Water is vital to all living things
Cannabis uses water in its vital functions. When you water your plants with a nutrient solution, the roots absorb and transport it into the plant’s cell. This is used to produce sugars used to grow and develop the stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds. Excellent water helps provide excellent growth!
Although you could use just any water, it may contain dissolved solids that effect how well these processes work. Dissolved solids are elements in the water such as minerals, salts & metals. Depending on the specific elements dissolved in the water, it will have a positive charge or negative charge measured by a TDS meter. Water with too high of a reading (hard water) makes it hard for the water to pass through the roots and feed the plant. Hard water can also end up coating the roots and actually repel water instead of absorbing it.
There’s no direct relation between pH and TDS. But if elements in the water are acidic or alkaline, it can change the pH level. Dissolved solids come from anything your water touches. It can come from organic matter such as leaves, silt and runoff water that contain fertilizers and pesticides. They can also come from inorganic matter such as rocks, air or pipes. Some of these are used by cannabis plants but depending on the type and quantity, your plants can have problems.
The US EPA advises that higher than 500mg of TDS can be harmful for human consumption
This also applies to your plants. Depending on the elements present, watering your plants with water that has more can cause plants to have problems absorbing nutrients, and can cause stunted growth, and reduced yields. Some elements like lead, nitrate, and cadmium are toxic so it is essential that you know what’s in your water.
The quality of water will vary from city to city, state to state, and country to country. Assuming that the water you are using is fine for cultivating cannabis without testing it first could result in poor yields, unhealthy plants, and even crop death. Cannabis plants like a pH range of between 5.8 and 6.2 so checking the pH is also important. Envih2o can provide the precise testing needed.
How to Filter For Cannabis
There are several ways to completely remove or reduce the amount of TDS in your water. By purifying or filtering your water, you can effectively eliminate bacteria, parasites and viruses, organic and inorganic chemicals, heavy metals, gasses, and other contaminants. Reverse osmosis is one way to remove contaminants from water. This type of system can have multiple stages.
- Sediment filter: Removes dust, dirt, and rust.
- Carbon filter: Removes or reduces organic compounds like chlorine and other elements that can give water a bad taste or odor.
- Semi-permeable membrane: Removes up to 98% of the remaining dissolved solid like minerals and metals.
Deionization is another choice; this process works by using ion-exchange resins that bind to the impurities and filters them. This type of purification produces high-purity water and is relatively quick but does not remove bacteria or viruses effectively.
The two main solutions for bacteria in your water are to either run Ultraviolet Disinfection, which works by ripping apart the DNA of the bacteria, or Quantum Disinfection, which works by taking the electrons from the bacteria present in the water source, making them implode and disappear.
Even rainwater needs to be checked as it can contain impurities from the air or containers that it ran through or was stored in. Rainwaters pH can vary greatly, so make sure it is checked regularly. All containers and collecting devices must be cleaned regularly.
Quality of water can change so it’s important that you request a water test every few months. Envih2o has experience with growers and manufacturing in this field. Even though cannabis uses some of the elements found in water, it’s essential you know the amount in it. The more impurities it contains, the less “good” nutrients your plant will absorb. Good water equals good growth.
