume that it is always under 4ppm.

Thanks for using you're common sense on this one. There's alot of misguided philosophy out there.
 

RockyMtnMan

Well-Known Member
Chlorine is a catch 22. It promotes root growth. If you are growing organic. It will kill off bacteria, fungi and enzymes.
I'm not sure if the levels at 4ppm would be sufficient.
I have been applying Bacillus Thuringiensis for a month now to control fungus gnats.
The bacteria seems to have been effective even using tap water.
I have been crumbling the dunks on the soil and into the water and it was effective.
I am only saying this because that is a live bacteria, living and developing colonies in my soil and water with those chlorine levels present.
I haven't seen a gnat on a sticky trap in a couple weeks now.

I am in No Way Discouraging Anyone from removing their chlorine, I for one am no longer doing so until strong scientific evidence suggests otherwise.
I know E-How is not a great link, it's just an easy read, and there are 1000s more examples, from technical, to laymen.
Just wanted to keep it simple
 

hyroot

Well-Known Member
Chlorine levels also depends on where you are. In so cal chlorine levels will be much higher than any where on the east coast. At least once every couple of months, the water companies in socal do a chlorine flush. By that I mean the dump extra amounts of chlorine in the water to disinfect tap water

I use tap water and always have, but I aerate it for a day first. Sodium sulfate found in molasses , fish hydroslate and coconut water will neutralize chems and breaks down chloramine into ammonia. After a couple hours of aerating. ammonia evaporates.

I do compost tea's every other watering and enzyme tea's the rest.
 

TRIBUNAL

Well-Known Member
Good post.
I been wondering this myself.
Because of the CL in the damned city water I used to avoid it and use the bottled water we drink from the store.
Then someone suggested my mineral problem could have been from distilled water which isnt the same but who knows what filter process the bottled water goes through..
So I been using the city water now.
The plants have issues, but I don't see the water as one of them.
 

aisach

Active Member
Chlorine levels also depends on where you are. In so cal chlorine levels will be much higher than any where on the east coast. At least once every couple of months, the water companies in socal do a chlorine flush. By that I mean the dump extra amounts of chlorine in the water to disinfect tap water

I use tap water and always have, but I aerate it for a day first. Sodium sulfate found in molasses , fish hydroslate and coconut water will neutralize chems and breaks down chloramine into ammonia. After a couple hours of aerating. ammonia evaporates.

I do compost tea's every other watering and enzyme tea's the rest.
Exactly. Municipalities do all sorts of stuff. Drinking water (and wastewater) treatment cant turn on a dime. Sh*t happens all the time.
Aerating is the bomb.
 

iiKode

Well-Known Member
i also stopped dechlorinating my water, i had to leave it outside, and now its summer i dont want larvae in my water, so i just fill up my bucket, seal the lid and let it warm up a little, so i aint feedin my plants freezing tap water. Dont see any difference from when i let my water sit for 24-48 hours.
 

jkahndb0

Well-Known Member
I am prepared for the shit storm to follow.
Here is some interesting stuff, you don't have to dig far to find 1000s of references to chlorine and chlorides.
On RIU however, you would think we have a brain trust of the worlds leading scientists, given the excessive attention and focus placed on chlorine.
I am no scientist, just a guy trying to understand how and why things are so readily accepted as fact, just because they are repeated over and over.
I'm sure removing chlorine from your water is not harmful, it's just given all the other elements we focus on, wouldn't it be nice to know this is one less step?
I have stopped dechlorinating my water months ago, and I see no appreciable difference.

Here's a few links and short statements. There is tons of info out there, I just haven't found the one that says it harms plants in normal levels. Yes there is info that states EXTREMELY HIGH levels of chlorides interfere with absorption of nutrients, but none of us are ever going to see anywhere close to those levels from our taps!

Chlorine is bountiful in Earth's atmosphere, soils and oceans, typically in the form of a positively-charged ion known as chloride. Chloride atoms bond and break from other atoms readily, creating many compounds useful to man. Chlorine mixed with water acts as a purifying disinfectant and keeps swimming pools and drinking water free from pathogens. Plants tolerate chlorine and utilize it in its chloride form during plant growth. However, excessively high concentrations of chloride are harmful to plants.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/info_12003849_co...#ixzz2a4sgBJRp

According to Wade Berry from UCLA, "Plants require relatively high chlorine concentration in their tissues ." He continues to state that plants suffering from a chlorine deficiency will exhibit an unnatural coloring. Furthermore, the leaves may have an abnormal shape and new leaves may wilt and die. In severe cases, bronzing will occur on the tops of mature leaves. To correct this deficiency, simply apply a fertilizer that contains chloride. The average chloride in topsoil is 10 parts per million (p.p.m.). Plant growth suffers if the level of chloride in the soil falls to 2 p.p.m. or lower.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/way_5729155_chlo...#ixzz2a4quF6X9

The optimal level of chloride in soils and plant tissues is neither universally known nor understood. With no optimal value to use for comparison in experiments, scientists have few other factors to measure and evaluate for a better understanding of chloride levels. Typically, plants can tolerate high concentrations of chloride in the soil without harm, as high as 20,000 parts per million. Dried tissues from healthy plants can reveal internal concentrations of 70 to 100 ppm.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/info_12003849_co...#ixzz2a4s6q3d6

It's kind of funny, the EPA standard for chlorine in drinking water is 4ppm. That seems like a LONG way from a harmful level to mj plants.
I de-chlorinated in the beginning but haven't for a long time and have had absolutely zero problems.

Also if you check the website for your water company they publish water tests frequently so you can see how much chlorine is in the water... But I doubt it would be a problem anyway...
 
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