Dechlorinating Water for Better Soil
I’m writing this on Wednesday, April 28, and we could surely use some rain.
I’m almost out of the rainwater I collect. Lately I’ve been spending my evenings holding a water hose until the sun goes down. Thankfully, my place has a well and I don’t rely on treated water for my plants.
The chlorine in city water causes a major problem for organic gardeners. Public water supplies put chlorine in the tap water to kill bacteria that could grow in the water. The whole point of organic gardening is to improve the soil. If you water your plants with chlorinated water, you will crumble one of the three pillars of soil improvement.
You might ask, “What are the three pillars of soil improvement?” I’m talking about chemistry, biology and physics. I heard Texas organic gardening guru Howard Garrett talking about this on his radio show the other day. Too often, Garrett said, gardeners preoccupy themselves with soil chemistry – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) levels. They put out lots of fertilizer but don’t spend enough effort to improve the other two pillars: biology and physics.
By physics, he means the soil structure: clay, sand or loam; whether the soil is lose and aerated or compact. Biology is equally important: is the soil full of microbes, earthworms and other beneficial living creatures, or is it lifeless and sterile?
For you city-dwelling gardeners, you might see where I am going with this. Using chlorinated water will harm or kill the beneficial bacteria in the soil.
There are a few things you can do to alleviate the problem. First, consider collecting rainwater. I collect rainwater in several old molasses tubs. You can probably pick some up from a cattle rancher for free. A few years ago, my cousin gave me some 330-gallon liquid storage totes, the kind that can be moved around with a forklift. Whenever I get around to installing gutters on my house, I plan to connect them to these totes for rainwater storage.
You can dechlorinate water by simply filling up an open-top container and letting it sit for a few days. Most of the chlorine will evaporate out of the water. You can speed up the process with an air stone bubbler, like the kind used in fish tanks. Once you start using good, dechlorinated water on your plants, you should try improving the soil biology. Apple cider vinegar and liquid molasses are the best products for the money, in my opinion. Add an ounce or two of each to a gallon of water. Use this mixture as a soil drench to increase microbial life in the soil. Apple cider vinegar contains a huge diversity of micronutrients that beneficial bacteria love. Liquid molasses provides sugars to stimulate bacteria metabolism.
How often should you water? That depends on your soil type and what kind of plants you are growing. I typically use the finger test. This involves sticking anindex finger about knuckle-deep into the soil. If you feel moisture or if soil sticks to your finger, you probably don’t need to water. If the soil feels dry knuckle-deep, you should probably water.
How much should you water? You can’t really over-water your plants. Watering too often is what hurts plants the most. Nearly all plants grow best in alternating cycles of wet and dry soil conditions. When you water, make sure you water thoroughly. Then allow the soil to dry completely before watering again.
Don’t allow the soil to stay dry for too long, however. Extended dry periods can cause the soil structure to become hydrophobic to the point where it will not absorb water.
Mixing compost in with the soil helps to retain moisture and it benefits microbial growth. Those with raised beds can also add products like vermiculite and coconut coir to improve water retention. Peat moss also helps with water retention, but I don’t use it because peat is very acidic, antimicrobial, and it’s a non-renewable resource.
In the Greenhouse
This week I planted a variety of amaranth called Chinese Multicolored Spinach. It is supposed to be a tasty heat-loving salad green for the summer. I have never grown it before, but I’m excited to give it a try. I may have some for sale in a few week.
If you have any questions or comments about this column, send them to andy@fayettecountyrecord.com.