Hard water and Rhododendrons on London balcony
 

Aa I cannot apply rainwater any advise would be welcome on reducing the
impact of hard tap water on my Rhodos, Azeleas etc. I can put on
Squestrone and tea from time to time but the regular watering is thro
an auto hose system. Are there filters or lime neutralising slow
release chemicals?
Thanks

Hard water and Rhododendrons on London balcony
 

"Surya" wrote in message
...
Aa I cannot apply rainwater any advise would be welcome on reducing the
impact of hard tap water on my Rhodos, Azeleas etc. I can put on
Squestrone and tea from time to time but the regular watering is thro
an auto hose system. Are there filters or lime neutralising slow
release chemicals?
Thanks

A water softener should help, also try feeding the soil using Ferrous
Shulphate.

Hard water and Rhododendrons on London balcony
 

On Thu, 20 Mar 2003 11:50:01 +0000 (UTC), "AWM"
wrotc:

"Surya" wrote in message
...
Aa I cannot apply rainwater any advise would be welcome on reducing the
impact of hard tap water on my Rhodos, Azeleas etc. I can put on
Squestrone and tea from time to time but the regular watering is thro
an auto hose system. Are there filters or lime neutralising slow
release chemicals?
Thanks

A water softener should help, also try feeding the soil using Ferrous
Shulphate.

I have an small "acid bed" in a chalky area (a bed lined with
plastic sheet pierced for drainage and filled with appropriate
ericacious compost). I try and water it with rain water as the mains
water here is about 7.8. However my rainwater collection facilities
are not very voluminous and I was wondering if the addition of nitric
acid to the mains water as practised by hydroponic gardeners might be
a thought I could entertain.

I know it wouldn't have much effect on my normal soil with all its
built in PH buffers, but might it be a good idea to maintain the
acidity of ericaceous compost and counteract any alkalinity creeping
in from the surroundings? My Rhododendron is definitely sulking.

Hussein
Grow a little garden