Being based in London we’re used to using hard tap water for our plants. However, this may not be the best choice for their overall health.
Hard water is alkaline, containing salts and minerals such as calcium which can build up in the soil. Over a long period of time this could potentially lead to chlorosis—yellowing leaves due to nutritional deficiencies.
Rainwater is not only economical but great in terms of purity. It also contains essential nitrates that promote robust plant growth. While there’s no need to make a drastic switch to rainwater, it’s a nice treat for your plants to flush out mineral build up in the soil by giving them a refreshing rain watering once in a while.
Collecting Rainwater For a small plant collections, large shallow containers make ideal rain catchers and you could even repurpose old food tins or takeaway boxes, just be sure to give them a clean before using. For longer term or bigger rainwater storage you may want to consider using a water butt.
Usage Once you’ve collected your rainwater there may be some sediment, you can use a muslin cloth or kitchen towel to filter the water through. Before using this water for your houseplants let it come up to room temperature so they don’t get shocked by the cold.
Et Voila! A natural treat for your green friends.