Question
I am looking to an alternative source other than going out and buying bottled distilled water all the time to water the carnivorous plants that I bought a few years ago from you (they are HUGE!).  I came across this little water distiller online, and I wondered if you thought this would make water safe for my plants?

Answer
All water distillers produce very pure water that is safe for your plants.  The main issue is whether the unit produces enough water within a reasonable time frame for less than the cost of purchasing the water.  Most tabletop units produce a gallon in 5-6 hours, or 4 gallons per day.  You then have to calculate the electrical cost based on the wattage.  Most units are about 600 watts.  Depending on your region, it will cost you 36?to make a gallon of water (based on 10?per kw-hour).  Other factors to consider is cleaning the unit to remove the particulates left behind.  

Another option is Zero Water. You'll need to do an internet search for this product.  It's a water filter that produces pure water, no solutes at all.  It also comes with a TDS meter so you know when it's time to replace the filter.  It produces pure water much faster than a home distiller. The filters will last for a while, depending on how hard your water is.  The harder the water, the shorter the lifespan of your filters.  With moderate hard water (100-200 ppm), it will cost you about 50?per gallon over the lifespan of the filters.  It's slightly more than home distiller, but you have the convenience of producing water much faster.


Good growing!
Jacob Farin