Can I save rain water for plants?

Key Takeaways

Yes, you can save rainwater for use on plants. The main reasons for saving rainwater for plants are to conserve water, reduce water bills, and provide plants with chemical-free water. There are several methods for collecting and storing rainwater, such as rain barrels, cisterns, and DIY collection systems. The water can be used for watering outdoor container plants, gardens, lawns, and indoor plants. However, you need to take some precautions such as filtering and disinfecting the water before use. Overall, rainwater can serve as an excellent sustainable supplemental water source for plants.

Why Save Rainwater for Plants?

There are several key reasons why saving rainwater runoff for plant irrigation just makes sense:

  • Conserves freshwater supplies – Using rain barrel water reduces demand on potable water sources for non-drinking purposes like watering plants.
  • Saves money on water bills – Collecting free rainwater means less water to purchase from the municipal supply.
  • Chemical-free water – Rainwater is free of chlorine, fluorides, and other chemicals found in tap water that could negatively affect plants.
  • Good for the environment – Reducing demand for treated tap water also reduces energy usage for water treatment processes.

For the home gardener or landscaper, setting up rain capture systems makes both practical and environmental sense.

Methods for Collecting Rainwater

There are several effective methods for gathering rainwater from roofs and other surfaces for plant irrigation use:

Rain Barrels

Rain barrels are a simple and inexpensive option for home rainwater collection. A rain barrel is typically a 50-200 gallon plastic drum or barrel placed under the downspout of a gutter system. The barrel collects and stores water from the roof that would otherwise go to waste flowing into storm drains. The stored water can then be used as needed to water plants via a hose or watering can. You can buy readymade rain barrels or make your own DIY version.

Cisterns

Cisterns are essentially large-scale rain barrels that can hold much more water. These are typically large containers made of plastic, concrete, or metal that can store hundreds or even thousands of gallons of rainwater, depending on size. Cisterns are placed on platforms to gravity feed water to the point of use. They collect runoff from roof surfaces. Their larger capacity makes them ideal for saving water for extensive irrigation needs.

DIY Rain Catchment

For the motivated DIYer, you can create your own unique rainwater catchment system using basic materials like containers, pipes, and drums. For example, you can attach a hose to your downspout to divert flow into buckets or tanks. Or you can construct a wooden bin to sit under your gutter and catch water flowing off the roof. Let your creativity lead the way!

Using Rainwater for Outdoor Container Plants

The rainwater collected in barrels, cisterns, and other catchment systems is perfectly suited for watering outdoor potted plants and containers. Here are some usage tips:

  • Direct watering – Place container plants under or near your rain capture system’s spigot for easy direct watering as needed.
  • Watering cans – Fill up watering cans to efficiently transport stored rainwater to potted plants around your deck, patio, or garden.
  • Automatic irrigation – Connect your rainwater system to an automatic drip irrigation system for convenient hands-free watering of container plants.

The free rainwater will keep container plants thriving even during dry spells while saving money over tap water irrigation.

Ideal Plants for Rainwatering

Many common outdoor container plants grow well with supplemental rainwatering, including:

Plant Notes
Tomatoes Appreciate rainwater’s lack of chlorine.
Herbs Thrive when rainwatered. Mint, oregano, basil, parsley are good choices.
Lettuce Grow well with pure rainwater irrigation.
Peppers Produce abundantly when watered with stored rainwater.
Flowers Blossom beautifully with rainwatering. Petunias, geraniums, and marigolds do well.

Using Rainwater for Lawns and Gardens

Larger landscapes like lawns and gardens can also benefit greatly from supplemental rainwater irrigation. Strategies include:

  • Soaker hoses – Connect soaker/drip hoses that run through planting beds to your rainwater collection system.
  • Sprinklers – Use stored rainwater to power lawn and garden sprinklers for wider coverage.
  • Watering cans – Transport rainwater from barrels to garden beds and borders via watering can.
  • Automatic systems – An automated drip system fed by your rainwater reservoir waters the garden efficiently.

The natural rainwater provides ideal gentle irrigation for the landscape while reducing tap water usage.

Plants That Flourish with Rainwatering

Many common garden plants respond favorably to rainwater irrigation, such as:

Plant Benefits
Tomatoes Develop more robust flavor with rainwater.
Carrots Grow smooth straight roots with pure rainwatering.
Potatoes Benefit from the lack of chlorine in rainwater.
Lettuce Form loose tender leaves with supplemental rainwatering.
Squash Produce abundantly when irrigated with stored rainwater.

Using Rainwater for Indoor Plants

Your collected rainwater is just as useful for watering indoor container plants as outdoor ones. Water indoor plants with rainwater using any of these techniques:

  • Watering can – Bring rainwater inside using a clean dedicated indoor watering can.
  • Measuring cup – Carefully pour measured amounts of rainwater into each plant.
  • Plastic bottle – Use an empty clean bottle to gently transfer rainwater to indoor plant soil.
  • Misting bottle – Mist plant leaves occasionally with pure rainwater for healthy foliage.

The rainwater provides a natural source of chemical-free irrigation for indoor plants as part of a regular watering regimen.

Best Indoor Plants for Rainwatering

Many common houseplants grow well when supplemented with stored rainwater, such as:

Plant Perks
Spider plants Help remove indoor air pollutants when rainwatered.
Peace lily Produce pristine white blooms with rainwater irrigation.
Pothos Trailing vines thrive with occasional rainwater misting.
Palms Grow healthy fronds when watered with pure rainwater.
Succulents Stay plump and vibrant with occasional rainwatering.

Rainwater Precautions

While rainwater serves as a beneficial sustainable water source for plants, some precautions should be taken as well:

  • Filtration – Filter collected rainwater to remove debris like leaves and bird droppings.
  • Screen lids – Keep bugs, insects, and algae out with tight-fitting screened lids.
  • Clean containers – Start with clean barrels, tanks, and buckets for collecting water.
  • Avoid fertilizer runoff – Position rain barrels away from roofs where fertilizers are applied.
  • Disinfecting – Consider disinfecting rainwater with bleach to kill microbes before plant use.
  • Test pH – Use pH test strips to check rainwater acidity before applying to plants.

Following these tips helps ensure healthy rainwater suitable for effective plant irrigation.

Conclusion

Collecting rainwater for plants provides environmental and economic benefits. Methods like rain barrels, cisterns, and DIY catchment systems effectively gather free rainwater previously lost as runoff. The sustainable water source is ideal for irrigating outdoor container plants, gardens, lawns, and indoor plants. While taking precautions like filtration and disinfection, the rainwater serves as a supplemental irrigation source to conserve freshwater and save on water bills.

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