What Is The Best Store Bought Water For Plants?

The type of water you give to your plants is highly essential to ensure steady and ideal growth. Despite appearances, not all water is the same, so each one will affect your plant positively or negatively. So, what store-bought water would be best for your plants? What other types of water will be good to use? We have researched answers to find out.

Bottled spring water is the best type of store-bought water you can give your plants. Spring water is rich in minerals that could benefit your plants. Of course, you can’t compare bottled spring water to natural spring water, but it’s the next best thing if you don’t have access to natural springs. 

While some plants can tolerate almost any kind of water, some may not be hardy enough. Knowing the differences between all types of water and how they can affect your plants is important. Keep reading below to learn more about which water types will be best for your plants.

Watering seedling tomato plant in greenhouse garden. - What Is The Best Store Bought Water For Plants?

Different Types of Water for Plants

What Is The Best Store Bought Water For Plants

Regardless if you have indoor or outdoor plants, the type of water will significantly affect their development. Grabbing onto the nearest available water source without knowing its components and effectiveness can derail plants' growth or kill them.

The water will not only affect the plants themselves but potentially the soil as well. So even if one of the plants situated in the soil can tolerate tap water, you can’t really ensure the same for the others in the same soil vicinity.

If different plant varieties have been planted on the same soil, each will inevitably get affected. Here are the different types of water and how they can affect your plants. 

Tap Water

While most plants can tolerate tap water, tap water contains chemicals such as chlorine that may not be good for more sensitive plants. 

Some argue that boiling the tap water can make it safer for plants since the heat is supposed to break down the chemicals present in tap water. However, this is not backed by hard evidence.

You could try to boil it, but test it first on a single plant and observe what happens. If the plant continues thriving, it may be worth doing to other sensitive plants.

The next best thing to do is to check the water’s pH level. It is best to water plants with water containing a 5.5-7.0 pH level since a high pH level won’t be able to inject nutrients into a plant. 

Read: "How Often To Water Amaryllis."

Distilled Water

Woman pouring water in glass

Distilled water is relatively safe for plants but lacks enough nutrients to make your plants develop quickly and healthily. 

The reason for this is that distilled water has undergone a rigorous filtration and boiling process that has removed both potentially harmful chemicals and healthy minerals. 

Although it is alright to be consumed by humans, it is unfortunately of little use for pants. They need all the nutrients that the distillation process has killed, so feeding them with this water may not be as productive as you expect.

Read: "How Much Water Does An Oak Tree Need?"

Filtered Water

Filtered water is basically tap water that has undergone a filtration process that has removed chemicals such as chlorine and lead. Filtered water also has less bacteria than tap water.

However, there are different types of filtration processes that may or may not be beneficial for most plants. Some filtration processes remove some chemicals and bacteria, but might not remove others that could potentially harm plants.

One of the best filtration processes you can explore is reverse osmosis filtration since it is best at removing contaminants.

Specifically, look for a filtration system that will remove contaminants and harmful chemicals but won’t strip the water away of nutrients that will help plants grow. 

Rainwater

Rain water flows from a drainpipe to the metal barrel in garden in summer close up

There’s nothing more effective than nature nurturing itself. Rainwater is technically the best water the plants can have because they contain nitrate, which is a macronutrient the soil needs to keep the plants healthy.

Rainwater is also free of any contaminants, so nothing will harm the plants. It also has the perfect pH level that is ideal for any soil type. 

You can install rain barrels outside your home so you can collect clean rainwater that you can use to water your plants. Just make sure you get a sturdy, durable, and secure barrel to keep your water free of contaminants and particles. 

Purified Water

Purified water is just like distilled water, but it has undergone a more stringent filtration process.

It is technically a very “clean” drink, but just like distilled water, it may have been stripped of other elements that may have been good for plants.

However, purified water can still be safely used for plants. You can just adjust the amount of compost in your plants to amplify their growth if you’re planning to use purified water.

Can you use softened water for plants?

As much as possible, refrain from watering your plants with soft water. This is because softened water contains high amounts of sodium that “bloats” the plants, making them think they are receiving a lot of water when in reality, they are not. 

The salt content also screws up the stored water in plants since salt will absorb their moisture content. If you continue watering them with soft water, they will slowly die. 

Spring Water

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Spring water is the healthiest water available for any living being. This is because spring water came directly from the earth, so it hasn’t been contaminated by anything yet still contains much-needed nutrients and minerals that can help plants thrive.

Spring water is also rich in oxygen, so your soil will surely be healthier when fed with spring water. 

If you have a vegetable garden, spring water is ideal to use. This is because spring water injects minerals into the vegetables, such as calcium and magnesium, making the vegetables stronger and healthier to consume. 

Make sure you get spring water that hasn’t stagnated for even a little while. Get them on running water, so you’re sure that you feed your plants with the best. 

How To Make Tap Water Better for Plants

Cropped shot of hand holding watering can and beautiful green plants growing in soil. - What Is The Best Store Bought Water For Plants?

Not all of us can have access to spring water or purified water. Sometimes, even rain won’t come for a long period. Tap water is the most accessible water available, and you may not have a choice but to use them for your plants.

Fortunately, there are ways you can make tap water safer for sensitive plants. Here are some methods you can try:

Boil the Water

Kettle boiling

Boiling the water can help chlorine evaporate faster so they won’t have to be exposed to plants. You’ll know the boiling has been effective when you notice limestone accumulating around the kettle.

Use Activated Carbon Filter

Using ACF is an effective method to rid tap water of contaminants. A container filled with activated charcoal does this. Water is poured between the charcoal, and it will absorb the particles present in tap water.

Add Vinegar — With Caution

Do this only if the soil is overly alkaline and needs some acid. Mix together 1/4 cup of tap water and 1 teaspoon of vinegar, then pour it into the soil. 

Don’t add too much vinegar to the soil since it may turn too acidic, which will not be good for plants. 

Distilled Vs. Filtered Water — Which is Better?

Distilled water is technically clean, but the minerals that make it good for plants have also been removed. There’s also only a single process involved for distillation, so you won’t have other options for this type of water.

Meanwhile, the benefits of filtered water differ depending on the filtration system it has undergone.

There are filtration systems that can remove harmful contaminants such as lead, chloramine, and chlorine without removing the necessary minerals and nutrients that plants will love. 

If you choose the right filtration system, filtered water is the best option for plants compared to distilled water. 

Final Thoughts

All plants, especially developing plants, need water in order to grow and thrive. Knowing the type of water that’s best for them will make growing them easier, and you’ll have more time enjoying their benefits. The right water combined with the correct growing practices will give you the lush garden that you want to achieve. 

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