Pixar
Chumono
Just wondering does a Bonsai grow better using Tap water or Rain water ?
Does using Tap water or Distilled water really matter ?
- Thread starter Pixar
- Start date
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
Tap water while not always perfect is far better than using distilled water which can actually rob you plants of nutrients. This is the answer to the title of your post. But as to the context of your post, nothing beats rainwater.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
Tap water is not all the same. pH can be vastly different in different cities. Dissolved minerals can be different in different places. Both can have an effect on plants. In most places tap water is high quality as it is used for human consumption and is also good for plants. Many places in the US have high pH (alkaline) water so they use acidifying fert to counteract that when watering potted plants. Here in Aus most municipal water is only just alkaline and is fine for plants. Chlorine treatment is standard for most municipal water supplies. The chlorine levels in tap water won't hurt your bonsai. Water authorities are required to test regularly and publish the results so you should be able to find a report showing all aspects of your local water on the local authority website.
Rain water also varies a lot depending on what airborne pollution is nearby. Down here rainwater is very good but in some industrial countries rainwater contains high levels of pollutants that can be detrimental to plants. There was some concern in Germany a few years back that acid rain was killing the famous Black Forest.
There is also a difference between rain water direct from the sky and stored rain water. Fresh rain seems to give plants a sudden boost of growth, possibly because of dissolved Nitrogen? Stored rain water does not seem to have quite the same effect.
Check your local water board reports but I suspect there will be very little difference between rain water and tap water for Auckland as far as plants are concerned.
Rain water also varies a lot depending on what airborne pollution is nearby. Down here rainwater is very good but in some industrial countries rainwater contains high levels of pollutants that can be detrimental to plants. There was some concern in Germany a few years back that acid rain was killing the famous Black Forest.
There is also a difference between rain water direct from the sky and stored rain water. Fresh rain seems to give plants a sudden boost of growth, possibly because of dissolved Nitrogen? Stored rain water does not seem to have quite the same effect.
Check your local water board reports but I suspect there will be very little difference between rain water and tap water for Auckland as far as plants are concerned.
My trees love rainwater, as do I because it reduces my watering duties when we get a good spread of rain for a few days 
. When the weather is busy being delightful then I use tapwater for everyone with the exception of my Azalea who gets some very nice bottled mineral water as she doesn’t like the PH of our tap water.
. When the weather is busy being delightful then I use tapwater for everyone with the exception of my Azalea who gets some very nice bottled mineral water as she doesn’t like the PH of our tap water.
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
I can't use my tap water. I have a water softener. When we had it installed...I made sure to have two faucets...one in the basement and one outside for watering my trees. The water softener system bypasses those two faucets.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Depends on what type of salt you use to recharge your softener. If you use potassium chloride, you avoid introducing sodium to your water, and you are actually providing a tiny amount of fertilizer
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
Interesting...will look to see which we do use. I've always read not to use water softener water...good fact. Thank you.Depends on what type of salt you use to recharge your softener. If you use potassium chloride, you avoid introducing sodium to your water, and you are actually providing a tiny amount of fertilizer
Michael P
Omono
We have the same consideration for planted aquaria. NaCl in the water softener can cause problems, but KCl gives the plants a little extra nutrient.Depends on what type of salt you use to recharge your softener. If you use potassium chloride, you avoid introducing sodium to your water, and you are actually providing a tiny amount of fertilizer
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
Use of a special water can be mitigated by soil mix and / or fertilizer. My pH is about 8 and my azaleas thrive.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
I installed my outdoor spigots to bypass my water softener as well.
If you can find it that is great. It isn't available around here. I might be able to find it but the cost would be much higher because it would have to be special order from a water supply specialist. Its too bad because I could use more potassium and less sodium in my diet as well.Depends on what type of salt you use to recharge your softener. If you use potassium chloride, you avoid introducing sodium to your water, and you are actually providing a tiny amount of fertilizer
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
What's your media?
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
I have two different ones I am using to grow them on. One is kanuma, the other is a peat, and bark blend with perlite. When they are ready for bonsai pots I hope to have learned something from my experimenting. Next spring I will be working some with pine needles. I worked for a nursery decades ago that grew there azaleas under loblolly pines and they were amazing.
I use miracide and Neptunes fish & kelp as foliar sprays currently, but there are other acidifiers to consider as well.
And btw, my pH of my well water is about 8. I do a rain dance now and again though.
I use miracide and Neptunes fish & kelp as foliar sprays currently, but there are other acidifiers to consider as well.
And btw, my pH of my well water is about 8. I do a rain dance now and again though.
now that I would pay to seeI do a rain dance now and again though.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
You only think you would. It is terrifying.
luvinthemountains
Chumono
I may make the switch to using potassium chloride in my softener, so that I can start using tap water for indoor plants at least. But do the plants care about the missing calcium and magnesium?
revelup
Seedling
Most people use sodium in their water softeners. I use potassium chloride in my water softener, but it's six times more expensive than regular softener salt. And it seems to clog up the bottom of the brine tank more regularly, so there is more maintenance required to keep it functioning properly. Every 4-6 weeks I have to clear and break up a "salt dam" at the bottom of the tank. Here in Florida sodium chloride is six dollars for a 40 pound bag, while potassium is about 33 dollars per 40 pound bag.
Bnana
Chumono
Never realised that people actually have to do that. Why don't they reduce the hardness before distributing the water?
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
Oh wow... that is a huge price difference. The guy who takes care of our lake well houses. Drops off our salt when we need it. We don't even shop...it's convenient.
My husband said he would just prefer us keep our regiment. So he doesn't have to worry about buying the wrong stuff.
Paradox
Imperial Masterpiece
Ive always watered from a hose that is the same water that we get from the county public water system.
Its not pre filtered and is applied directly to the trees chorine and all. Never had any issues from the water.
Its not pre filtered and is applied directly to the trees chorine and all. Never had any issues from the water.
