You need to learn how to clean a carbon water filter if you want your plants to produce beautiful blooms and lots of fruits. As a gardener in the UK, you want nothing but the best for your beloved plants. That means no matter what it takes, you have to make sure that it receives the right amount of nutrients from the soil, fertilisers, compost, and other sources.
If you’re not aware, the water you use for drinking may not be the best water for your plants. To make the water in your UK city potable, the authorities treat municipal reservoirs with chemicals like chlorine and others. The purpose of this is to kill the bacteria and viruses thriving in it and make sure that the people don’t get sick when drinking the water.
Other than that, water from the same source is full of calcium, iron, and sulfur that change the soil’s alkalinity impairing the plant’s ability to take up nutrients from the soil. While you may choose to buy distilled water to remedy this, there’s a much cheaper alternative: a carbon water filter.
Carbon is a good material that is efficient in filtering out harmful chemicals, like chlorine and sulfur, from your tap water. But like how an average filter accumulates dirt, bacteria, and other particles and needs cleaning now and then, carbon filters also require the same type of care.
How to Clean Carbon Filters
Aside from dirt and microbe accumulation, not cleaning your carbon filter will result in an unpleasant odour around your indoor UK garden or greenhouse. To avoid that from happening, you have to clean your carbon filters and make sure that the air inside smells fresh all the time. Here’s how you can clean your British indoor garden or polytunnel carbon filters:
Step 1. Take the carbon filter out
The first step in cleaning your carbon filter is taking it out of the water pipes and out of your grow room into an open space. Taking it out is essential, especially if your UK indoor garden is starting to smell bad. Tap the carbon initially to remove bags of dust and debris that filter trapped inside.
Step 2. Vacuum your filter
This step is optional but advisable if you have a vacuum cleaner to use for your carbon filter. Cleaning your filters by vacuuming will ensure that no debris will remain stuck on your filter. It’s best to do the vacuuming every other week to avoid the mess of a filthy and smelly filter.
If you’re consistent with your vacuuming, there’s a big chance that you’ll be able to avoid having to deal with a bad smell in your UK indoor garden. However, if you start noticing a strange smell, you may have to wash your filters (step 3).
Step 3. Soak carbon filter on water and soap mixture
Next, create a mix of water and mild soap to soak your filter in. Before putting the carbon filters in the water mixture, spray the beds with water first. Leave the filters in the water for at least 15 minutes before taking them out.
Step 4. Dry the filters
Finally, take out your carbon filters and let the water drip from the carbon beds. Dry your carbon filters under the sun or other sources of heat.
Growing Plants Inside a Hobby Greenhouse: What are the Benefits?
If you’re a big fan of gardening in the UK, one of the most important things you should consider investing in is a hobby greenhouse. Not only will it give your plants an optimal environment, but it will also give them ample protection from environmental factors (heat, cold). Here are the advantages of using a hobby polytunnel when growing plants:
You can enjoy a longer growing period for specific plants
One of the most significant benefits of having a hobby polytunnels is extending the growing season of your plants. You won’t have to depend on the season to grow whatever plant you like with an enclosed space. You’ll be able to cultivate just about any plant that otherwise won’t be able to survive the normal conditions when planted directly in the UK garden.
Grow plants that don’t typically grow in your location
If you live in the UK area where a specific plant of your liking doesn’t normally thrive, you can use a hobby polytunnel to grow that plant. Using fans and other materials, you can provide your crops with just about any environmental conditions they need. With optimal growth conditions, your plants would also have improved chances of survival.
Prevent any threat to plants
Many types of plants are susceptible to predators and pest infestations. However, with a greenhouse, you’ll be assured that your plants will have enough protection from these attacks. With the help of the plastic films or coverings in your hobby greenhouse, you can control what comes in and out and make sure that your plants will stay safe from diseases and rodents that might try to eat them off.
How to Clean a Carbon Water Filter: Final Words
Carbon filters are a great way to reduce the chemicals from the water that might hinder the growth of your plants. As a dedicated grower, you must learn how to clean a carbon water filter properly to guarantee that it will stay efficient in filtering out any impurities. With the steps outlined above, you can start cleaning out your filter and ensuring that your plants get the clean water they need.