See hoya clippings that were growing in softened water before. Softened water is high in salt and harmful to plants. This is the plant 3 months later after it’s been growing in water that isn’t softened. It is now very healthy. Find out why you don’t want to use softened water on plants.
#healthyhouseplants #hoyawaxplant #plantwateringtips #softenedwater #plantrecovery #indoorgarden #houseplantcare #planthealthtips #leachsoil #waterquality
Hello, and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening and the great indoors. If you’d like to support our show, please use our Amazon affiliate link below.
Today we’re checking back in with a plant that I showed you about three months ago. This is a hoya wax plant that has been growing in water, specifically regular tap water, after previously being grown in softened water. As you’ll see in the prior video (linked below), softened water is a no-no for houseplants due to its high salt content, which can cause significant damage. Plants exposed to softened water won’t thrive and may even die. In that previous video, the leaves of this hoya were very yellow, but now you can see that the leaves are nice, green, shiny, and beautiful.
The hoya sits next to another wax plant, which showed a stark difference in color due to its exposure to softened water—very yellow compared to the healthier, greener plant. Now, they are close in coloring and look healthy. If you’ve used softened water on your plants, you can start by discarding that water. Instead, use reverse osmosis water, distilled water, bottled water, or even regular tap water from an outside hose.
This hoya is now healthy enough to be repotted into soil, and I’ll cover that process in another video. It’s encouraging to see that a plant can recuperate after exposure to softened water, as long as you stop using it. This plant will live and even allow me to propagate several new hoya plants from it. If it had continued to receive softened water, the roots would likely have turned to mush, or the plant would have remained stagnant and eventually died.
It’s important to understand the dangers of softened water for your plants. This applies whether you’re growing plants in soil or water—the same negative effects will occur. If you’ve been watering your soil with softened water, the soil is also high in salts. In such cases, leach the plant by rinsing it with a substantial amount of non-softened water—at least three times the container size—until the salts are flushed out. I have a video on how to leach plants if you need more guidance.
If you’ve been using softened water for a long time, it may be best to repot the plant entirely. Remove it from the salty soil, place it in fresh soil, and continue using the correct water moving forward.
Thank you for stopping by today! Please leave any comments about indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video, and hit the bell if you’d like to be notified when new videos are released.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is softened water harmful to houseplants?
Softened water contains high levels of salt, which can cause significant damage to houseplants. Plants exposed to softened water may not thrive and could even die due to salt buildup.
What are the signs of damage from softened water on houseplants?
Signs of damage include yellowing leaves and poor growth. The high salt content in softened water can cause plant roots to suffer, leading to reduced health or even death.
How can I help my hoya wax plant recover from exposure to softened water?
To help a plant recover, stop using softened water immediately. Replace it with reverse osmosis water, distilled water, bottled water, or regular tap water. Over time, this will help the plant regain health.
Can I use any type of water to grow hoya plants?
It is best to avoid softened water due to the high salt content. Use reverse osmosis, distilled, or tap water to keep hoya plants healthy and prevent salt buildup.
How do I leach the soil if it’s been watered with softened water?
Leaching involves rinsing the soil with a large amount of non-softened water, ideally three times the container size. This helps flush out the salts. Consider repotting in fresh soil if softened water has been used for a long time.
What water source is best for houseplants to avoid salt buildup?
For optimal plant health, use reverse osmosis water, distilled water, or collected rainwater. Regular tap water from an outside hose is also preferable over softened water.
Patreon: 
/ healthyhouseplants
One-time donation: https://ko-fi.com/healthyhouseplants
Sign up for my monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/g1PCSH
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn commissions for purchases made through the links below.
Distilled water: https://amzn.to/3XCNHLv
Share to Social Media.