Distilled Water For Plants: What You Need To Know
Everyone knows water is everywhere, so it must all be the same, right? Wrong.
The water in your garden might be tap water, but you might wonder if there is a better option, or you may already be using some other type of water.
You don’t need to be an expert on plants, nutrients, and growth cycles to make an important mistake as a gardener: not paying close attention to the water you use to grow plants.
Water Has Different Varieties
There are some types of water that aren’t suitable for use in the garden. Tap water or municipal water often contains unwanted toxins, and even rainwater isn’t perfect. Now is the time to drop some knowledge about “the essential ingredient,” so let’s begin with distilled water.
What is Distillation?
Distillation is the process of removing substances, minerals, and chemicals from water. This process is used to separate a liquid into its constituent components. Through the processes of evaporation and condensation, it is possible to partition a liquid into its constituent parts almost perfectly.
Also called steam-distilled water, this type of water is subject to a heating and evaporation process to remove the following from your water:
- Bacteria
- Parasites
- Viruses
- Organic chemicals
- Inorganic chemicals
- Heavy metals
- Volatile gases
- Other contaminants
The result is water that is almost pure, a pure, natural, healthy water. Water produced through the steam method is the absolute benchmark that all other types of water purification are measured against.
Many people believe that distillated water is better for plants because it is completely pure and free of these substances. The toxic chemicals found in indoor plants and the mineral buildup from contaminated soil can make them unhealthy.
What Makes Distilled Water Different?
It is sure that your tap water contains chlorine or chloramine and other chemicals used to make the water safe for drinking and make it taste good. These chemicals, however, can harm plants.
Some chemicals in the water can be tolerated by outdoor plants as they are diluted by rain, but houseplants have to just make good use of the water they are given.
The hardness of water can adversely affect plants, particularly if there are chemicals in the water continuously. Well water and tap water are often hard water to begin with. It can also be full of minerals and heavy metals, which are unpalatable to some plants, such as the Venus Flytrap.
People struggle with hard water because it does not allow the efficacy of soaps, shampoos, and detergents. These products leave stains in sinks, tubs, and showers and can damage appliances.
Installation of a water softener could solve these issues, however, that is a bad idea for water that is used to water plants. The addition of salt creates salt water, which is detrimental to plants. A reverse osmosis system is another option.
How Does Distilled Water Affect Plant Growth?
Although distilled water is a soft type of water, it is not made soft by adding sodium to it. Instead, it becomes soft by removing chemicals and minerals.
Most people use tap water and find that it works just fine for many plants, but there are some plants that cannot withstand the minerals and chemicals it contains.
When plants are watered using distilled water, they tend to grow more rapidly and stronger than plants watered with tap water.
When plants are watered with pure distilled water, they usually grow more leaves and are healthier. Still, it is essential to remember that distilled water can only provide hydration. It cannot provide nourishment.
Water your plants with clean distilled water, and make sure they are irrigated with the appropriate fertilizer based on their type.
Why Is Distilled Water Good For Plants?
It is not uncommon for plant owners to water their houseplants with tap water that has been left to stand overnight. The reason for this is that chemical residue tends to evaporate from the water if left for a long time. It is not possible for excess minerals to evaporate from water. Therefore, melting snow or rain water are suitable for watering plants.
This water is generally free of chemicals, natural, and heavy metals. However, you may encounter some unacceptable acidity due to living near heavy industry or very high traffic rates. Distilled pure water is free from chemicals and minerals, and is usually neutral in pH. This is ideal for watering houseplants regularly.
How To Make Distilled Water
The process of making distilled water at home is pretty simple if you are a DIYer, but don’t forget you can buy it in the store fairly cheaply.
Even though you’re paying for water that you can get from your tap, if you’re concerned about your tap water (and you should look into this), then it can still be a good option. You can also purchase a water distiller or do your own distillation.
Here’s how to do it:
- Pour a quarter inch of tap water into a stainless steel pot.
- In the pot, place a heat-resistant glass bowl so it floats.
- Turn an upside down glass lid into a bowl, and top it off with ice.
- Switch on the stove and wait for the water to start boiling.
- As soon as it starts boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer.
- Ice can be added to the lid if it melts.
- The process should be repeated until you have enough distilled water to meet your needs.
- When the water in the pot is heated, it evaporates, but then hits the cold lid and condenses. Then it drips into your bowl and you’re left with pure, clean water.
Using Distilled Water To Grow Plants
The fact that you’re using pure water does not mean that your plants will thrive. There are several other factors to consider:
The pH of distilled water usually is 7. However, plants may prefer a lower pH, especially considering the concept of nutrient lockout.
You might get a magnesium or calcium deficiency if your water is distilled if you are using hydroponically. Calcium and magnesium are thought to be the cause of hard water, so opting for distilled water will ensure you are removing them completely.
But plants need a bit of every nutrient to thrive, and a lot of hydroponic nutrients do not have enough of them. Make sure not to suffer from these deficiencies with a supplement like Cal-Mag.
Perhaps distilled water has shed some light on what distilled water is and how it fits into your gardening plans! Let me know if you have used it for your plants in the comments.