Summer is a difficult time for many hobby gardeners: Sometimes you water your plants too much, then not enough. But not only the amount of water is a decisive factor for the lifespan and quality of the plant. What you water them with is just as important.
There are all sorts of tips and tricks for garden enthusiasts to ensure that indoor and garden plants can grow well.
The right care starts with the right watering. For example, it is better to water flowers and co. either in the morning or in the evening when the temperature is high. This is because the water evaporates more slowly than during the midday heat, leaving more for the plant.
Equally important is not only when, but with what you water your plants. Contrary to the opinion of many laypeople, conventional tap water is not sufficient for most plants and in most cases even causes them to die.
Instead, the experts from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) recommend using rainwater. This is not only free, but has numerous other advantages.
Why you shouldn’t water your plants with tap water
According to the UBA, only very few plants that are common in Germany tolerate our tap water, as it is too hard and calcareous. The poisonous oleander is one of the exceptions; Flowering shrubs such as rhododendrons or geraniums would suffer considerable damage.
If sensitive plants are regularly watered with tap water, they can die if the lime content is too high, explains the Rhineland-Palatinate Garden Academy. Iron and magnesium are kept in the substrate (soil, nutrient medium, etc.) and can no longer be absorbed by the plant. Owners usually recognize the affected plants by symptoms of deficiency, such as lightened leaves or a thin layer of lime that settles on the surface of the soil.
In addition, tap water often contains germicidal additives that damage the plants.
The fact that rainwater is more suitable not only applies to flowers, shrubs and trees that grow in the garden, but also to indoor plants.
What is the best way to collect rainwater?
The best way to collect rainwater is with a rain barrel. In the event of a shower or storm, the water collects in it and all you have to do is let it run into a watering can via a small tap.
You can find suitable products in every hardware store and specialist plant shop. You can find both at the online retailer Amazon cheap models as well as smaller tonswhich are also suitable for the balcony, for example.
So that no leaves, beetles or objects end up in the bin, we also recommend a cheap one safety netthat you simply stretch over the opening.
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