Is it better to use rain water?

It's 5 o'clock somewhere

It's 5 o'clock somewhere

Well-Known Member
I have heard you can get better results with rain water than RO water. Does anyone know the validity of this? It's been raining for 2 days straight and will continue tomorrow and i put 2-5 gallon buckets out yesterday and they are full. Should I switch from tap water that I let sit for a few days to the rain water or stick with what i've been doing?
 
A

aqua

Active Member
nice topic, i am using rain water sometimes without problem, it will be good to learn this
 
LoudBlunts

LoudBlunts

Well-Known Member
i was debating if i want to buy a rain harvesting kit. it depends....i may still get it for my outside shit.
 
BIGSIX

BIGSIX

Well-Known Member
Reverse osmosis water is the purest cleanest it can get.As for rainwater, depending on where you live you might want to stay away from it. it can be contaminted, worse so than tap water even. you ever hear of acid rain? RO is the way to go, its cheap around here, like 15 cents a gallon at aquarium stores in my area. I have also seen RO filtration units for as cheap as 300 bucks.
 
It's 5 o'clock somewhere

It's 5 o'clock somewhere

Well-Known Member
I have heard of acid rain but I know we don't suffer from that where i live. RO water has been purefied but it has also had all the nutrientce like the minerals taken out. All of that needs to be replaced with your nutes. I also read that it is a good source of sulfer. When you asked if I was filtering it what do you mean? Like with a coffee filter? I haven't ph'ed it yet but I will this afternoon when i get home.
 
Dirtyboy

Dirtyboy

Well-Known Member
Rain water is better. Just like the sun is better than a light. This is a silly question. I am sorry.
 
Elmo88

Elmo88

Active Member
the thing about rain water isnt how it looks, but where u are. if planes are flying around, u can get exaust mixed in the water. Bad pollution? If you whouldnt drink it, your plants shouldnt either.
 
BigBudBalls

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member
LOL. Gonna take it from the gutters on your house? After it rolls off and asphalt shingled roof and into rotting leaf infested gutters?

RO is the best it gets? LOL (Home Depot Shopper) How about De-I water? (RO is perfectly fine, and killer fro the plants, but far from 'the best it gets' for water)


As for the rain, the above post kinda sums it up.
*where* do you live?
Look at the Wind Rose for your sight and ee where the prevailing winds blow from and what in that path.

Cali? probably ok. (pacific feeds it) Harrisburgh PA? (Pittsburgh feeds it) not likely.

Use the rain water for your lawn and tomatoes.
 
The Boy

The Boy

Well-Known Member
I think RO's gotta be better than rain water.
Rain water has bad stuff in it along with good stuff.
With RO we add the nutes anyways so it only has good stuff and no bad stuff.
Seems logical to me.
 
LoudBlunts

LoudBlunts

Well-Known Member
BigBudBalls said:
LOL. Gonna take it from the gutters on your house? After it rolls off and asphalt shingled roof and into rotting leaf infested gutters?

RO is the best it gets? LOL (Home Depot Shopper) How about De-I water? (RO is perfectly fine, and killer fro the plants, but far from 'the best it gets' for water)


As for the rain, the above post kinda sums it up.
*where* do you live?
Look at the Wind Rose for your sight and ee where the prevailing winds blow from and what in that path.

Cali? probably ok. (pacific feeds it) Harrisburgh PA? (Pittsburgh feeds it) not likely.

Use the rain water for your lawn and tomatoes.
Click to expand...
English Rain Barrel ?

Rain Barrels

Harvesting Rainwater for Landscape Use good read!@!!!!!
 
email468

email468

Well-Known Member
I would think since plants have evolved over millions of years to use rain water that it would be the ideal water source. I think the trouble lies in making sure the rain water never has a chance to stagnate during the gathering process as it sits in barrels. But I don't understand the gathering process so could be way off-base.

Also, depending on your climate, you may not have enough rain water.

I use RO (finally) - it is cheap ($200 filter), convenient, very clean and good for plants.
 
boooky

boooky

Well-Known Member
email468 said:
I would think since plants have evolved over millions of years to use rain water that it would be the ideal water source. I think the trouble lies in making sure the rain water never has a chance to stagnate during the gathering process as it sits in barrels. But I don't understand the gathering process so could be way off-base.

Also, depending on your climate, you may not have enough rain water.

I use RO (finally) - it is cheap ($200 filter), convenient, very clean and good for plants.
Click to expand...
Some areas the rain water could be nasty as well..Make sure whats arround you if your in a city I wouldnt suggest it.
 
kevin

kevin

Well-Known Member
what is ro water? i've been using drinking water from wal mart for .50 a gallon, the ph level is right at 6.4
 
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