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[INDOOR-GARDENING:22] Re: quality of water (was Re: Leaf Drop)

>About the tap water - I'm not sure what country you are in (I am in England)
>but I have been told by several people that tap water is ok if you either:
>
>fill up your watering-can/whatever then leave it for halfanhour
>or
>boil the water - LET IT COOL - then use it, as by both these methods you
>will have got out the unpleasant salts etc.

What this does is get rid of any chlorine in the water.  It does not tackle
the problem many of us have with our city water, which is that the water is
quite alkaline after being treated (pHs of 8.5 and up are not uncommon).
The mineral salts that make the water alkaline can build up in the soils,
causing the white crusting you sometimes see on the top of the soil or on
clay pots.  

A number of genera, Chlorophytum (spider plant), Dracaena (corn plant),
Maranta (prayer plant) and others are VERY sensitive to extra salts in the
water.  Water problems will show up as browning of the leaf tips.

Rain water is naturally acidic due to dissolved nitrogen.  pH is often
between 5-6, lower in acid rain areas.  Many plants, even those those that
are not generally classified as 'acid-loving', benefit from this mild
acidity.  Distilled water is, of course, pH-neutral.

Water that contains lots of minerals is considered 'hard' water but this
isn't necessarily bad for plants unless it is also alkaline.  Untreated
well water in many areas is hard water but is fine for plants.
 
-- Karen

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Karen Fletcher                                   kef@prairienet.org
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