MythBusters Challenge - Tap Water vs. Filtered for Tomatoes

Tracydr · April 29, 2012

I would think the filter on a water softener would be good. It removes a lot more bad stuff than the tiny amount of salt that is left in.
We have such hard water that I can put a plant in a terra cotta pot and have crystals built up on the sides in less than a month. Our tap water and irrigation water are actually very high in salt and calcium. I would think that's worse than the tiny bit of salt from the water softener.
I used the water from the softener on my seedlings this year and they seemed to like it just fine.
I use gypsum in my potted plants and all my garden beds because of the salt. I don't use lime. I'm beginning to wonder if I should add some Epsom salts since I'm not adding lime? I have no idea if Things are magnesium deficient but I do wonder if the high calcium ties up the magnesium.
I do know I feel better if I take magnesium everyday!

April 29, 2012	#31
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	I would think the filter on a water softener would be good. It removes a lot more bad stuff than the tiny amount of salt that is left in. We have such hard water that I can put a plant in a terra cotta pot and have crystals built up on the sides in less than a month. Our tap water and irrigation water are actually very high in salt and calcium. I would think that's worse than the tiny bit of salt from the water softener. I used the water from the softener on my seedlings this year and they seemed to like it just fine. I use gypsum in my potted plants and all my garden beds because of the salt. I don't use lime. I'm beginning to wonder if I should add some Epsom salts since I'm not adding lime? I have no idea if Things are magnesium deficient but I do wonder if the high calcium ties up the magnesium. I do know I feel better if I take magnesium everyday!