The Best Water for Houseplants (Hint: It Isn't Tap Water)

Like all living things, plants need water to thrive and grow. But the type of water you use on your plants can affect their health and appearance. Water from the tap can contain minerals and chemicals, such as fluoride and chlorine, to which some plants are sensitive. If given the wrong type of water, certain houseplants may develop brown edges and brown tips. To keep your plants healthy and thriving, we spoke to gardening experts about the best type of water for houseplants and how to improve tap water if it's your only option.

The Best Types of Water for Houseplants

Rainwater and filtered water are the most suitable types of water for most houseplants, our experts say.

Rainwater

Collecting rainwater for your plants is both sustainable and beneficial for plant health. Clean rainwater is free of salts and chemicals and naturally contains nitrates that can help your houseplants thrive. You can collect rain in small containers or in something more substantial, such as a dedicated rain barrel, making sure these vessels stay clean and free of algae. Melted snow can also be effective in the winter, says Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, founder of the Houseplant Guru.

Filtered Water

Filtering your tap water is very feasible, especially if your plants don't require a high volume of water. "I water my houseplants with filtered water to remove chlorine and fluoride and to prevent mineral buildup from salts and heavy metals in the soil, which you would get from using water right out of the tap," says houseplant expert Lee Miller.

You can find small water filters that fit directly onto your kitchen faucet, filtered pitchers, or larger countertop versions. Steinkopf recommends using a reverse osmosis water filter, which she says removes all the chemicals from the water.

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Why Tap Water Can Be Bad for Houseplants

If your home utilizes a public water source, the water may have some downsides for houseplants.  "Municipal tap water often contains chlorine and fluoride, and some plants react badly to one or both of those," says Steinkopf. "Calatheas, for example, will develop brown edges, brown tips, and possibly brown veins from the fluoride." Marantas, dracaenas, and spider plants are also sensitive to tap water, so take time to research your plants to know if they're sensitive to tap water.

If your tap water comes from a private well, it may be suitable for watering houseplants, as it typically lacks these additives. However, some private wells can be treated with a water softener, and Steinkopf says that softened water should never be used for plants because it contains salt, which can harm your plants.

How to Improve Tap Water

If you find that your home tap water isn't ideal for your houseplants but you still need to use it for convenience or cost, there are steps you can take to improve its quality. In addition to purchasing a water filter, Miller says another option is to fill a pot with water and let it sit overnight to let the chlorine escape. However, this isn't a perfect solution for mineral-sensitive plants, such as African violets, orchids, and calatheas, she notes.

Another option is to distill your tap water. Distilled water is water that has been boiled, causing the water molecules to return to a gaseous state and then condense back into liquid. During the process, imperfections in the water are removed. Distilled water is a good water source for your houseplants, but it lacks the nitrates and nutrients found in natural water, so gardeners have to add them back to the soil manually, Steinkopf says. You can distill water at home, but it takes time. Purchasing distilled water is easier, but it has costs and storage considerations.