We have an RO system under the sink in the kitchen. We originally paid
around $200 for it and change the filters every six months or so. The unit
is good for something like 40 gpd. Of course, we only use it for ice,
drinking & cooking.

Diana

"Kenni Judd" wrote in message
...
Joanna: the milk should be rinsed or at least wiped off with clean water.
For the most part, this is WAY too time-consuming, but hey, Jack just
scrubbed them all with Neem, so I figure he's got time on his hands G.
I've used lemon juice, too, but had the same rinsing problem unless it was
weak to begin with [well, it wasn't the smell, but the ants seemed to
think the plant had become a Vitamin C dispenser G] Also, without
knowing what all he grows, I wouldn't want to say that ALL of them would
tolerate straight lemon juice. Same re the vinegar; it never hurt
anything I used it on, but ...

All of above is among the many reasons we switched to RO water several
years ago. If the plants don't get spotted up to begin with, they don't
have to be cleaned. Our system is obviously much larger (and more
expensive) than what a hobby grower would need (although it does also make
good drinking water, once you get used to the total lack of flavor), but I
hear that there are some really small [3-5 gallons a day] household units
out now, at relatively low prices. Kenni

"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:Nue2g.129$BO2.28@trnddc02...
Kenni and Jack,
I remember someone here on rgo (I think it was Al, actually) pointing out
that if one grows orchids indoors then using milk to clean leaves is a
really bad idea, due to the sour milk smell. Why _weak_ lemonade? I have
cleaned Phal leaves with undiluted lemon juice with no ill effect that I
could tell.
Joanna

"Kenni Judd" wrote in message
...
Try milk (whole, not low-fat), cut 50-50 with water. [It will also leave
a slight, natural-looking lustre. If that doesn't work, try weak
lemonade or a weak vinegar solution. The key is the acid, different
ones work better on different kinds of spots. Or look for one of the
bottled leaf-shine products that contains citric acid. Kenni

"Jack" wrote in message
oups.com...
BTW is there something that I can use to cut throught the mineral on
the leaves, the neen oil leaves a nice luster, but some of the spots
are really hard to get off.

Jack

3 days until I get my new compots...