Is Purified Water Better Than Tap Water for Plants?
- If you can safely drink your tap water, it is safe for watering plants. It may not be the perfect water for every type of plant in your house or garden, but it suffices. Use tap or purified water that is within 10 degrees of ambient temperature to prevent plant shock.
- Purified water causes no ill-effects on plants. Tap water can be problematic. Alkaline water leads to nutrient deficiencies in acid-loving plants like gardenias and azaleas. Tap water additives or salts from processing can lead to leaf tip burn, yellowing or stunted growth.
- Not all plant species are sensitive to the impurities in tap water. Some plants show deleterious effects when purified water isn't always used. Carnivorous bog plants and epiphytes like bromeliads and orchids may not grow or look as good if tap water is used rather than purified water or collected rain water.
