Diane Mancino wrote:

I didn't think the water would be ok- typical musty basement, if you
wouldn't drink it, don't put it on a plant or float a fish in it


Well, I disagree. I wouldn't drink rainwater off my roof, either, but I
would certainly water plants with it. We tend to baby our plants more
than necessary. Think of all the stuff floating around in the winds in
the jungle. Dust, bird poo... I wouldn't drink it, but the orchids
probably appreciate it. I routinely use dehumidifier water on my
orchids. I just add it into my RO stock tank (a big plastic garbage
can) with the rest of my water, and go. It is diluted quite a bit, but
I've used it straight. It is certainly healthier for plants than salt
softened water, there should be no question about what to use if those
are your two choices.

Now, I have learned from reading this group (I learn stuff too!!!) that
there is the potential for copper to leach out of the condenser. This
is probably bad for drinking. But, we use all sorts of copper based
fungicides on plants all the time, so I doubt it is bad for orchids, and
the concentrations are miniscule. Legionella can live in still water,
such as that in your dehumidifier catch basin (or a cruise ship,
lately), so that is another concern. Dump it out frequently, and maybe
bleach it once in a while.

Anyway, I don't think the "I wouldn't drink it" test is suitable. I
drink plenty of water that would be slow death to my orchids, and they
drink plenty of water that I wouldn't find terribly palatable
(fertilizer? Ick). And distilled water tastes awful... It is more a
matter of what water _doesn't_ have that makes it suitable. If it
doesn't have a high salt content, a lot of free chlorine, or herbicides
in it, then it is suitable for plants. Dehumidifier water passes these
tests. I still wouldn't drink it, or float a fish in it...

Rob

I agree, that "I wouldn't drink it" wasn't a good rule of thumb.. It was my
first thought on a hot day. BTW..I measured out some miracle grow yesterday
in a gallon pitcher, man- looks just like one of the neat blue Kool-Aid
flavors- better dump it before some thirsty teen ( lots of them passing
through here) decides to chug it down.



"Rob Halgren" wrote in message
...
Diane Mancino wrote:

I didn't think the water would be ok- typical musty basement, if you
wouldn't drink it, don't put it on a plant or float a fish in it


Well, I disagree. I wouldn't drink rainwater off my roof, either, but I
would certainly water plants with it. We tend to baby our plants more
than necessary. Think of all the stuff floating around in the winds in
the jungle. Dust, bird poo... I wouldn't drink it, but the orchids
probably appreciate it. I routinely use dehumidifier water on my
orchids. I just add it into my RO stock tank (a big plastic garbage
can) with the rest of my water, and go. It is diluted quite a bit, but
I've used it straight. It is certainly healthier for plants than salt
softened water, there should be no question about what to use if those
are your two choices.

Now, I have learned from reading this group (I learn stuff too!!!) that
there is the potential for copper to leach out of the condenser. This
is probably bad for drinking. But, we use all sorts of copper based
fungicides on plants all the time, so I doubt it is bad for orchids, and
the concentrations are miniscule. Legionella can live in still water,
such as that in your dehumidifier catch basin (or a cruise ship,
lately), so that is another concern. Dump it out frequently, and maybe
bleach it once in a while.

Anyway, I don't think the "I wouldn't drink it" test is suitable. I
drink plenty of water that would be slow death to my orchids, and they
drink plenty of water that I wouldn't find terribly palatable
(fertilizer? Ick). And distilled water tastes awful... It is more a
matter of what water _doesn't_ have that makes it suitable. If it
doesn't have a high salt content, a lot of free chlorine, or herbicides
in it, then it is suitable for plants. Dehumidifier water passes these
tests. I still wouldn't drink it, or float a fish in it...

Rob

And, with the newer units, aluminum.




"Rob Halgren" wrote in message
...
Diane Mancino wrote:


Now, I have learned from reading this group (I learn stuff too!!!) that
there is the potential for copper to leach out of the condenser.