Can You Use Dehumidifier water for Plants | If you have indoor plants and run a dehumidifier to help maintain humidity levels in your home, can you use the water that collects in the dehumidifier’s reservoir to water your plants?
After all, this is an easy way to recycle water and save on your water bill.
However, there are a few factors to consider when deciding whether dehumidifier water is suitable for watering plants. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons.
Contents
Can You Use Dehumidifier water for Plants?
Can You Use Dehumidifier Water for Plants? The one-word answer to this question is Yes you can.
But if you’re growing plants for food then you shouldn’t use dehumidifier water because chances of containing microorganisms, bacteria, mold etc.
But using some alternative methods or processes, we can use dehumidifier waters for all plants. The complete process is described below.
What is in Dehumidifier Water?
The first thing to understand is what is in the water that collects in a dehumidifier.
A dehumidifier draws humid indoor air through a cold coil or another mechanism that causes the water vapour in the mood to condense into liquid water drops.
This condensed water collects in the dehumidifier’s reservoir.
In addition to water, dehumidifier discharge water can contain:
Minerals – Calcium, magnesium, copper, and other dissolved minerals may be present, depending on what’s in your home’s tap water supply and building materials like drywall.
Biofilm – Over time, a slimy biofilm of microbes can build up inside the dehumidifier coils and tubing. Some of this biofilm debris may slough off into the collected water.
Pollutants – If indoor air contains pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from building materials, cleaning products, paints, etc., small amounts may condense in the dehumidifier water.
Mould/mildew – In some cases, mould or mildew growth can occur inside dehumidifiers, especially if they aren’t cleaned regularly. Spores or fragments could contaminate the water.
Chemicals – Dehumidifiers may contain anti-corrosive chemicals or other additives that could theoretically leach into the water over time. However, this is considered a low risk for modern equipment.
So, while dehumidifier water is mostly just condensed water vapour, it may contain trace contaminants accumulated from indoor air and the dehumidifier itself. there are both advantages and disadvantages.
This raises some questions about its suitability for watering sensitive indoor plants.
Potential Benefits of Using Dehumidifier Water on Plants
There are also a few potential benefits to consider when deciding whether to use dehumidifier water for plants:
It’s recycled water – Using water that’s already been condensed from indoor air means less fresh water needs to be used from your municipal supply.
This can help lower your water bill and reduce environmental impacts.
Contains minerals – The minerals present in dehumidifier discharge water, like calcium and magnesium, can be beneficial plant nutrients in moderation. Too high amounts, however, could salt plants.
pH balanced – Dehumidifier water is usually close to neutral (pH 7), ideal for most houseplants. Tap water, by contrast, can sometimes be highly alkaline.
Readily available – For people who run a dehumidifier regularly, it’s a convenient local water source on hand versus having to transport fresh tap water.
The main potential pros are that it represents recycled indoor moisture and may provide some beneficial minerals in small amounts. But there are also some concerns about contaminants to weigh.
Potential Downsides of Using Dehumidifier Water on Plants
On the downside, here are some risks to consider with using dehumidifier discharge water on plants:
Trace contaminants – As noted above, the water may contain very small amounts of pollutants, heavy metals, biofilm, mould, or other contaminants from indoor air or inside the dehumidifier.
Excess minerals – For plants with high mineral content tolerance, like succulents, too many dissolved minerals could lead to a condition called mineral salt burn on their leaves over time.
Nutrient imbalance – Dehumidifier water lacks the full nutrient spectrum that complete fertilizers provide. Using it exclusively could lead to nutrient deficiencies in some plants.
pH issues – While pH is usually close to neutral, high mineral content water could become more alkaline depending on the home’s tap water.
Raises humidity – Watering plants with dehumidified discharge water counteracts the purpose of the dehumidifier by increasing indoor moisture again.
Stagnant water risks – Bacteria or algae could grow in the stationary dehumidifier reservoir water over many days.
Equipment cleaning difficulty – Introducing plants and soils near the dehumidifier makes thorough cleaning more challenging due to the potential for cross-contamination.
So, in summary, the downsides focus on potential trace contaminant exposure to plants, nutrient and mineral imbalances, and increased cleaning/maintenance challenges around the dehumidifier.
How to Use Dehumidifier Water on Plants?
Given these considerations, here are some recommendations on whether and how to use dehumidifier discharge water for plant care:
Only use on robust, low-maintenance plants like pothos, snake plants, peace lilies, philodendrons, etc. Avoid delicate or finicky speciality plants.
Moderate usage – A mix of dehumidifier and tap or rainwater is preferable to exclusive use, minimizing potential issues.
Fertilize regularly – Provide complete liquid or water-soluble fertilizer to supplement any potential nutrient deficiencies in the discharged water.
Inspect plants – Closely monitor watered plants for signs of mineral burn, nutrient issues, or other problems and stop usage if any arise.
Use fresh water – Don’t let reservoir water sit stagnant for more than a day before using it to avoid bacterial growth risks.
Clean equipment – Thoroughly scrub and sanitize interior coils/reservoir at least monthly when plants are watered to prevent microbial buildup.
Robust air filtration – Ensure the dehumidifier has a well-maintained filter to minimize particulates entering the water. Consider a pre-filter for very dusty homes.
Test water parameters – Occasionally test pH, TDS (total dissolved solids), etc., concerning mineral accumulation over time. Adjust watering strategy if needed.
So, moderately and judiciously watering some robust indoor plant types appears to have fairly low risk when paired with regular maintenance, fertilizing, and water parameter monitoring.
But caution with speciality plants is still advised. As with any non-standard water source, proceed carefully until more experience is gained.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while dehumidifier discharge water is essentially just condensed indoor moisture, there are some valid concerns to consider regarding potential contaminants, mineral accumulation, and nutrient imbalances when using it exclusively for plant watering over the long term.
However, with the right plant selections, moderate usage mixed with tap water or fertilizer supplementation, thorough equipment cleaning, and careful monitoring, it can likely safely provide a portion of the moisture needed for some houseplants.
With common sense precautions and attention to potentially problematic parameters over time, dehumidifier reservoir water recycling offers modest benefits and low risk for basic indoor greenhouse plants.
Individual circumstances will vary, so cautious testing and observation are prudent until familiarity is gained.
It can be a suitable supplemental water source when handled appropriately for select robust indoor plant types.