Can You Put High pH Water on Plants?

Watering your plants is one of the important tasks to keep them healthy and green. However, the water quality you use for watering can greatly affect the growth of your plants. One of the most important factors to consider when watering is the pH level of water. pH level measures the acidity or alkalinity of the water. Therefore, can you put high pH water on plants? Let's find out.

What is pH level?

pH level measures the acidity or alkalinity of the water on a scale from 0 to 14. A pH level of 7 is neutral, anything below 7 is acidic, and anything above 7 is alkaline or basic. Most plants prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil pH level of 6.0 to 7.0 for optimal growth. Soil pH level affects the availability of nutrients that plants need, and pH level higher than 7.5 can create problems.

What is High pH Water?

High pH water is alkaline water with a pH level higher than 7.5. High pH water is often caused by different reasons such as adding alkaline minerals to the water or being naturally occurring in some regions due to high carbonate and bicarbonate levels in the water. High pH water is often associated with bitter taste and can cause several health problems if consumed for drinking.

Effects of High pH Water on Plants

High pH water can negatively affect the growth of plants. Plants that prefer acidic to neutral soil pH range can be damaged by high pH water. High pH water can cause several problems such as stunted growth, wilting, yellowing leaves, and foliage burn. High pH water reduces the availability of nutrients that plants need, which makes it difficult for them to absorb nutrients from the soil.

How to Correct High pH Water?

If you have high pH water, you can correct it by adjusting its pH level to the desired range. Several methods can be used to lower the pH level of high pH water such as using pH-lowering chemicals or adding acidifying agents such as vinegar or lemon juice. If the cause of high pH water is due to natural reasons, using a reverse osmosis filter or a water softener can help to lower the pH level of water.

Conclusion

In conclusion, watering plants with high pH water is not recommended because it can negatively affect plant growth and damage plants. Maintaining the optimal soil pH level for plant growth is important, and it is important to ensure the water you use for watering your plants is within the desired pH range of 6.0 to 7.0. In case of high pH water, corrective measures can be taken to lower its pH level to avoid damage to plants.