AusBonsai

Hey guys, this has to have been answered before but after much searching I’ll just ask :

I’ve been reading some things from other sources stating that the constant use of tap water can kill your trees, with a build up of minerals.

True / false / only some trees? Does anyone collect rain water and if so, does it matter how long it sits? If it is stagnant etc? There is a very old tank in my yard filled with rain water, algae and probably baby mozzies would this be better to use? Or perhaps tap water half the time, then a flush with the rain water?

What do you guys do and how concerned should I be using tap water and liquid fert?

Thanks in advance and sorry if it’s already written somewhere else.

I water half my plants with rainwater from the tank, and the other half with town water. There's no appreciable difference that I can see.

Do you have links to the other sources?

Good morning The Munt,

I use tank water because that's what comes from the tap but be assured that when the tank is low it is town water and its very often that the tank is dry - been going on for 4-5 years and never seen a difference

John(JP)
CBS

John(JP) wrote:Good morning The Munt,

I use tank water because that's what comes from the tap but be assured that when the tank is low it is town water and its very often that the tank is dry - been going on for 4-5 years and never seen a difference

John(JP)
CBS

melbrackstone wrote:I water half my plants with rainwater from the tank, and the other half with town water. There's no appreciable difference that I can see.

Thanks guys, good to know I can rest easy using our town water.

Jarad wrote:Do you have links to the other sources?

Here is one, I guess different countries may have different water supply and minerals too..

https://www.bonsaiempire.com/forum/wate ... -rainwater

I recall reading something from Walter Pall on rainwater and town water. I think he's been places where the town water is poisonous....but I don't believe it's a problem here in Oz.

All town supplies are tested and chemicals added to make them safe for humans, animals and plants.
There are some places where the water supply is highly mineralised. As the water evaporates the minerals end up on the pots and sometimes on the leaves but I have never heard of these residues harming plants.

Tank water is still fine to use even if it has been stored. A few wrigglers and some algae might block up the sprinklers but it should not harm the plants. We use tank water for our whole house - washing, drinking, cooking. I'm sure some of that water has been in the tanks for 7 years with a bit of fresh water whenever it rains but it is still fine to drink.

The Munt wrote:

Jarad wrote:Do you have links to the other sources?

Here is one, I guess different countries may have different water supply and minerals too..

https://www.bonsaiempire.com/forum/wate ... -rainwater

Bonsai Empire is a European website so they would be referring to the heavily mineralised water you find in a lot of the big cities over there. In cites like Paris and Rome the water tastes like absolute s**t compared to Australia.