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Can I use lake or pond water?

talos4

Member
My water is very hard, but I do run it through a Pure Water filter but thats the best I can do. Both my grows with this water has resulted in PH spotting in late flower like day 42 and up. This pic is day 53. Close to chop anyway but still want things right.



So can I use pond or lake water to water plants with? It's good enough for the plants out in nature
 
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talos4

Member
Shit why didn't I think of it earlier. Will this PH spotting this late in flower matter? The pic above was about 10 days to chop. Plant looks about the same now. Should I do anything? Maybe just water good next time with some of my pond water after checking it's PH?
 

58FLH

Member
It's never too late besides you should be flushing with water anyway also I'm not positive but I've been told you can't clome lowryder. good luck
 
G

Guest

If you're growing indoors and plan to continue seriously,I'd make the investment in a R/O filter.It'll make a world of difference in your final outcome.Dehumidifier water is just as good.The only problem I'd have introducing pond/river water into an indoor grow would be pests.It seems whenever you introduce an outside substance to an inside grow,pests become inevitable..Other than possible pest problems if its not polluted it would probably be some good shit..
 

gladysvjubb

Active member
Veteran
Why not use distilled water from the grocery store? Or better yet get a countertop distiller (Sears) and make your own for about 25 cents per gallon.
 
G

Guest

That'll cost you in the longrun.The best thing a person can do if they have the money,will and inclination,is to buy an R/o system and 50 gal rainbarrel online.Simply clamp clear 1/2 inch plastic hose to the R/O spigot,and run it right to the rainbarrel.Mine runs along the countertop,behind the stove and into the holes provided at top of rainbarrel.You can either leave it on for 12-24 hours and fill it up,or just get 3 gal or so at a time when the R/O tank fills.No more staring at 40 1 gallon milkjugs fulla water every day.
 

talos4

Member
I had an RO filter at my last house, I put it in just for growing, but now I rent...I could put one in and take it with me when I move out. I'd like some more opinions on this if possible. I really don't know what pests I would get, the kind of pests that would be in water really don't have anything to do with open air or MJ plants, I would think they would just be microscopic orgasms that would die once they got dumped in dirt and dried out
 

talos4

Member
Anyway, what do I do about my plants? The pic looks like a calcium deficiancy, I'm at day 57 of flower. What action should I take? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I know my next grow will never see this water again, I'll use RO or pond
 

MrDank

Active member
Veteran
Back in college I knew this girl who had the most lush and beautiful house plants I have ever seen. I asked her what her secret was and she pointed to about a dozen or so 1-gallon jugs full of water that she said she got from the local reservoir. She said that is what her mom taught her.

I have no idea how it would work on cannabis though. The pest thing would be my first worry, then any run-off from anything whether it be pasture or crop fields that was treated with chemicals
 
G

Guest

Talos4 - is this a soil grow? If so I'm surprised you're seeing pH related issues. These just look burnt to me, the spotting could be due to that or if foliar spray was used during lights on.

I would refrain from using pond water unless it was from a decent source. Depending on your area the amount of bad bacteria, amoeba's, algae, and mosquito/frog/etc larva... I would pass on the free water.

As far as your hard water, the water filter isnt really going to help at all as it's only going to remove the chlorine and solids from the water.

If this is a soil grow I'd just put out some buckets to catch rain water and when running low either spend the cash for R/O or buy 1gal water from local store. Either way if this is soil you're water needs will be substancially less than if you were running hydro. Guess it depends on how many you're going whether it warrants dropping the cash for an R/O.
 

talos4

Member
Hey Klutter, I asked about that on another thread concerning the brown spots. I did foliar spray with lights on, and it is a soil grow. I use only Molasses, Big Grow, and Big Bloom, so only organic. Do you think this is from getting water container ferts on the leaves when the lights are on? I honestly didn't know you weren't supposed to do that, I won't from now on. I thought it was a calcium def or something. What do you think? I'm about 5 days from harvest, maybe a week
 

Steaks

Member
i use the walmart drinking water thats like 60 cents a gallon. thier drinking water has been r/o already. the distilled water is just steam distilled. If i had anymore than 5 plants tho id just get an r/o machine, save some time for ya.
 
G

Guest

Both my grows with this water has resulted in PH spotting in late flower like day 42 and up.

PH spotting?

Do you mean because your water's PH is off?

Why not buy some drops to test it and some PH up or Down?

Hard well water is usually high so you'll need ph down.

I grow with hard well water and I don't filter. I use General Hydroponics Hardwater FloraMicro with the usual grow and bloom.

Seriously, unless you know you are at an extreme calcium, mag and/or iron level, you should be able to just correct the ph.

As far as lake and pond water goes, it will most likely be worse than your well water but I've used the most disgusting sludge for outdoor late in the season once our sources dry up. For the most part they were OK. For pests you can treat it.
 

talos4

Member
I'm wondering if its a calcium deficiancy or from getting water on the leaves when the light was on, plus the water had Big Bloom in it. Just not sure what the spots are, wish I knew so I could correct it
 

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