Rain-Water Question

[EFGrows]

I have a large bucket I collect Rain-Water in via a roof gutter....I like to water my container veggies with the fresh rain water when I can...But often they don't need watering and the water in the bucket eventually begins to grow algae along the insides of the bucket....

So my question is...Can "Rain-Water" that has "set-up" for a while breed/foster bad bacteria/fungus that could be introduced to the plants if watering with it?

 

[Oliver Buckle]

It seems unlikely to me, where are these bad things going to originate? Washed out of the air, or off your roof? On the other hand if a mosquito finds it you will get mosquito larvae, and be bitten when they become adult, some sort of lid would be a good idea. I collect all the water off my roof in a butt, which overflows into two other butts down the garden, and it is the main source for watering my greenhouse. I clean it out occasionally, but not even once a year, and have no problems, without rain falling in the greenhouse I would expect it to show fairly quickly.
A lid will also keep out the light, which should stop the algae from growing.

 

[MiTmite9]

Don't worry about the algae. Your plants will appreciate the extra nitrogen.

I have loads of rainwater containers and, for a change, they are all full. Today I scooped out the mosquito larvae.

Years ago I used a small net (the kind you use to remove fish from a tank), but then I got smart and bought a stainless steel fine mesh strainer. The kind with a handle. I scoop the mosquito larvae out and dump the larvae in the garden.

One time, I saw Towhees (birds) feeding on the larvae I had dumped on a low garden wall. Circle of life type stuff.

We don't have a mosquito problem, because I don't allow the larvae to hatch. When I had Gambusia (aka "Mosquito fish"), I used to feed the larvae to the fish. Unfortunately, Raccoons managed to kill off all of my 200 Gambusia. (Sad story: 'Coons roiled up the silt in the fish pond and smothered the fish.) Alas, and woe is me. I cried like a baby.

A lot of Vector Control Dept. (gov't agency) will give you Gambusia for FREE.

 

[oneeye]

I have a large bucket I collect Rain-Water in via a roof gutter....I like to water my container veggies with the fresh rain water when I can...But often they don't need watering and the water in the bucket eventually begins to grow algae along the insides of the bucket....

So my question is...Can "Rain-Water" that has "set-up" for a while breed/foster bad bacteria/fungus that could be introduced to the plants if watering with it?

Hello friend. You are smart to catch rainwater and use in the garden. If you put a lid on the bucket and keep the Sun off the water it will last all Summer. I have stored extra rain water all Summer many times knowing in August and Sept I would be needing it. Thanks for the post and let us know how it turns out.

 

[Meadowlark]

... If you put a lid on the bucket and keep the Sun off the water it will last all Summer.

Kind of like this? The simplest rainwater collection system possible...yet very effective and clean.