Find out why to never use softened water on your houseplants. Softened water is high in salt, and salt will kill roots and cause nutrient deficiencies in plants. See a plant that has been growing in softened water, and how it is unhealthy.
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Hello, and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. If you’d like to support our show, please use our Amazon affiliate link below. Today, I’m going to show you why you don’t want to use softened water on your plants.
This is a Hoya carnosa, also known as a wax plant—a beautiful plant, especially when it blooms. I’ve done videos on them, and we’ll be doing more in the future as well. I love this plant.
Now, this particular plant was being rooted in water, which they can be rooted in. As you can see, it does have roots here. However, it was rooted by someone who didn’t know they weren’t supposed to be using softened water. Softened water is high in salt, and you can see how yellowy this plant is as a result. It’s having a lot of problems, even though it did create roots.
I believe at one point, someone was using reverse osmosis water, and then someone else took over and started using softened water. So, it initially developed roots during that good time, but then it began experiencing difficulties due to the salt in the softened water. Of course, now I have it in a non-softened water environment, which is helpful since I don’t have softened water.
If you do have softened water, you’ll need to use reverse osmosis water, distilled water, rainwater, or well water, as long as it’s not high in salts. I want to show you the difference. Here is the same type of plant for comparison. This plant here is a healthy specimen of the same plant type. You can see the difference in coloration and the leaves. This one is growing in soil, while the other is struggling due to salt exposure.
If you have plants that are yellowing, experiencing leaf drop, stunted growth, or not growing well, this may be a sign of salt buildup in the soil or water. Such buildup isn’t good for plants. Looking at this plant, I hope it will start to green up over time, but it may take two to four months for it to spring back.
Salt buildup, as mentioned, can cause significant problems for plants. I have other videos on this topic and how to address it. I just wanted to show you the stark difference between these two plants: one growing in a low-salt environment and the other in a high-salt environment. This illustrates why it’s crucial not to use softened water on your plants.
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FAQ: Using Softened Water on Plants
Why shouldn’t I use softened water on my plants?
Softened water is high in salt, which can harm plants by causing yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and other health issues.
What is softened water?
Softened water is water treated to remove hardness, but it often contains added salt, which can accumulate in the soil and harm plants.
What are the signs that my plant has salt buildup?
Signs of salt buildup include yellowing leaves, leaf drop, and stunted growth. If your plant shows these symptoms, salt may be an issue.
Can I use softened water to root plants in water?
No, softened water should not be used for rooting plants, as it can lead to salt buildup in the roots, affecting the plant’s overall health.
What are the best alternatives to softened water for plants?
The best alternatives to softened water include reverse osmosis water, distilled water, rainwater, and well water, provided it’s low in salts.
How long does it take for a plant to recover from salt damage?
Recovery time varies but may take two to four months or longer for the plant to start showing signs of improvement after switching to low-salt water.
What types of plants are affected by softened water?
Many indoor plants, including Hoya carnosa (wax plant), are affected by softened water. Avoiding it can help prevent yellowing and other issues.
How can I prevent salt buildup in my indoor plants?
Avoid using softened water and, if needed, flush the soil periodically with distilled or low-salt water to reduce salt buildup.
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