Water type and pH for growing seedlings

[DirtFarmer]

What kind of water do you use to water your seedling transplants and what is its pH level? What is optimal? Seems like there are so many variables that can be.

 

[oneeye]

I use rainwater for all my container plants most especially seed germination and seedlings. The best pH for small plants is 6.5 to 7. pH for the best nutrient absorption. Since rainwater absorbs carbonic acid from carbon dioxide the pH is perfect.

Tap water is treated with chemicals, and the pH is altered to keep heavy metals from leaching into the drinking water. Some of the chemicals can harm tiny plant roots.

The other option is to use filtered reverse osmosis water fortified with Cal Mag supplement. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Meadowlark]

Rainwater here. It is very easy to prove to yourself that it is superior to city water by just running a side-by-side test.

Or you can do a quick search of the 'net "The best water for seedlings is rainwater. Rainwater is nutritious because it contains small amounts of minerals and is slightly acidic ph. Rainwater causes the minerals in the soil to liberate more easily compared to other types of water."
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=d6c3...5QjgzQjBFMzI5MzI2NzVCMiZGT1JNPVZBTUdaQw&ntb=1

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[Nevada Yote]

I just use tap water but, the tap water out here in the high desert of Nevada is basically straight well water. It's barely treated at all! So, the advice above for using rainwater is good, if you are fortunate enough to get rain. In my location, annual precipitation is right at 10 inches per year, on average. So, the rainwater idea, while a good one, just isn't practical here. Also, check your laws! In some locations, collecting rainwater is actually illegal!

As for PH? Yep, something slightly lower than 7.0 is best. I use a combination of methods to lower my PH. I use elemental sulfur in some places where MUCH lower PH is needed. It's a slow process but works for me. If I need to lower PH rapidly and in a limited area, such as watering seedlings would be, I mix vinegar into the water. You MUST be careful when doing that! I keep PH test paper on hand while making my mix. Add a little vinegar to the water, stir it up, test it with the test paper. If the PH is still too high, add a little more vinegar, stir, test. If I have added too much vinegar and the PH is too low, add water to dilute it. This is a quick but TEMPORARY method to adjust PH.

 

[Meadowlark]

... Also, check your laws! In some locations, collecting rainwater is actually illegal!

Where specifically would it be illegal to collect rainwater?

And is it limited by amounts...such as even 1 gallon would be illegal?

 

[Nevada Yote]

Where specifically would it be illegal to collect rainwater?

And is it limited by amounts...such as even 1 gallon would be illegal?

Here's a site that lays it out. In Colorado, it's totally illegal. In Utah it's highly restricted. https://smartwateronline.com/news/is-it-illegal-to-collect-rainwater-in-the-us

 

[Meadowlark]

Here's a site that lays it out. In Colorado, it's totally illegal. In Utah it's highly restricted.

You must be reading a different law than what you referenced.

It is not "totally" illegal to collect rainwater anywhere in the USA. Two states, however, restrict the amount you can collect Utah and Colorado. There is absolutely no Federal restriction...only two states have antiquated restrictions and both of which currently are in the process of updating those antiquated restrictions.

In Utah the restriction is 2500 gallons per property. However, a permit system is in place for going above that amount.

In Colorado, the restriction is 220 gallons per property. However, in both states Colorado and Utah are in the process of updating their laws to allow for the legal harvesting of rainwater.

The law that is the basis for this ridiculous restriction dates back 120 years when it was feared rainwater collection could possibly adversely affect run off.

The fact that those two states are looking to "modernize" and update their antiquated laws is good news not bad. It tells me they recognize the stupidity of those antiquated laws and the incredible utility in encouraging property owners to collect and use rainwater.

Rainwater is the best for home gardeners.


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[DirtFarmer]

Anyone ever actually test the pH of their rainwater? There can be a variance because of acid rain. 4.2 compared to a 5.6.

I wasn't aware that rainwater had any nutrients other than maybe some carbon absorbed from the atmosphere.

 

[oneeye]

Anyone ever actually test the pH of their rainwater? There can be a variance because of acid rain. 4.2 compared to a 5.6.

I wasn't aware that rainwater had any nutrients other than maybe some carbon absorbed from the atmosphere.

Its really hard to test the pH of plain rainwater using a common pH tester because the ppm is so low there's no conductivity to bounce off of and will give false readings. One can test rainwater using the regent pH test kits but they are not very detail.

What makes rainwater so great is that its has plasticity and will conform or become whatever it comes in contact with. If you put it on soil thats alkaline it becomes alkaline. If you catch the rain in a water barrow and not let it hit the ground then it stays neutral waiting to comvert. Rainwater changes and becomes what ever it touches without changing the chemistry of the soil.

 

[oneeye]

Rain water is acidic and thats what makes it so good because trace elements like iron, zinc, and copper are metals that need acid. When the acid in the water comes in contact with the metals the acid desolves the metals making the metals soluble and more useful to the plants. Without the acid in the water the metals will just remain the same.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Rain water is acidic, but naturally that would be because it absorbs carbon dioxide in its descent creating dilute carbonic acid, a pretty mild acid. Pollution would bring sulphur products into the equation, mostly producing sulphonic rather than sulphuric acid, but a mixture of both, much more acidic.
The natural acid will have very little effect on metals in their metallic form, but salts of the metals will dissolve more readily in it even if it is not strong enough to produce carbonate salts of the metals, sulphur, nitrogen, and chlorine bonds are too strong to be replaced by the carbonate, so, for example, ferrous or ferric chloride won't change, but will become more available. You can see something similar in electrolysis, where the electrolyte is added to pure water things happen slowly, add a bit of acid and it all speeds up. Also in Oxidation, iron in pure water will rust more slowly, iron, water, and oxygen will produce rust, but add a little acid to the equation and the process speeds up greatly.

 

[gary350]

Where specifically would it be illegal to collect rainwater?

And is it limited by amounts...such as even 1 gallon would be illegal?

Colorado has very strict water right laws, any thing that collects or blocks water is illegal. I have friends that moved from TN to CO they had 2 rain barrels to collect water for their garden and received a city code notice, it is illegal to trap water in barrels. Do Google search for CO rain water laws it basically says, water must be allowed to drain down hill naturally. They stopped using rain barrels and started using city water then they received a notice that water is being trapped around plants that is illegal, water must drain down hill naturally. Once they were on city code radar gestapo spy kept and eye on them they received so any legal notices they had to stop gardening.

Here in TN we have too much spring rain 30" to 48" Jan to May then dry as desert June to Oct 2" to 3" of rain. I like rain water but I have to use city water to keep plants alive in 100°f dry desert soil June to Sept. The advantage of no rain June to Oct is no weed and no grass in the garden. I have to water plants every day to keep them alive. We are already having drought in TN and its is only April.

 

[GFTL]

Rainwater can be a pain to collect if you're not set up to do it. I have a rainwater tank but if the water sits for any time the pH can rise drastically. Most tap water (and that's what I use for seedlings) is 7-7.3 pH and is fine for starting seeds. From what I've heard seeds provide all the nutrients they need for the first couple of weeks so there's no advantage in rainwater for that purpose. Keep it simple.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Rainwater can be a pain to collect if you're not set up to do it. I have a rainwater tank but if the water sits for any time the pH can rise drastically. Most tap water (and that's what I use for seedlings) is 7-7.3 pH and is fine for starting seeds. From what I've heard seeds provide all the nutrients they need for the first couple of weeks so there's no advantage in rainwater for that purpose. Keep it simple.

I agree, I also know I am not introducing any pathogens with tap water.

 

[gary350]

Buy a pack of ph paper $2 free postage on Ebay. When i lived in AZ city water was 8 ph, I use to fill 5 gallon buckets with water then pour in 1/4 cup of vinegar to lower water ph to about 7 for the garden. TN city water is about 7 ph. AZ has more rock that TN minerals in rock makes soil high ph.