We might not stop to think about water quality when it comes to our indoor house plants–plants are hearty, after all, and survive out in nature, so any water should be good enough, right? That’s wishful thinking, unfortunately. Just like our pets and ourselves, our plants need the best water in order to really flourish. Many harsh elements found in ordinary tap water can be damaging to plants, even things that are there on purpose, like fluoride. Find out here how you can remove unwanted contaminants from water, and how it will help your indoor plants to bloom.
Benefits of Filtered Water for Indoor Plants
Just as you benefit from drinking water that is contaminant-free, so too will your houseplants. Water is known as the universal solvent, meaning that it picks up a bit of just about everything it comes into contact with. You can find trace amounts of just about any substance on the planet. The United States typically does a good job of filtering water at the municipal level, but many of the treatment methods that benefit humans are not so beneficial for our houseplants.
Water treatment facilities are geared towards making water potable (safe to drink) for human beings, not plants. One good example of this is the addition of fluoride to drinking water. Fluoride helps to protect human teeth, but it is damaging to your houseplants, inhibiting photosynthesis, and causing leaves to turn yellow. Sodium is also often added to city water to help lower water hardness levels, which is very damaging to plants. Depending on where you live, your tap water could kill houseplants outright–heavily populated metro areas tend to have the most problematic water, simply because of the number of people crowding into the space.
How to Use Filtered Water for Indoor Plants
After filtering your water, you can use it as you normally would for your indoor plants. The amount and frequency of watering will not change–the difference will be in the quality of water your plants are receiving. Hopefully you should start to see brighter leaves, and happier, healthier plants.
Common Questions and Concerns
We’ve gathered together some of the most common inquiries about how best to water plants, and what sorts of filtration systems and processes you should be employing in order to get the best water for your green, photosynthetic friends.
Can Unfiltered Tap Water Harm Indoor Plants?
Yes, according to the experts at AllFilters, , water straight from the tap can be harmful to houseplants. Chlorine and fluoride are two things that are definitely harmful to plants, and most people can count on trace amounts being in their tap water, because the majority of municipalities use chlorine as a disinfectant, and fluoride to protect peoples’ teeth. There are also a whole host of potential contaminants that can harm plants, such as VOCs, THMs, and PFAS.
What Are the Signs of Poor Water Quality in Plants?
If your plants are drooping, or yellowing at the edge, those could be signs that the water they are getting is doing harm. If your plants are spotted, have mushy stems, are leaving behind any sort of dust or debris, or are growing slower than normal, then you may have water problems.
How Often Should I Water My Indoor Plants With Filtered Water?
Generally, you can follow the same watering schedule whether you are using unfiltered or filtered water. If you are just switching to filtered water, keep an eye on your plants to see how they adjust to the change. You may need to water them a bit more or a bit less, but generally speaking, things shouldn’t change too much.
Are There Specific Plants That Benefit More From Filtered Water?
All plants will benefit from good water, but the effects of bad water may be more noticeable in some types. Plants with long stems and narrow leaves, like spider plants, prayer plants, peace lilies, and dracaenas, will show visible yellowing if exposed to too much fluoride. Various flowers such as roses, azaleas, and camellias, are very sensitive to salt.
What Types of Filters Work Best for Plant Watering?
Any filter will help, as long as it is removing harmful contaminants. Look for a multi-stage system that has a sediment filter paired with some form of activated carbon. For more aggressive filtration, and the removal of nearly all dissovled solids, you might consider a reverse osmosis filter. Some exotic plants benefit from deionized water, which strips the water of all charge, leaving it completely mineral-free.
How Do I Test My Tap Water for Contaminants?
You can purchase at-home water test kits, but for the best and most reliable results, ship a sample of your water away to a laboratory for professional testing. Such tests can easily be found online, and start at around one hundred dollars. For a free appraisal of the water in your area, check your local federally-mandated city or county water quality report.
Can Filtered Water Impact the PH Level of the Soil?
Depending on what type of filter you are using, you may be changing the pH of your water. Aggressive filters like RO or deionization filters will take out nearly all mineral content, making the water more acidic. Over time, more acidic water can begin to change the pH of the soil, so make sure that your plants can handle it before using it.
Does Using Filtered Water Reduce the Need for Fertilizers?
If anything, using filtered water might make fertilizers even more necessary, as water can contain healthful minerals and chemicals that may be removed by a filter. It all depends on the type of plant you are growing, and the conditions that best help it to flourish. Go with the recommendations given for the plant type you are growing.
What Are Common Water Impurities That Affect Plant Health?
Impurities in water that can harm plants include metals such as iron and zinc, as well as heavy metals like lead and chromium. There are also many things put into water by city treatment plants, such as chlorine and fluoride, that can be damaging to plants.
The Bottom Line
As it goes with human beings, so it goes with plants…at least in this case. It turns out that our green friends need healthy, contaminant-free water just as much as we do in order to grow healthy, durable bodies. Don’t go to all the trouble of investing in and caring for houseplants only to have them wither. Install a home water filtration system, and watch your houseplants thrive, in addition to the benefits for you and your family.