Water butt system

[ConorDash]

Hello all,

Wondered if anyone here had knowledge of or their own water butt, rainwater collection system?
It's not a terribly common thing for me or maybe even in the UK, first I've seen or heard of it was when I moved to where I am now.

I have 2 water butts that are setup with pipes, collecting rainwater off the roof of a garage (I think). The elderly couple who were here before me, kept everything very well, all very well cared for.
However those water butts haven't been touched or cleaned in the 5 years that I've lived here, and as im getting on to bonsai care more and more, and I only use rainwater on them, seems like I should get them sorted out to be used as they are perfect.

I've seen the water in the butts, it's not green, algae filled or smelly, but I am still too worried about it being clean enough to water my trees with (if I could wrap my trees up in cotton wool, I would!). So any knowledge of your own systems or how you maintain them, would love to know.
I've done some research online, but thought I'd ask here too for some first hand experience

 

[sorce]

Mine first came out the gutter pretty algae green....
But it gets cleaner as it continues to rain.

I gotta get more actual barrels.
Storage bins and coolers are getting old!

Sorce

 

[LanceMac10]

We got 4 60 or so gallon food grade barrels awhile back. Hooked up to the gutter on the roof.
Actually, I paid for 'em but Nomad Johhny uses the water!!! We went to get them and the cats got NO MONEY on him!! WTF!! Out in the hinterlands of NH looking for an ATM is not a way to spend a Sunday!!!
I just use tap water. Stewartias and Azaleas are about the only plants I can think of that don't do so well with tap-water.....

I got some photos somewhere but it's a simple setup.

 

[ConorDash]

Yeh I'm starting to think I should just stop going through so much hassle and use tap water.. I'm pretty sure our water in the UK is pretty good in comparison to other countries.
But also im sure rainwater would give that tiny bit of benefit?

I think my setup is just pipes on the garage guttering down through a mesh filter to the butt. We have 2, 220l water butts.

 

[LanceMac10]

One of 'em split at the seam on the bottom!! No water in it, laying on it's side. They were used to ship pepperoncini peppers....so we joke and say, "Pepper water, get your fresh peeper water heeaa!!!
And rainwater ain't all it's cracked up to be....

 

[rockm]

Hello all,

Wondered if anyone here had knowledge of or their own water butt, rainwater collection system?
It's not a terribly common thing for me or maybe even in the UK, first I've seen or heard of it was when I moved to where I am now.

I have 2 water butts that are setup with pipes, collecting rainwater off the roof of a garage (I think). The elderly couple who were here before me, kept everything very well, all very well cared for.
However those water butts haven't been touched or cleaned in the 5 years that I've lived here, and as im getting on to bonsai care more and more, and I only use rainwater on them, seems like I should get them sorted out to be used as they are perfect.

I've seen the water in the butts, it's not green, algae filled or smelly, but I am still too worried about it being clean enough to water my trees with (if I could wrap my trees up in cotton wool, I would!). So any knowledge of your own systems or how you maintain them, would love to know.
I've done some research online, but thought I'd ask here too for some first hand experience

Your "neat freak" is going to kill your trees. Water used by most trees on the planet is FULL of stuff and they do fine. Seriously, trees get some of their nutrition from dissolved minerals in water -- including fish crap. It's been shown that plants suffer when given pure (distilled) water.

Unless your neighbor was spreading nuclear waste on the roof, brewing meth, or painting with DDT, I seriously doubt you have anything to worry about by using water collected in the barrels they so helpfully set up for you. AND FWIW, algae would be a sign the water is clean enough for plant life. It's Absence probably means the barrels aren't getting too much sun.

 

[JudyB]

I have 3 - 60 gallon rain barrels, they are old repurposed olive barrels. I have one in my cold greenhouse and two around the house. Great for me as we are on a well, and the water after the softener is bad for plants with the salt content. The water before the softener is fine, but does contain a fair amount of rust.

 

[ConorDash]

Your "neat freak" is going to kill your trees. Water used by most trees on the planet is FULL of stuff and they do fine. Seriously, trees get some of their nutrition from dissolved minerals in water -- including fish crap. It's been shown that plants suffer when given pure (distilled) water.

Unless your neighbor was spreading nuclear waste on the roof, brewing meth, or painting with DDT, I seriously doubt you have anything to worry about by using water collected in the barrels they so helpfully set up for you. AND FWIW, algae would be a sign the water is clean enough for plant life. It's Absence probably means the barrels aren't getting too much sun.

Bit of a miscommunication. They didn't set them up for me. These water butts were here when we moved in, by the previous occupants of the house.
And I never mentioned giving them pure distilled water. Just rain water.
But that water that's in those butts has been there for years and the whole thing hasn't been cleaned for years, over half a decade in fact, so I don't think I'm being too crazy to think that it might not suitable to use... I might be wrong but not crazy for thinking it.
However, I take your point about its probably fine to use, given that all trees survive with no aid normally.

When learning and going through the knowledge of how to care for your bonsai trees, it's difficult to remember sometimes that less is better. Given all the care that goes in to them usually. Thank you anyway.

 

[ConorDash]

I have 3 - 60 gallon rain barrels, they are old repurposed olive barrels. I have one in my cold greenhouse and two around the house. Great for me as we are on a well, and the water after the softener is bad for plants with the salt content. The water before the softener is fine, but does contain a fair amount of rust.

To be honest, I've no idea how the whole "hard water" softener, thing works.. I know of it but never looked in to what it all means. I guess I really should

 

[JudyB]

If you're on city water, there probably isn't any reason for you to have one.

 

[rockm]

Bit of a miscommunication. They didn't set them up for me. These water butts were here when we moved in, by the previous occupants of the house.
And I never mentioned giving them pure distilled water. Just rain water.
But that water that's in those butts has been there for years and the whole thing hasn't been cleaned for years, over half a decade in fact, so I don't think I'm being too crazy to think that it might not suitable to use... I might be wrong but not crazy for thinking it.
However, I take your point about its probably fine to use, given that all trees survive with no aid normally.

When learning and going through the knowledge of how to care for your bonsai trees, it's difficult to remember sometimes that less is better. Given all the care that goes in to them usually. Thank you anyway.

I was being facetious. I think you're being a bit hysterical, yeah.

Water in those containers, if they're still collecting water, is circulating out. Even if it were stagnant. really wouldn't matter to a tree.

Trees in swamps are "drinking" old muddy, bacteria-ridden water all their lives, as most trees do. They perfectly able to handle it. The only issue might be human induced chemicals. However, if the original owners went to the trouble to install that system, they were probably using the water for their own plants, etc. and were well aware of keeping chemicals and nasty things out of it.

 

[petegreg]

Conor, can this help?

http://walter-pall-bonsai.blogspot.sk/2010/06/feeding-substrate-and-watering-english.html?m=1

...and much more on his blog pages.

 

[rockm]

I'd be very very careful in following his watering advice. If I watered everything top to bottom twice a day, as he recommends, here in the Va. summertime, I would have all kinds of mold, fungus and other crap. Might work in Germany when it's "hot," but "hot" there is a nice day here and a cold spell in Dallas.

 

[CWTurner]

Wondered if anyone here had knowledge of or their own water butt (system)

Yeah, sometimes when I go to this local Indian restaurant, the next day I have water butt syndrome... Wait.. Oh, Water Butt System, not Water Butt Syndrome.
Never mind
CW

 

[ConorDash]

Conor, can this help?

http://walter-pall-bonsai.blogspot.sk/2010/06/feeding-substrate-and-watering-english.html?m=1

...and much more on his blog pages.

I'd be very very careful in following his watering advice. If I watered everything top to bottom twice a day, as he recommends, here in the Va. summertime, I would have all kinds of mold, fungus and other crap. Might work in Germany when it's "hot," but "hot" there is a nice day here and a cold spell in Dallas.

It's very difficult to argue with that article.. It's written by.. The man. Of course it is still victim to his location and other variables, as you are saying Rockm, but the advice I take from it is mainly about the water used. The frequency is something else, which yeh I'm sure you are right about Rockm.
I'm in the UK so his advice from Germany isn't too different to our climate, but that's besides the point.
All this talk about water being clean enough I think I'll just hang that hat up and use tap water or the occasion rainwater collected. Doesn't mean to make a difference. For the effort it takes to go through it all, there's just no point.
It's very true, our hot or even europes hot is a mild day for the US.
Thank you for the link Pete , it's very good. I've actually not read or watched much of Walter Pall, but from what I can tell, and others opinions, he seems to be the Godfather of it all. Highly respected and knowledgable.
It is true though what he says, even if watered a lot or overwatered, with the right soil, it can't hurt because all extra would just drain away.. So I guess I can't argue with that. Although both my trees aren't in that kind of position yet.
They are in good mixes but not completely inorganic and I'm not 100% comfortable with their mix yet. I'll report both in spring then I will be.

 

[ConorDash]

Yeah, sometimes when I go to this local Indian restaurant, the next day I have water butt syndrome... Wait.. Oh, Water Butt System, not Water Butt Syndrome.
Never mind
CW

Thanks. Some may argue it but no matter what the topic, I think a post with something humorous and off topic is always welcome .

 

[sorce]

I love using the rain.

I hate using a sink.

If I could....I would ship my water to a place where there are thirsty children.

Sorce

 

[ConorDash]

I love using the rain.

I hate using a sink.

If I could....I would ship my water to a place where there are thirsty children.

Sorce

That goes a little deeper than I was willing to venture lol.
Recently I'm realising that my maple really needs so much more water than my elm, due to size of tree and container.. So my idea of the amount of water I have stored is really wrong because it'll be good very quickly. So knowing I can simply use tap water when needed, is a little less stress at least

 

[ConorDash]

I'd be very very careful in following his watering advice. If I watered everything top to bottom twice a day, as he recommends, here in the Va. summertime, I would have all kinds of mold, fungus and other crap. Might work in Germany when it's "hot," but "hot" there is a nice day here and a cold spell in Dallas.

Sorry one other thing, upon finishing reading that link.. His advice on fertising.. Did you read it? Lol. That's one way to make a beginner, like me, have his head spinning! You are told certain rules and guidelines, and differing opinions go in and out slightly of those lines but him recommending something like that 2x - 3x the dose of fertiliser.. And more often.. That's an easy way to make a beginner lose his head.

 

[petegreg]

I understand this amount of fertilizer...uhm, only for inorganic soil. In the mix containing some organic... I wouldn't risk it. How many people so many ways to feed trees. I prefer organic fertilizers, plus some diluted chemical fertilizer once or twice a month... in inorganic soil. And watering with tap water or tap water from a tank of fish.
I'm still learning too, will have to hold off fertilizing my pines next spring, because this year needles are longer than old ones. But the goal was building their strength for this year.