Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

What do you do when you run out of rainwater?

borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
in Problem solving
So my water butts are completely dry, with no prospect of rain in the forecast.  I have magnolias (1 potted), potted heathers (Calluna vulgaris), a young still-establishing rhododendron, and carnivorous plants in pots.

How do you water your ericaceous plants when your butts run dry? I resorted to watering one of the magnolias with tapwater but it looks like it's done more harm than good - leaves browning around the edges.. 🤨
«1

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I turn the tap on
    Devon.
  • Simone_in_WiltshireSimone_in_Wiltshire Posts: 1,073
    @borgadr Fill the water tank and leave it open for a few days.

    I ♥ my garden.

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Fill your water butts with tap water then add a liquid sequestered or chelated iron solution to neutralise the calcium.  Use that to water your ericaceous plants.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    edited July 2022
    I use distilled white vinegar, 2 tablespoons to a gallon of tap water, without any problems.
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    I use tap water on our camellias when I need to. I’m sure they can cope for a time while you either wait for rain, or for some of the suggested remedies to be ready. 
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    Thanks everyone.  I expect it will be a while before I have anything in my water butts. I'm going to try the white vinegar idea 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I never had any problems growing potted camelias and watering with tap water. I should think that magnolias would be fine. Carniverous plants et al might be more senstive.
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    I fill buckets with tap water and leave to settle and let the chlorine ( or whatever it’s called) evaporate then use in rotation,this does for pond topping up as well 
  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    I take a 1000ltr IBC down to the beck and leave a solar powered pump filling it for 3hrs. I then tow it back to the house and water the plants with it.
    Well you did ask  :p
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    My water butts are not yet completely empty, but the taps are!
    We are beginning our third week without piped water, following many weeks without significant rainfall, so no backup from the domestic supply. Keeping my plants alive just with watering cans requires considerable effort, but has gone fairly well so far.
    I have to prioritise, only watering those plants that I especially care about or are hard/expensive to replace. Sorry rudbeckias & nicotianas!
    I have moved them into more sheltered or shadier places. I take  potted plants down to the large pond to dunk them, more effective than surface watering, and stand pots in saucers or group them on gravel trays for ease of watering and to ensure no drop is wasted. I water only when I see it is absolutely necessary, in evenings or early mornings so less evaporates.
    And I breathed a huge sigh of relief this morning when I saw it was raining! Only gentle rain and only for a short while, but everything feels refreshed and there is a brief respite before the next onslaught. It will need a lot more rain to restore our spring though.
Sign In or Register to comment.