Find out if chlorine and fluoride in water can harm your houseplants. What you should do about this and what kind of water you should use. Some plants are sensitive to chlorine and fluoride. For sensitive plants, you can use distilled water, as well as rain/snow water and reverse osmosis.
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Today, I’m going to answer a question that I often get about watering: will chlorine and fluoride harm my houseplants? What kind of water should I use? How do I get rid of the chlorine and fluoride?
First of all, in general, tap water, well water, rainwater, and snowmelt are all okay to use on your houseplants if it’s warm to room temperature. Chlorine is added to drinking water, and in general, it doesn’t harm most plants. However, some plants will develop leaf tip burn, such as Dracaenas, which was actually featured in a previous video where I pruned off some of those brown leaf tips.
There are certain sensitive plants that will be bothered by chlorine and fluoride in the water. If you’re getting brown leaf tips and you determine that it is the water causing the issue, there are things you can do to minimize the damage and prevent leaf tip burn.
To remove chlorine from water, you can leave it in a bucket or watering can—something with a wider opening is better—and the chlorine will dissipate into the atmosphere and go away after 24 hours. However, fluoride cannot be removed in this way. Some plants, as mentioned, are sensitive to fluoride; for example, spider plants can also develop leaf tip burn from fluoride exposure.
What happens with leaf tip burns is that the plants are trying to cycle out those chemicals, and the excess gets stuck at the tip of the leaf. This occurs because plants transpire, releasing moisture from their leaves, but it may not reach the end of the leaf, especially in long, strappy leaves like those of Dracaenas and spider plants.
If you’re experiencing significant problems with brown leaf tips and nothing else seems to be working, consider watering with distilled water. You can also use water collected from a dehumidifier, as it removes both fluoride and chlorine. Rainwater is another good choice, as is snowmelt, which you can collect and use instead.
If your houseplants seem okay, then it’s probably fine to use tap water. However, if you start to see signs of buildup from these minerals in your water, switching to distilled water, rainwater, or snowmelt is advisable. Distilled water is the best option if you want to be certain there are no harmful chemicals, as it has everything removed. Reverse osmosis water can also be a good choice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will chlorine and fluoride harm my houseplants?
In general, chlorine and fluoride in water can cause issues for sensitive plants, leading to problems such as leaf tip burn. While most plants are fine with tap water, some may react negatively.
What kind of water should I use for my houseplants?
Tap water, well water, rainwater, and snowmelt are all suitable for houseplants as long as they are warm to room temperature. For plants sensitive to chlorine and fluoride, consider using distilled water, rainwater, or water collected from a dehumidifier.
How can I get rid of chlorine in my water?
You can remove chlorine from water by leaving it in a bucket or watering can with a wider opening for about 24 hours, allowing it to dissipate into the atmosphere. However, fluoride cannot be removed this way.
What should I do if my plants have brown leaf tips?
If your plants are developing brown leaf tips, it may be due to chlorine or fluoride in the water. Consider switching to distilled water or rainwater, which do not contain these chemicals, to help alleviate the issue.
Can using distilled water help my houseplants?
Yes, using distilled water is an excellent choice if you’re concerned about harmful chemicals, as it has all impurities removed. This can help prevent issues like leaf tip burn in sensitive plants.
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