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Reversing Soft Water Damage

eakirklandphotoeakirklandphoto Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi all!

I've been experiencing some sweet pea seedling damage and I just realized that it's most likely due to the salt in the soft water I've been using to water them. Has anyone had any success in reversing this damage? Should I just start watering them with distilled water and it will eventually flush out? Or should I start over these seeds over? I have a few trays of seedlings and sweet peas in larger containers (which at the moment seem to be the only ones suffering.)

Thanks!

Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited March 2021
    Welcome to the forum. Why is there salt in the water you are using? Which country are you in, please?
  • eakirklandphotoeakirklandphoto Posts: 4
    Thanks! We have hard water so we use a water softener in the house and I've been using tap water to water the seedlings. I'm in the U.S.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    If it's a problem, it's probably easiest to collect rain water and try with that with the seedlings, if you are growing on a small enough scale for that. That doesn't really answer your question.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Do you not have a tap for drinking water which comes direct from the main supply and does not go via the water softener? That has been the norm with every water softener I’ve ever known in the UK. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Tap water will be fine. Pour plenty of tap water through them to remove the sodium and hopefully they'll recover.
    Distilled water is not good for plants and will kill them.

    I have a softener too. All the taps have soft water except the cold tap in the kitchen and the outside taps for the garden, which is usual here.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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