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Question about Nepenthes

simo_3048DCcXeXisimo_3048DCcXeXi Posts: 8
in Problem solving
Hi! I have a Nepenthes petiolata, and i have used tap water with it for over two months, yet it kept growing new pitchers normally and has never shown a sign of weakness. I have recently bought reverse osmosis water, and i was wondering...should i start giving it this water or keep using tap water? If you suggest me to start using reverse osmosis water, should i give it to it slowly, by dissolving it into tap water for the first days?

Posts

  • CopperdogCopperdog Posts: 617
    Hello there, I always though nepenthes needed rain water only as tap water is too strong for them.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I run out of rainwater when my 4 x 240L water butts are empty so use RO water for my blueberries.
    I just use RO and I suspect your plants will prefer it if you have hard water.
    You can mix it with tap water for a few waterings so your plants can adjust, but my blueberries are very happy with it straight away.

    As an aside, I don't change the RO filters as per the instructions. I use the same filters for about 5-6 years before changing them.
    The water is for plants, not for drinking.
    I have a TDS meter which shows that even after 5-6 years the water is still clear of any additives - although probably has bacteria in it, but that's not going to bother plants. My tap water has a TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) of around 0.9 due to carbonates.
    My RO water has a TDS of about 0.06 even after 5-6 years.
    I only replace the filters when the output of it is very slow.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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