I think I finally figured out what might be the problem with my veggie garden and containers not doing well, in fact some planst are dying. I have always had good luck with my gardening skills but his year I noticed some of the container plants started dying and the tomato, pepper and eggplants never took off. Also seedlings just sprouted and then just stayed that way for a month or so beforw dying off.. It being a drought year I have given plenty of water(but not too much) to all my outdoor plants. I've been in this new house for two years now and have for the first time a water softening system. The kind that requires 40lb. bags of salt to be put into it. Could that be the problem with my plants?? I have 2 faucets that are not hooked up to the system and will be using them from now on to see if there is any difference. My water is very hard and the guy that tested it said it is # 28 on th scale. Not sure what that means. Any ideas on this issue??
Water Softening System Damaging Plants??
you should not be using soft water for you plants.. it does contain some salt and the plants don't need any of that.. the soils in your area is bad enough I am sure. Use your other non softened water for the plants. It is also expensive on salt to be using that much extra water just for landscapeing uses. I only use the soft water inside the house.. it will leave spots on windows and other glass. We have been using soft water for over 30 years.
Some of my porch plants use the softened water and they don't seem to suffer any ill affects but I sure worry about it enough so that I regularly flush them with un treated water ..Wish I could be of more help but I just don't really know for certain
Fancyflea...Texas A&M has information on salt accumulation and its affects on plants - see the following:
http://sustainable.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/vegetables/fertveg.html
Run a soil test on your garden soil AND water so you'll know what you're dealing with. There are 2 choices in labs:
TAMU Soil, Water & Forage Lab [reasonably priced]
soiltesting.tamu.edu (without the www.)
click on "our submittal forms"
click on 'urban soil submittal form"...follow the instruction on the form, use a quart ziplock bag for
your soil sample.
Texas Plant & Soil Lab [pricey, organic farmers use and recommend this lab]
www.texasplantandsoillab.com/
If you Google [tamu vegetable salt injury] or [site:.edu xxx xxx xxx ] you will find links to university based information on the effects of salt on plant life. "tamu" pulls up Texas A&M links, "site:.edu" pulls up educational institution links (general info OK but climate, soils, plant varieties differ from our Texas conditions).
Water softened with salt can be injurious to people with blood pressure problems - perhaps your system can utilize Potassium Chloride which is "salt free"; let your physician know which you're using.
Ms. Tommie
This message was edited Jul 6, 2011 6:57 AM
Did the fields of Greece and Sparta not get salted and never return to growth? (I forget which one, am a few years past ancient history class) Epson salt is used on plants once or twice a year-at a ratio of like 1 Tablespoon per gallon of water, and it is a unique salt. Wharton, ummm, range lands, winds can stunt growth like here where I live, plants are waiting now for the weather to break, I don't think we'll see it yet awhile. Yes, chemicals can damage plants, fertilizers are usually also a 'salt' so saturation of soil gets pretty hefty, I like Texas A&M stuff-they make those kids hustle to learn their trades.
Epson 'salt' contains magnesium.. not sodium like is used for water softners.. the term 'salt' is used for many compounds. When you use epsom salt for your garden, you are using it to add the magnesium to your plants. It is the sodium that is bad for you plants when using soft water for waterting.. a little is ok but it can build up and then it is not good for them. When you have no choice occasionally, then use soft water but a steady diet.. the plants will not thrive.
I will look into the Texas A&M site. I never took into consideration the fact that doing all that watering used up more salt. I never drink the water. Bottled water only for me and my cats. It rained hard a few days ago so I put the container plants out in the rain and again yesterday for a while. I will not water with any more treated water and see if that makes any difference. It might take awhile but I will let you know of the outcome.