If you have plants in your home, you must understand that your garden needs water to grow and be healthy. But are you aware that the tap water in some homes can be unsafe for most plants?
Plants are 95% water. What kind of water do you think they need for proper growth? Tap water, or is it better to use filtered or distilled water?
In this article, we will look at what type of water is best for plants, as well as all the benefits associated with using filtered or distilled water.
Can I use tap water to water my plants?
Yes, you can water your plants with tap water, but make sure the water is good first.
Water is “hard” and “soft”. Hard water is high in chlorine and fluoride, while soft water is high in sodium. Tap water should be safe for your plants, with the exception of soft water, because it contains salts that accumulate in the soil over time and will lead to problems over time.
Regular tap water will work for your garden, we are not likely to work with houseplants, which are known to have chemical sensitivities.
For example, the natural minerals fluorine, which is found in soil, air and water, cannot be harmful to humans, some plants are very sensitive to it, especially if they are watered with fluoridated water. Of course, a small amount of fluoride will not kill plants, but tap water contains fluoride, which slows down the process of photosynthesis in plants over time.
How to make tap water safe for your house plants?
1. Remove chlorine!
Tap water often has additive chlorine. To remove excess chlorine, you need to take a large container of water and let the tap water sit for about 1-3 days before using. Almost all of the chlorine will evaporate during this process. And the salt in the water will settle to the bottom of the container.
After using the water, do not forget to remove the salt sediment at the bottom of the container.
Another method to remove chlorine from tap water is to boil tap water. Boling water allows the chlorine to evaporate faster as it turns into a gas, making it volatile.
2. Restore the PH balance of the water
Calcium found in tap water raises the pH and prevents plants from absorbing important nutrients.
In order for the plants to grow well, it is important for you to maintain a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. To lower the pH in tap water, pour in phosphoric acid or a pH-lowering conditioner.
Be sure to read up on the needs of your plants, as some plants, like azaleas, need an acidic environment.
3. We improve the acidity of the soil
To improve the acidity, you need to add a little vinegar to the water. This must be done at least once a month. For every quarter of the water, add a teaspoon of vinegar.
4. Fight hard water
If tap water contains a lot of traces of limestone deposits, then it is hard. Boiling will help separate the dissolved limestone from the water.
5. Water must be chilled
Hot or warm water can kill plants. Therefore, always cool the water before watering.
6. Use a filtered water
Filtered water is a good option for plants as it contains far fewer harmful chemicals than unfiltered tap water. However, purchasing a filter will incur some costs.
7. Activated carbon filters
It looks like a large container filled with charcoal through which your water flows and thereby absorbs the chlorine in the water.
This method is quite fast, since it only takes a couple of seconds, but carbon filters need to be replaced frequently, at least once every six months.
8. Reverse osmosis
This is a fairly effective filtration method that removes chlorine, sodium and chloramines, as well as other natural minerals.
But the reverse osmosis does not have an easy filtration process, but after it your plants will be safe.
9. Electric filter
Water contains harmful chemicals, if watered. These toxic materials can be removed by using an electric filter to pass water through the filter meshes.
10. Hydrogen peroxide
Using the water stirring method, peroxide removes chlorine from your tap water. You only need one or two drops per 5 liters. 3% hydrogen peroxide solution from a pharmacy.
What is the best water to watering plants? Filtered water versus distilled water
It is very important to know the difference between different types of water so that you can understand what water is best to watering plants and make the right decision. Among all types of water, the most popular and often discussed are distilled water and filtered water for plants.
Without going into too much detail, the difference between distilled water and filtered water is that distillation gets rid of all the natural minerals found in the water. And some water filtration systems remove harmful substances while preserving the minerals that not only you, but also your house plants need.
Distilled water for plants
Such water is a common type of water that has undergone a complex process such as boiling water and condensing steam. The distillation method, of course, gets rid of unnecessary contaminants that can be dangerous for plants, but it removes not only bad minerals, but also useful minerals for plants.
If you frequently water your plants with such water, you will most likely notice after a while that your plants have lost their color and stopped growing. This happens when they do not receive important nutrients for them.
To compensate for them in the water, some gardeners mix powdered or liquid nutrient supplements into the soil or water. In general, distilled water is not very harmful to plants, contaminants do not enter your plants, but a lack of nutrients indicates that you need to resort to third-party methods of supplementing nutrients or consider a different type of water.
Filtered water for plants
Filtered water is a type of purified water, which is tap water that has undergone various filtration methods, which will rid the water of contaminants such as chlorine, chloramine, lead, and various types of bacteria. There are a number of varieties of water filters that use several filtration processes, technologies and fillers. Such as:
- Activated carbon filter,
- Ion exchange filters,
- Mechanical filters,
- UV filters
- Reverse osmosis.
But not all water filters filter in the same way and perform the same functions.
UV filters are good at removing viruses, but contaminants remain in the water, such as fluoride, which can be harmful to your garden. Therefore, it is very important to find out all the information about water filters before buying one. You need to be sure that it actually removes the contaminants that are in your tap water.
When choosing a water filter, make sure that the filter you want to buy has been certified by an independent testing agency such as NSF or IAPMO.
Of all the water filter options, reverse osmosis will be the most effective method of removing contaminants. However, like distilled water, the reverse osmosis process will remove some of the nutrients, so look for a reverse osmosis system that uses remineralization technology.
This system filters 5 times more pollutants than other reverse osmosis systems.
What kind of water is more beneficial for plants? Tap water vs bottled water
Bottled water sometimes retains some minerals, but their levels are significantly low. This water safe for plants.
Tap water contains all minerals, both bad and important. But the likelihood of high pH, hard water and contaminants is very high.
Conclusion: It is better to water plants with bottled water, if you have such an opportunity. Or look into a water filtration system that can ultimately save you money in the long run.
Conclusion:
Good plant care is sufficient sunlight, nutrients and clean water.
Before watering plants with tap water, make sure the water safe for plants, test it for chemicals that harm plants.
Water filters are the perfect option to ensure your tap water is safe for plants.
With clean water, you can ensure the health and prosperity of your plants!
Frequently asked Questions
Can rain water be used to water indoor plants?
Rain water safe for plants. It does not contain harmful chemicals if assembled correctly.
Be sure to check the pH of the collected rainwater before watering particularly sensitive plants.
Rain water benefits:
– Contains naturally dissolved nitrogen.
– It does not contain additives such as chlorine or fluorine.
– Natural nitrates help plant growth.
Such water is soft and does not interfere with the growth of plants.
Can I use tap water for plants if I have a water softener?
Never use tap water for plants if you have a water softener.
Water softeners remove beneficial minerals from the water. Softened water has high levels of sodium, which is not safe for your garden.
If you have a water softener in your home, it’s best to use filtered or distilled water to water your plants.
How long should tap water sit before watering?
It is good if the water has settled for at least 2 days before using it. This will help reduce the risk of harmful chemicals entering the water.
Is boiled water similar to distilled water for plants?
These are completely different types of water.
Boiling the water will kill bacteria present in the water, which can be harmful to plants. But boiling water removes a small amount of the chemicals. After boiling water, any contamination can be concentrated and not safe for plants.
Distilled water is free of harmful chemicals and contains some beneficial bacteria, making it a much better choice.
Should tap water be tested?
Many plants are very susceptible to contaminants found in tap water. And deciduous plants are most often affected, so if you notice signs of fluoride or chlorine poisoning in your flowers, switch to filtered water.
One way to know if the water safe for plants is to do a quick internet search to see if there are any harmful chemicals your plants are sensitive to and compare them to the list of chemicals found in your city’s water.
Knowing what minerals your water has can help you determine which water filter you need.
Can be dechlorinate tap water?
There are many methods for dechlorinate tap water for plants.
For example:
- leave water in the sun
- Use dechlorination tablets containing ascorbic acid, which neutralizes chlorine somewhat faster
- Boiling water will also help
Which plants are very sensitive to toxic materials and tap water?
Most indoor plants will do just fine with filtered plant water. But there are those who do not tolerate tap water very well.
- Orchids. The sensitive roots of this plant need a lot of oxygen. Harmful elements that are in tap water can clog the roots.
- Cacti and air plants also don’t like tap water. They need sandy soil, and tap water with a high content of harmful substances simply does not suit them.
- Spider plants are also sensitive to minerals present in tap water.
- Citrus plants are best suited for rainwater.
Don’t forget to subscribe if the article was helpful to you. And tell your friends about it.