Every gardener knows the importance of watering your plants: it's the first cardinal rule. But figuring out where to source your water is not always so straightforward
If you live in an area with hard water, using too much from the tap could have a negative effect on your plants.
Conversely, too much soft water could cause havoc on account of the high salt levels.
It's a major predicament, one the experts at Rhino Greenhouses Direct think everyone should know about.
Luckily, the pros explained the science behind the common problem, so everyone can work out what their garden needs.
They also revealed why rainwater is a great source, when available to use, and not just because it cuts down on costs. The long and short of the matter is tap water normally contains numerous minerals, according to the Daily Star.
"If you're in an area with hard water, higher levels of calcium and magnesium carbonates will have an effect on your plants. Minerals are of course good in the right dosage, but too much will hurt more than they help," the pros explained.
In some cases, this could mean you could create a 'high alkaline environment' ill-suited to some of your plants. But the soft water commonly found across Scotland and Wales can also cause problems.
"The high salt levels will cause havoc with the plant’s own regulatory system, by fooling it into thinking it has taken up more water than it actually has." As such, it's not advised to only use soft water when looking after your plants.
If you let salt build-up on beds, you also risk making the whole area 'inhospitable.'
So, it is well worth listening to the experts' recommendation to use hard water and soft water intermittently. But the best solution, according to the pros, is to use rainwater.
Not only is it better for your wallet, it is better for your garden and the environment. Meanwhile, tap water could place a strain on local ecosystems.
The pros recommend leaving out a bucket or water butt, and then making the most of the 'multitude of benefits' rainwater offers to gardeners.
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