Summer is in full swing. And just like us, your plants need plenty of water to stay healthy throughout the summer months. Water at the Lake of the Ozarks can be extremely hard. If you use a water softener to treat the water in your home, you may be wondering what kind of water is best for your plants. Here is how hard and soft water can affect your plants so you can make the right decision for everything in your garden.
Hard Water & Your Garden
Hard water contains calcium and magnesium carbonate salts It causes stains, spots and build-up on sinks and fixtures in your home. In the right amount, hard water minerals can actually benefit your plants. However, at very high levels, calcium and magnesium can hurt a more diverse garden, so be sure to check for any signs of stunted growth.
If you're growing plants that love acid like Azaleas, Caladiums and Begonias, you'll need to check the pH of your water. High alkalinity is common in hard water, which could cause problems for plant growth.
While it's ok to use hard water on your plants, if you have a diverse garden or have delicate plants, they have issues, especially if hard water is their only source of water. Keep an eye out for damage caused by pH water or high levels of minerals.
Soft Water & Your Garden
If your plants get plenty of rainwater, then occasional soft water won't hurt. However, watering plants exclusively with soft water isn't recommended. Most water softeners use sodium chloride, which can cause a gradual build-up of sodium in garden soil, which can cause plant growth problems.
Soft water is fine to use in your garden, but it doesn't provide any benefits to your garden. Soft water should only be used occasionally on an outdoor garden that receives natural rain as well.
How Reverse Osmosis Water Can Help
A reverse osmosis filter can greatly reduce contaminants in the water, which makes it a very popular choice for gardeners with plant diversity. The biggest benefit is creating clean, consistent water. You can easily control the nutrients and fertilizers you add. Gardeners with bacteria, iron and chlorine problems will appreciate the benefits of reverse osmosis water. It's basically like having rain water from your faucet. Plus, the pH of RO water can easily be changed, so plants with specific acid or alkaline requirements will benefit from the versatility of reverse osmosis.
Reverse Osmosis is the best water for a serious gardener, as it allows precise control of the nutrient flow to the plants. If you would like to learn more about Culligan® reverse osmosis system, give our Lake of the Ozarks water experts a call at 573-719-1314. We would love to help you have the garden of your dreams!
Hard Water & Your Garden
Hard water contains calcium and magnesium carbonate salts It causes stains, spots and build-up on sinks and fixtures in your home. In the right amount, hard water minerals can actually benefit your plants. However, at very high levels, calcium and magnesium can hurt a more diverse garden, so be sure to check for any signs of stunted growth.
If you're growing plants that love acid like Azaleas, Caladiums and Begonias, you'll need to check the pH of your water. High alkalinity is common in hard water, which could cause problems for plant growth.
While it's ok to use hard water on your plants, if you have a diverse garden or have delicate plants, they have issues, especially if hard water is their only source of water. Keep an eye out for damage caused by pH water or high levels of minerals.
Soft Water & Your Garden
If your plants get plenty of rainwater, then occasional soft water won't hurt. However, watering plants exclusively with soft water isn't recommended. Most water softeners use sodium chloride, which can cause a gradual build-up of sodium in garden soil, which can cause plant growth problems.
Soft water is fine to use in your garden, but it doesn't provide any benefits to your garden. Soft water should only be used occasionally on an outdoor garden that receives natural rain as well.
How Reverse Osmosis Water Can Help
A reverse osmosis filter can greatly reduce contaminants in the water, which makes it a very popular choice for gardeners with plant diversity. The biggest benefit is creating clean, consistent water. You can easily control the nutrients and fertilizers you add. Gardeners with bacteria, iron and chlorine problems will appreciate the benefits of reverse osmosis water. It's basically like having rain water from your faucet. Plus, the pH of RO water can easily be changed, so plants with specific acid or alkaline requirements will benefit from the versatility of reverse osmosis.
Reverse Osmosis is the best water for a serious gardener, as it allows precise control of the nutrient flow to the plants. If you would like to learn more about Culligan® reverse osmosis system, give our Lake of the Ozarks water experts a call at 573-719-1314. We would love to help you have the garden of your dreams!
277 Lower Business Park Road • Linn Creek, MO 65052 • (573) 719-1314
