Is Hard Water Bad for Plants?

Have you tried purchasing plants time and time again, vowing to try your absolute best to keep them alive, only to have them wilt and die within a couple of weeks? You may not be lacking a green thumb—instead, you could simply have hard water in your home. Florida’s tap water is notorious for containing chemicals and minerals that make it much harder than water found in other parts of the U.S, and it could be detrimental to the livelihood of your plants.

Hard water has copious amounts of calcium and magnesium, which can cause your plants to shrivel up and die quickly, as they are bogged down by heavy deposits. Here are a few ways in which hard water can be bad for your plants.

Scale Deposits on Leaves

Hard water is rich in mineral deposits. While this may sound positive at first, it’s quite the opposite. When your house plants soak up hard water, they will begin to develop a white, filmy exterior coating on their leaves. As you may know, plants soak up water through their roots and energy through their leaves. So, if your plants’ leaves are impacted by scale deposits, they won’t be able to create the energy they need to survive.

Calcium Deposits on Soil

Now, let’s look at the potting soil you use for your plants. This is where most, if not all, of your hard water goes when watering your plants, so you may see some indications here that hard water is at play. If your tap water is filled with heavy mineral content, particularly calcium, a grayish powder may accumulate on top of your plant’s soil. If you can see these calcium deposits, that means your plants are soaking up those hard minerals.

Chlorine Poisoning

If you’ve ever been in a public pool, you’ve probably noticed that the water is heavily chlorinated. That’s because chlorine is used to decontaminate water. If your tap water contains chlorine, your plant will become poisoned and quickly show signs of deterioration.

Alteration of Plant Pigmentation

Plants are green due to chlorophyll—an essential pigment that helps plants create their own food through photosynthesis. But when plants take in too many minerals, such as lime and iron, they will begin to lose their green pigment. You may even observe them turning gray and brown. This is harmful to your plant and could result in wilting.

So, what can you do to solve the hard water issue in your home? Let’s get into it.

Invest in a Water Softener System

The most efficient way to stop your hard water woes is to turn to the pros at Florida Energy Water & Air for a water softener installation. Our products are manufactured by the industry-leading company RainSoft, which has been producing residential water treatments since 1953. All the water softeners we carry are backed by a comprehensive manufacturer’s warranty, so you can rest assured your investment is well protected.

At Florida Energy Water & Air, we have decades of experience installing water softeners, and we would love to introduce you to the benefits of having soft water in your home. To learn more about our products and services, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We serve homeowners throughout the Sunshine State.