Is It OK To Water Plants With Cold Water?

I was having fun growing my vegetables in the garden but I found that some of my plants seemed slow to grow. I realized that the temperature had dropped a bit and the water I was using was a bit cold. So I researched whether using cold water was OK for plants or not.

It is not OK to water plants with cold water. This is because your plants can go dormant thinking it’s the start of winter. Try to use water at room temperature that is between 68 to 72 ° Fahrenheit. Rainwater and tap water are some sources that would be at this temperature.

Plants need sun, food, healthy soil, and water to survive. Thinking about the water temperature to use tends to be the last thing on our minds when caring for a plant. If the water is too hot or cold, it can cause different problems. The time of day you water your plants can also affect their health.

Possible Damage To Plants When Using Cold Water

One issue for watering your plants with cold water is that it can cause your plants to go dormant. This means that the plant will act like it would in the winter. Your plant won’t look as lively as it should. Watering your plant with cold water prevents it from flowering, so make sure that you are using room temperature water to water your plants.

Watering your plants with cold water can also cause root damage. The roots will also become dormant and won’t accept the nutrients and water properly. Your plant can look starved and unhappy.

How To Make Sure You Always Have Room Temperature Water

If you’re watering your plants for your indoor garden from your faucet or using the hose for your outside garden, chances are you aren’t going to take the temperature of a sample every time you are watering your plants. There are several recommendations to help make sure you have room temperature water for your plants.

Rainwater

Rainwater is probably the best type of water to use for your plants. Rainwater is usually the perfect temperature for your plants. Try to leave some buckets outside to catch rainwater every time it rains. Use this water on your outdoor plants when they need watering and take some inside for your indoor plants.

Tap Water

Tap water temperature can be a little more difficult to work with, but it is probably the easiest of the ways to get water for your plants. You can get tap water from your hose for your outdoor plants, or the sink for your indoor plants.

Sometimes it isn’t an ideal temperature outside to be able to use the water from your hose. In the summer the water can be very hot, and in the fall and spring, the water can get too cold. If you are using tap water from a hose, you should let the hose run for a few minutes. Test the water temperature with your hand if it isn’t too hot, and once you notice a difference in temperature, you can start watering your garden.

You will have more control over the water temperature if you use tap water from the sink. Try filling your watering can and letting the water sit for an hour before watering your plants. When you finish watering your plants, you should refill your watering can from the sink so you don’t have to wait the next time you water your plants.

Is There A Difference For Indoor And Outdoor Plants?

A lot of us have beautiful plants indoors and outdoors. They liven up a room, help the environment, and can even make you feel better. According to Bringlimark, Hartig, and Patil, indoor plants have psychological benefits, including positive emotions, increased creativity and productivity, and decreased levels of pain.

When thinking of what temperature water to use for indoor or outdoor plants, it might not seem like there should be differences, but there is one. Overall, it is best to water all of your plants with room temperature water. Outdoor plants in your garden can be more forgiving with water temperature, but indoor plants tend to not.

Avoid Using Hot Water For Plants

There are some myths that state using hot water will cause your plants to grow faster and healthier. These myths have been debunked and they have found that using hot water can cause more damage to your plants than helping.

Weeds can be annoying and resilient. There are some organic methods to kill weeds that suggest using boiling water, which ultimately shows that using hot water will kill a plant. Before following a method using boiling water to kill weeds, be careful to keep the boiling water away from your plants. You should try to reserve this method for weeds that are growing in spaces you don’t want plant growth, such as around concrete or in between your deck or patio.

How Much And How Often Should You Water Your Plants?

Along with having the right temperature for your water, you may be wondering the amount and frequency you should be following. Every plant is different, and some require more attention to watering than others. You should research your plant about their watering needs.

If you don’t water your plants enough, they will dry out and die. If you water your plants too much, it can cause the leaves to brown, as well as cause root rot. This is when bacteria grow in the soil and the roots will become unhealthy and won’t absorb the nutrients.

You can check if your plant needs water by sticking your finger in the soil. If it feels dry, then you should water your plant. If it is moist, then your plant doesn’t need watering.

When Is The Best Time To Water Your Plants?

You may be wondering if there is a difference in the time of day for watering your plants. There is! Watering in the morning is the best option.

If you water in the morning, your plants won’t have to worry about excess water being on the leaves because of the evaporation occurring during the day. If you water at night, the water on the leaves can be a hotspot for bacteria to grow.

What To Do When The Weather Changes

Sometimes we have unexpected weather outside of our normal climate, such as a heatwave or a frost outside of the normal season. Such drastic temperature changes can affect the health and growth of your plants.

Before a freeze, you should place mulch down. This will help as extra insulation to the soil. You should also water your plants if they need it. Some even suggest using a blanket to cover the area. After the freeze, you should water your plants and prune back any dead leaves.

For extreme heat, your plant can “bolt”. This is when the stalk grows very fast, but doesn’t flower. This happens a lot with extreme heat. You should mulch the area and make sure that your plants are well watered to prevent this.

Conclusion

When taking care of plants, there are so many things to consider. One important aspect is the water temperature. Make sure you use room temperature water when you are watering your plants. Be mindful of the amount and frequency of your watering as well.