Watering Your Houseplants

It is critical to water your houseplants with soft, non-hard water and a specific pH level. Soil pH can be acidic, neutral, and alkaline, and most indoor plants prefer a slightly acidic or neutral pH. Plants that prefer an acidic pH are azalea, hortensia, maranta, and some aroids. Plants that prefer an alkaline pH are myrtle, desert rose, and lavender.


When it comes to choosing water for houseplants, try not to use it directly from the tap. It contains substances like chlorine and fluoride that can build up and be harmful to your green friends. Before using tap water, leave it in a container in the sun for a day or two. This allows any chemicals to evaporate. It is also best to not use your tap water if it is filtered through a water softener. It removes essential minerals like calcium and magnesium.

Distilled water is very good for plants. Distillation removes minerals and chemicals, improving water quality. Distilled water is soft water without the trace amounts of sodium left by a mechanical softener. Using distilled water for indoor plants provides a safe and impurity-free source of irrigation that can prevent any toxicity from chemical or mineral buildup. It’s also free of contaminants like bacteria.

Rainwater is naturally soft and free of many salts, minerals, and chemicals. You can use it for growing indoor plants without causing build-up on leaves and soil. It’s also slightly acidic, helping to balance the soil’s pH. And it contains nitrates that act like fertilizer.

You can even use fish tank water for your plants. Even though it might look cloudy or dirty, aquarium water is rich in nutrients. So, applying it to your plants can also fertilize the soil. 

You can also use the meltwater method. First, freeze tap water. Once it solidifies, defrost it and let it reach room temperature. You’ll see some sediment. Remove it, and the water is ready to be applied to your growing houseplants. It is also good to use ice to water plants that have very porous soil, like orchids. This allows the plant to slowly soak up the water so that it does not pool at the bottom of the pot and cause the roots to rot.

When it comes to choosing the best water for plants, it’s best to use rainwater or meltwater. In terms of quality, they are both safe, soft options that are rich in oxygen and have a slightly acidic or neutral pH that’s suitable for many growing houseplants. 


How to Properly Water Indoor Plants- https://www.millcreekgardens.com/how-to-properly-water-indoor-plants/#:~:text=When%20your%20indoor%20plants%20need,encourages%20healthy%20root%20system%20development. 

Photo from iStock
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Comments

  1. Unmasking AnxietyNovember 14, 2023 at 10:37 AM

    After reading this post, I found myself saying that I had no idea that science stuff can impact plants so much. Even the type of water that you use can impact your plants! What?!

    ReplyDelete

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