The best water for indoor plants : Houseplants have many benefits, but knowing how to water them is essential. many questions might arise that can I use any water for my plant or not? is it ok to use the tap water? and questions like these. A healthy plant requires a regular and proper water and you can’t use any water for them; otherwise, your plant will face some serious problems. stay with us to find out more about the proper Water For indoor plants.
Water suitable for watering houseplants
To have a healthy plant, the kind and the amount of watering is important. You may think you can use any water for indoor water plants, but this seems wrong. The type of water used for the plant is important. Watering plants is one of the daily activities that plant lovers are involved in and often enjoy. we have talked about how to water houseplants in a separate article which we recommend to read it.
Today, in this article we will discuss about the proper type of water for houseplants. The water you use should not contain chlorine, and should not be soft. Soft water contains salts and substances that cause sedimentation in the pot’s soil over time and will gradually cause further problems for your plant.
You can use distilled water or rainwater for houseplants, which is the best option among the introduced waters. it is also very important to find out when it is Best Time to Water Your Plants.
Best Water For Houseplants
Surface watering is one of the most influential and standard methods of watering house plants, and in this way, you can give moisture to the plants. watering indoor plants can be done with different types of water, but the critical point is to choose suitable watering water that is both available and does not harm the plant.
You should also keep this point in mind, due to the presence of chlorine in the tap water, it is better not to use it water for watering , but you can put the water in the house for 2-3 hours and then use it for watering until the chlorine is removed.
also check out Watering plants while traveling
In addition to the type of water you use for your plants, the water’s pH can also significantly affect the growth of plants. Try to use slightly acidic water. In the following, we will examine the types of water and suitable water for watering houseplants.
What is the suitable temperature for watering houseplants?
The most crucial point in watering houseplants is not to use cold water for watering the plant because some tropical houseplants, such as Cattleya, Alocasia, Ficus, Orchid, and Anthurium, are very sensitive to cold water.
- At high water temperatures, the pumping mechanisms in the roots of indoor plants are not stimulated, which reduces the absorption of water and nutrients.
- The low water temperature has caused houseplants to think it is autumn and winter and go into hibernation.
As a result of the two points mentioned, the growth of your house plant is stopped, and the root of the plant is damaged , and on the other hand, the leaves get damaged and fall. Therefore, the best water for indoor plants is the one that has a balanced temperature.
here are some of the houseplants which require special care when it comes to watering.
- Orchids: only water once a week with little water.
- Cacti and succulents: require very minimal watering. Only water
- Citrus plants: water frequently and much more regularly than other houseplants.
Is tap water suitable for watering indoor plants?
The type of water you use is essential, for example, whether it is hard or soft. In the first step, we need to know what hard water is. Definition of hard water: Hard water absorbs various minerals by passing through sandy and granite areas. This water can be softened again by using potassium or sodium ions.
Hard water is very harmful to the plant, as it is difficult for the plant to absorb this type of water, and this type of water affects the soil’s nutrients and has a negative effect.
On the other hand, chlorine and fluoride in tap water cause many symptoms in the plant. Now, if you want to use tap water, pour the water into the bottle the day before, let it sit, and do the watering with that water the next day because this way, the chlorine in the water will almost settle down. It will harm the plant less, and the water temperature will be balanced. It is possible because too much cold and hot water harms the plant.
Is distilled water suitable for watering plants?
In response to the question of why distilled water is not suitable for watering , it does not have the necessary minerals for plant growth, so you cannot use distilled water as the best option for watering your plants.
But if you are very sensitive, after using this type of water several times, be sure to water your plant with cold-boiled tap water so that your plants do not suffer further problems.
Benefits of rainwater for plants
in regard to get the best water for indoor plants, rainwater is one the best and cheapest options. the only thing you need to do is to put a container to get some while it is raining. Rainwater is soft water that contains calcium and magnesium elements in small amounts, and the plant’s health is not endangered; because it does not contain any Fluoride and chlorine. On the other hand, collecting rainwater in densely populated urban areas is does not have good quality because, rainwater in this places is slightly acidic since air in the region is polluted. It can affect the health of your houseplant.
Use of boiled water for indoor plants :
Another way to use tap water in water options suitable for indoor plants is to boil water; it is better to use boiled water to keep your plant healthy.
Remember that the water must be at the right temperature. Otherwise, it will damage the plant.
High water temperature can damage the roots, and the whole plant is affected by the damage to the roots. It is better to boil the water a day before or the night before watering the plants and pour it into a container so that it cools down to the same temperature as the environment and then use it to water the plants.
Is treated water suitable for indoor plants?
treated water is one of the best options for watering houseplants. Still, the constant and frequent use of this water is not suitable for plants, and it is better to use untreated tap water once in a while. In this case, and with this method, you add nutrients and minerals that plants get from water to the pot’s soil.
Why should we use water with a balanced temperature ?
As mentioned, lukewarm water should be used for watering house plants. When you use cold water to rinse your plant, you change the different mechanisms of absorption of nutrients in your plant so that the absorption of nutrients in the plant decreases.
On the other hand, the cold created in the root area causes the plant’s dormancy to be disturbed. The chlorine present in the water for indoor plants can damage the roots and destroy the beneficial bacteria around the roots. It can also directly have a toxic effect on the plant, and this property can be shown by causing coffee spots on the leaves.
Fluoride in small amounts can disrupt plant photosynthesis and endanger cellular respiration.
So it can be said that the water suitable for watering houseplants and other aquatic plants has the temperature of the storage environment; that is, if the temperature of the storage place is 69 Fahrenheit, the water should be around 66-69 Fahrenheit.
Critical points of suitable water for watering plants:
- Due to the presence of chlorine in tap water, it is better not to use tap water ;but to put the water in the house for 2-3 hours and then use it for watering until the chlorine settles.
- If you have boiled eggs for food, do not throw away the water because it is the best water for your pots due to the presence of mineral salts.
- If you want to change the fish aquarium water, Do not throw it away; it is the best fertilizer for flowers.
- The water you wash vegetables with is the best for pots.
The effect of chlorine on houseplants
The presence of chlorine in the water of houseplants causes damage to the roots. It can destroy beneficial bacteria and other soil microorganisms in the area of the roots of your houseplants. Also, the presence of chlorine has caused the poisoning of indoor plants, which are more sensitive to chlorine in water than other indoor plants.
The presence of chlorine in the water causes the leaves of indoor plants to turn brown, and eventually, the leaves will fall, so water that does not contain chlorine is suitable for plants. To eliminate chlorine in water, water can be placed in an open space (uncovered) for 12 to 24 hours before watering to release chlorine.
What effect does fluoride have on houseplants?
Even a tiny amount of fluoride in the water can disturb the photosynthesis and respiration of the plant. On the one hand, accumulating in the plant’s vegetative tissues can cause toxicity and necrosis of your houseplant. Or air-purifying houseplants to filter the air in your home.
Fluoride levels vary significantly in tap water sources, and some countries even add fluoride to household tap water because of its benefits for dental health.
The effect of heavy metals on the growth of indoor plants
If the roots of indoor plants absorb heavy metals, the growth of the plant will decrease, as a result of which the plant will experience premature aging.
There are a few heavy metals in city water, so it is worth ensuring the level of all the mentioned items with a simple water test to maintain your health and your houseplant.
A final word on choosing the proper water for watering plants
As you have read in this post, watering plants is very important, and you must pay attention to the temperature of the water and the ingredients in it. In addition, the amount of watering and the time of watering are also significant, and you should pay attention to these things. Ensure your plant stays healthy by creating the right conditions and following the mentioned things. If you have a new experience or idea for watering indoor plants, or even if you have a suggestion regarding the type of water used for plants, be sure to share it with us so that everyone can benefit from these ideas.