There are several reasons rainwater is more suitable for plants than tap water, but the most important is chemistry. In tap water, chlorine is a necessary disinfectant and fluoride is added to prevent cavities (as long as you drink one glass a day).
While watering your yard plants with bottled water may be impractical, using bottled spring water for your indoor plants will make a big difference for them. To give your plants the absolute best, rainwater and bottled spring water are your best options. Any water containing sugar or salt will hurt them!
Stored rainwater may contain some organic matter, in the form of insect larvae or algae growth. Rain also contains traces of nitrates, essential for plant growth. If you filter or distill your tap water, then it is better than straight tap water for your houseplant.
Rainwater is best
Nitrogen contained within the rainwater is the main reason for this. Rainwater also contains more oxygen than tap water, and this helps plants grow full and lush.
Best Water for Houseplants
Most tap water should be fine for houseplants unless it is softened because softened water contains salts that can build up in the soil over time and cause problems. Chlorinated water is also safe for most houseplants, but if you have a filtration system, that's much better for your plants.
If you use tap water, you may notice that your plants are not growing as tall and strong to the best of their abilities. To reduce the risk of harmful chemicals in your water, allow your tap water to sit out for at least 24 hours before using it to water your plants. This allows the chlorine to dissipate.
Run your sink into a watering can, cup, or bucket, and let it sit for a good 24 hours. This will allow chemicals like chlorine and fluoride the time to evaporate from the water. We like to have a full watering can ready to go with still water so that if our soil seems dry, we can water our plant without waiting a day.
Rainwater has the right stuff
Oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. Rain highly saturated in oxygen goes right to the roots that take up this vital element. Nitrogen is what makes your lawn and plants seem to glow green after a good rain.
Step 1 - Filter the water before it enters the storage tank.
This is the most important step and should be taken on every rainwater harvesting system no matter what the size - whether storing the water in a waterbutt for use in the garden, to large commercial systems.
Rain coming straight out of the clouds to water your plants provides several benefits. First, it gives your plants a nice and probably much-needed bath. Rain helps wash off dust and any other dirt or debris that may be on your leaves.
Yes, it is possible to overwater plants with rainwater. While rainwater is beneficial for plants, excessive water can lead to waterlogged soil and root rot. It is important to monitor the moisture levels and drainage of the soil, ensuring that plants receive adequate but not excessive amounts of water.
You may end up with stunted plants and poor production after too much rain. Excessive soaking after rain showers and storms can ruin plants' roots, which in turn affects how plants grow.
R/O Water: R/O, or reverse osmosis, is a technique that is used to remove minerals and impurities from water, such as chloramine, salts, and heavy metals. This is fine to give to plants, and some prefer it because it lacks certain minerals that can cause issues with fertilizers.
Results: The rainwater and bottled spring water are great at helping plants grow, but the sugar water and salt water actually hurt growing plants. Tap water and distilled water may not hurt the plants, but you'll notice they don't grow as tall and proud as the plants that were fed rain and spring water.
– Boil Tap Water
Boiling tap water not only tackles hard water as discussed above, but it is also a good way to remove unwanted contaminants from the water. If you only have a handful of plants, boiling water in a large kettle for a few minutes will do the job.
Thus, feeding the plants with water that has CO2, helps the plants to grow rapidly and greener. Carbonated water contains many macronutrients such as oxygen, hydrogen, phosphorus, carbon, potassium, and sodium; all of which are advantageous for the growth of plants.
Texas, California, Colorado, and others have determined that rainwater collection is legal, but collectors must follow stipulations.
Water treatment options include filtration, chemical disinfection, or boiling. Filtration can remove some germs and chemicals. Treating water with chlorine or iodine kills some germs but does not remove chemicals or toxins. Boiling the water will kill germs but will not remove chemicals.
Rain water can be considered purer than tap water as it has no chemical contaminants. However, it can still contain atmospheric pollutants, making drinking unsafe without proper filtration. This article will review your drinking options so you can sip safely.
Drip irrigation is the most water-efficient way to irrigate many different plantings. It is an ideal way to water in clay soils because the water is applied slowly, allowing the soil to absorb the water and avoid runoff. Drip devices use a fraction of the water that overhead spray devices use.
A common rule of thumb is that plants need the equivalent of 1 inch of rain a week. If your gauge shows that your yard only got half an inch of rain last week, your plants probably didn't get enough moisture.
The best time to water plants is in the morning or evening.
Morning watering is actually preferable to evening watering as the plant has time to dry before the sun goes down. At night, water tends to rest in the soil, around the roots, and on the foliage, which encourages rot, fungal growth, and insects.
The best time to water outdoor plants is in the morning when temperatures are usually cooler. This gives the plants time to absorb the water so they can get through a long, hot day. The second-best time is late in the afternoon or early in the evening.
The best time to water is early in the morning when it's still cool, which preps the plants for a hot day, but that's not always easy to accomplish with a busy schedule. The second-best time is late in the afternoon or early evening.