10 Best Water for Plants & How To Choose

Rainwater is considered best for plants as it doesn't contain any harmful additives while comprising several essential natural nutrients for them. It is a pure hydration with balanced pH levels having a unique natural composition.

From its effective delivery system to outdoor plants to providing useful nutrients in the absence of chemicals, salts, and additives, rainwater in its purest and natural form, is the best possible option for plants. Here are some of the reasons that support rainwater as the best source for plants:

• Rainwater is free from unwanted impurities from its natural composition being a soft water source.
• It has naturally balanced pH levels making it ideal for both plant and soil health.
• It is rich in nutrient contents such as nitrogen making it truly a nature's fertilizer.
• It promotes the oxygenation of soil.

Water coming down from your faucet is known as tap water. This water is generally distributed through pipelines in every household after treating it using necessary chemicals making it hard water.

There is no significant harm in using tap water as it is one of the primary water sources for watering the garden or yard these days, some plants that require soft water for their growth might not get along with this type of water.

Water resulting from the distillation process is distilled water. Distillation is the process of boiling the water and condensing it back into liquid relying on evaporation to purify the water. It might not be useful for the entire plant species.

Distilled water is free from toxic contaminants, germs, and harmful bacteria but it also lacks essential water minerals and salts that are vital for the plants. It all depends upon the plant species whether it favors such water or not.

Mineral water is rich in minerals like magnesium and calcium taken directly from underground sources like rock formations. The effect of mineral water on the plants is not too harsh but also, not too likely.

Plants do need minerals for their optimum growth but mineral water consists of other additives in addition to the minerals which might create problems for plants such as slow growth and weak health. It would be costly for you to consider watering your plants using mineral water every time.

Alkaline water contains alkaline minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium with negative oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) having higher pH levels than normal water. Depending upon the species of plant, it can be considered for watering your plants.

In the case of soil with high acidic levels, alkaline water might help to balance the pH level of the soil since plants require a balanced acidity level to absorb the essential nutrients effectively for their healthy growth. They are found to develop disease-resistant plants as well.

Well water is raw and untreated water coming straight from underground sources. It is found to absorb essential minerals from the soil and rock enriched with calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron.

While these minerals are vital for the plant's growth, they are susceptible to harmful germs and bacteria. Also, some well water is found to contain excessive minerals that are not entirely useful for the plants. Before using it for watering the plants make sure to test it carefully!

The aquarium is a common element in every household these days. People like to watch their pet fish swim along while some might even have more stronger attachment to the fish. The water of an aquarium contains beneficial bacteria resulting from the fish poop.

Make sure not to forget and throw away the water from your aquarium while you clean the fish tank from now on, rather use it to water the plants and make them happy offering vital nutrients such as phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen.

Filtered water or purified water as the name stands, is put through some filtration process so that impurities have been eradicated and made suitable for watering the plants. Here are two easily attainable filtration systems that are quite popular around the world among households and gardeners:

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

It is a water purification process using a semi-permeable membrane that helps to separate water molecules from other undesired particles. Popular for its use in drinking water purification from seawater, RO can effectively remove salt and other unwanted debris from the water molecules.

RO is perfect to use for both humans and plants without having any additional elements on the purified water making it the most desirable watering solution for the plants.

Water Filter Pitcher

Also known as a jug filter, a water filter pitcher is another alternative to purify the contaminated water for watering the plants. It applies a basic filtration technique where a filter is adjoined at the lid of the jug so that it eliminates the presence of impurities from coming out of the jug while pouring.

The filter is accompanied by the carbon component and net-like filter which attracts and traps the contaminants simultaneously making the water free from unwanted toxins for safe watering.

Hard water contains more minerals than normal water because of the reason that this water is transferred through long pipes for distribution to the community and might also be due to the depletion of groundwater as a result of over-extraction.

Increased hardness of the water is not favored by the plants since it can hamper their growth and overall health. Delicate plants might not find the hard water very useful since it would be difficult for them during absorption and breaking down of the essential nutrients.

Spring or glacier water is free from toxins and contaminants collected directly from the springs or glacier sources. It is enriched with vital minerals and heavy oxygen depending upon the source of collection.

You won't need any other additives to amplify the soil nutrients if you plan to water with spring or glacier water but it is quite difficult to achieve pure spring water every time you water your plants. However, plants are certain to get stronger with boosted aid and grow more healthy and vigorously.

You can't possibly rely on rain or spring water whenever you water your plants. They are difficult to attain and costly in many ways. At some point during your gardening period, you ought to think of making the best use of easily available water in your household which is tap water.

You can use treated tap water for your plants with some early preparations to eliminate unnecessary additives from the water so that the plant gets more improved quality tap water. Here are some techniques for you to follow:

Leave it to settle

Before watering the plants, especially with the treated tap water, you need to let it set for some period. Make sure to leave the collected water in your container at least for 24 hours so that chlorine and other harmful additives get dissipated making it more suitable for your plants.

Boil the water

Another method to eliminate the chlorine from your chemically treated water is to boil them. It is recommended to add 0.5 teaspoons of baking soda per liter of water to the water before boiling them and allow it to cool off after the boiling. Your plants are ready to get hydrated.

Melt the water

Although this process takes some time, it would be better if you were prepared early for the watering task. Pick a container filled with tap water that easily fits into your refrigerator.

Leave it inside the refrigerator constantly checking for the water to get partially frozen such that there should be some portion of water still liquid and some frozen. Remove the liquid portion that is highly contaminated with the dissolved salts and let the frozen water warm up at room temperature before watering the plants.

Water is one of the primary and mandatory elements for plants. You need to know why water is the most important aspect of any plant if you are a true gardener or plant cultivator. Here are a few reasons that provide you with a basic understanding of the importance of water for plants:

Water is responsible for the ingestion of essential nutrients from the soil, as it also carries the sugar and other vital components to the flowers and fruits.

• Plants need water to remain robust and upright.
• It is essential in the hydraulic process for the conversion of starch to sugar.
• It is vital for seed germination, growth of the roots, and nutrition.
• Water is used for important processes such as photosynthesis and transpiration.
• It helps in cell enlargement and division leading to the growth of the plants.

Water is an inseparable component for plants since it is required from seed germination to plant overall growth while carrying all the essential nutrients throughout the plant. It is also to be noted that 80-90% of the plant is water.

Photosynthesis

It is their main element for photosynthesis along with sunlight and other atmospheric components. During this process, plants use energy from the sunlight to prepare their food while converting carbon dioxide from the air and hydrogen from the water absorbed through the root system into oxygen and organic compounds.

Transpiration

Transpiration is the process of evaporating water molecules from the plant's body through their aerial parts such as leaves, stems, and flowers. During this process, vital nutrients are transferred to different parts of the plant while making the plant's cells rigid and it also prevents them from overheating.

Cellular structure

Water helps in the cellular structure of the plants. It constantly creates pressure inside the cell helping the plant to be in its shape while being strong and flexible enough to bend during the wind blow and move its leaves towards sunlight to enhance the photosynthesis process.

You need to create a balance while watering the plants. Different plants require varying amounts of water for them to absorb and proceed accordingly in their overall growth. It is necessary to understand the watering amount of your plants for their health and vitality.

Overwatering

People often make the mistake of overwatering their plants which results in the rotting of their roots. Water logging resulting from overwatering makes it difficult for the roots to absorb the necessary oxygen while increasing the risk of mold formation on the leaves of plants.

Underwatering

On the other hand, if plants do not get enough water then their root may get brittle and damaged due to the lack of nutrients and may exceed a point where the recovery seems impossible. Plants are more likely to shut down due to underwatering.

Before watering the plants in your garden or container, you need to consider checking the dryness of your soil. People are often mistaken while addressing the soil moisture and tend to over or under-water the plants that are not only unhealthy but also blunder things to do.

You can't possibly tell whether your soil is dry or not by just observing. For this, you need to insert your finger (anyone) into the soil up to the first joint or knuckle and check if your fingertip is dry or not. If it is dry then your soil needs to get hydrated.

For Indoor Plants

For the indoor plants growing in some kind of pot, you can try lifting the container. If the container is lightweight then it needs water most probably. 

It is also recommended to have a moisture meter for every gardener and plant cultivator to check the moisture content by sticking it in the soil. This method is more accurate and easy to perform.

For Outdoor Plants

For larger garden beds or outdoor areas, use a soil probe or spade to dig a small hole about 4-6 inches deep. Check the moisture level at the bottom of the hole. If the soil at this depth is dry, it's time to water your plants.

Sometimes plants will give you visible signs of needing water. Look for wilted leaves, especially in the morning, which can indicate that the plant is stressed from lack of water. Be cautious though, as wilted leaves in the afternoon could be a sign of heat stress rather than dry soil.