Distilled Water for Hydroponics

Why Distilled Water is Better Than Tap Water

All of the impurities left in the water will eventually become assimilated in some form, healthy or not, within the biology of your plants. You don’t want trace elements of chemicals messing with your balance. Water which is properly purified and distilled guarantees that your plants receive only the hydration and nutrient-profile which you supply them.

Distilled water and reverse osmosis water are among the optimal choices for anyone who wants the best quality cannabis. Not only does this clean source for hydroponics result in faster growth, bigger buds, and better yields, but it also improves the overall resistance of your plant to pests and disease thanks to fostering good health at all times.

Adding Nutrients to Your Distilled Water

While distilled water’s lack of nutrients is perfect for a seasoned grower, many novices overlook the fact that its distillation removes all minerals. This means that while perfectly pH balance, distilled water is missing Calcium and Magnesium. Fortunately, both can be easily added to your hydroponic system.

Powdered Calcium Magnesium Nitrate and CalMag derived from magnesium carbonate are available. Products derived from magnesium carbonate are considered organic and are preferred over nitrates. Nitrates have been connected to countless problems spanning potency to yield. If you get the balance wrong, your plants could suffer immensely. Organic CalMag is far safer.

How to Add Calcium and Magnesium

Before filling your hydroponics system with distilled water, you’ll need to add Calcium Magnesium Nitrate. This is cheaply available at any good hardware, gardening or hydroponics store. While each concentrate will give its own dilution instructions, you generally add ¼ teaspoon of CalMag to every gallon of water.

Before adding any nutrient solution to your water, including a solution of CalMag, make sure that the mix is between 68° and 72° Fahrenheit (just under lukewarm).

DIY Distilled Water

Home distillation using nothing more than a pot, tap water, and ice is possible, but it is highly unlikely that any grower will have the patience to produce gallons and gallons of freshly distilled water from the steam amassed atop a pot.

The only other problem with this process is that in some cases volatile organic compounds prevail which hold a far higher melting point than 212° or boiling point. This means boiled and cooled water is still contaminated to a degree.

While homemade distilled water is far better than tap water, properly purified distilled water undergoes additional purification. Many processes exist including distillation and deionization, just make sure that the distilled water that you buy is 100% water.

Distillation Kits

Dedicated distillers can be purchased for large-scale growers but the expenditure is still questionable. You’ll only ever have to change your water if you move your hydroponics. The cheapest home distillation kit for drinking will set you back around $100 while the larger kits are for scientific lab work, not marijuana.

Avoid Air Conditioner Water

Now don’t misinterpret ‘distilled water is good for hydro’ and rush off to your air conditioner’s collection chamber. This water is filthy. It is contaminated with dust, debris and even extra aluminum ions from the fins on your air conditioner’s evaporator. You can drink air conditioner water if you’re dying of thirst but don’t use it in your hydroponics. It’s not good for plants.

Consider Using All Purified Waters

If you are looking for water which contains even lower trace elements of minerals and organic compounds then give reverse osmosis water a try. Some growers swear by this highly filtered source of hydration, choosing it over any other water source for their hydroponic reservoir.

When you consider how the water in your system is constantly recirculated with nothing, but the nutrients added as needed, you’ll soon see that the meager price of either distilled or reverse osmosis water is an investment which is well worth it.