Reverse osmosis water is the result of a high-pressure filtration process that removes around 95–99% of dissolved salts and impurities from water. This is accomplished by forcing regular tap water through a semipermeable membrane, which separates clean liquid on one side while leaving minerals, salts, and contaminants on the other.
Although reverse osmosis purifies water incredibly effectively, it can be highly costly because it takes up to six liters of water to produce just one liter of RO water. As such, reverse osmosis is often used to treat drinking or cooking water, rather than for aesthetic or medicinal treatments.
The Benefits Of Reverse Osmosis For Cannabis
Reverse osmosis (RO) provides an ideal water sample for cannabis growers looking to maximize the potential of their crops. RO water stands out among other sources as it’s essentially the purest form you can provide your plants, free of impurities and contaminants.
Rather than stripping away vital nutrients, its goal is to hourglass them so that weed growers can fine-tune their processes. By starting with a clean slate, they are given more precise control over the resources given to their plants than if they used tap or city water as close competitors—as these haven’t gone through any filtration process and have unknown levels of salt and minerals.
By dialing in nutrition provided via RO water, cannabis cultivators can maximize the healthiest environment for their treasures. Magnesium, calcium and NPK—all elements contributing to successful growth—can all be actively monitored when using RO instead of blindly assuming what could already be present in untreated water samples.
Since RO removes most existing minerals from the standard tap or well water, this allows accountants to better gauge what does need topping off or eliminating without mistakenly overloading on areas that don’t need additional help.
How Reverse Osmosis Systems Work
Reverse osmosis is a process used to produce clean drinking water. It works by forcing the source water through a membrane, leaving impurities behind. The membrane typically consists of three layers: a polyester web, a microporous polysulfone layer, and a polyamide barrier. This type of filtration can be implemented on both large and small scales.
For those looking for smaller-scale filtration, reverse osmosis systems can be set up to work with your current water system. In areas where tap water is contaminated with high levels of either fluoride or chlorine, local residents will find something like this especially beneficial.
Though costly to install initially, reverse osmosis filters are designed to remove contaminants from the water supply quickly and efficiently—offering up safe drinking water in no time at all.
Is Reverse Osmosis Water Safe To Use With Cannabis?
Using reverse osmosis water for growing cannabis plants is becoming an increasingly popular option, as it offers many benefits for the grower. By opting to use this method of water filtration in their hydroponic systems, growers receive clean water that has been stripped of many contaminants and minerals.
This is especially beneficial in areas with deputed local tap water supplies, allowing growers to have greater control over the nutrient-levels they are providing their plants with.
Additionally, it helps growers prevent any bacterial or fungal growth that might occur as a result of using unclean ground or tap water which can be detrimental to cannabis plant health.
Cannabis Growing: How To Use Reverse Osmosis Water
For growers looking to gain full control over their cannabis plants, reverse osmosis water can be a great resource. This is due to the fact that it has been filtered down to such a pure state that there are no contaminants or unknown levels of minerals.
Growers are free to adjust the nutrient content of their purified water sample so that their cannabis plants have access only to what they need. This allows them to ‘designer’ their own water for proper growth and nutrient uptake.
Nutrients And Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis is a great option for growing cannabis because the process removes virtually all minerals and impurities from the water while leaving the necessary nutrients intact. This makes it easy to control nutrient content and pH level, which are important factors in giving cannabis plants optimal growth conditions.
The end result of the reverse osmosis process produces quality water with a pH level that typically sits around 6.0–6.5, making it ideal for cannabis plants grown in soil—which prefer to be around 6.5. It’s important for growers to measure their pH levels after adding nutrients though, as this could significantly alter the readings.
Watering Frequency
When it comes to watering your cannabis plants, the most important thing is understanding the frequency. As a general rule, you should be watering your plants every two to three days. This will depend on how much direct sunlight the plant is receiving, as well as how much soil moisture it holds; but usually two to three days is a good guideline for regular watering.
However, if you are using reverse osmosis water – which can contain large amounts of dissolved minerals – you may want to alternate with regular water. This will prevent too much fertilizer from being added at once and potentially harming the plant in some way.
Taking caution when it comes to water quality and fertilizer could help your plant reach its fullest potential more easily. Keeping track of each time you water is a key factor in achieving success with cannabis cultivation as having an organized schedule helps manage nutrients and moisture levels properly.
How To Store Reverse Osmosis Water
Reverse osmosis water is a great way to ensure that you have access to pure, filtered water anytime you need it. Unfortunately, due to its purity, it is not meant to be stored for long periods of time. Experts suggest that it should not be kept longer than two years. If you find yourself needing to store your reverse osmosis water for longer than this, then it is best to use it regularly or discard the remaining solution.
When storing reverse osmosis water, there are a few precautions that need to be taken in order to maintain the optimal quality of your solution. To prevent any unwanted plant growth such as algae and fungus, the liquid has to be protected from light.
Storing in a dark and cool place will help slow down any degradation of your filtered liquid and prolong shelf-life. Pantry shelves or cupboards can make great places for storing reverse osmosis water since they tend to not be too hot or bright.
Keeping lids tightly shut and making sure containers are upright can also help keep sediment from settling at the bottom of containers or bottles over time.
Should You Use a Reverse Osmosis System For Cannabis?
One of the most pressing questions for those interested in cultivating cannabis is whether or not to use a reverse osmosis (RO) system for their plants. There are two camps when it comes to this topic; those that firmly believe an RO system can provide superior results, and those who prefer keeping things as natural as possible.
On one hand, using an RO system becomes increasingly attractive when you consider the elimination of contaminants and the ability to fine-tune the nutrition levels for optimal plant health.
However, RO has been around only relatively recently in comparison to how long cannabis has been surviving without such sophisticated filtration methods, leaving new growers with a valid question about whether or not they really need an RO system.