Question
I've several year's worth of experience in growing carnivores and I'm trying to grow by seed in an outdoor bog garden. My fiance insists that the water expelled by our air conditioning unit is distilled and perfect for my seeds. Nothing's growing. I'm wondering if his information is inaccurate and I need to start over?

Answer
Hi Teresa,

Water collected from an air conditioning unit is essentially distilled water.  Steam distillation is almost the same process.  The only hazard that might be there for cp is some copper ion from the cooling tubes.  I seriously doubt it would be enough, however, to inhibit seed germination.  If it were, the AC cooling tubes would be heavily corroded.

Let's look at some other possibilities.  Tell me more about your bog garden.  What's the soil media?  How did you build it?  What are your seed sources, and when did you sow them?  What kind of seeds did you sow?  Does the garden flood in winter?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com