Can ac water be used for plants – How does it works?
Is AC water is only water, simple water that comes from the tap? Can ac water be used for plants? Let’s see.
How do you use AC water for plants?
Some users claim their plants died after continuous use of AC condensate water.
Some users say that their plants grow faster when they use AC water, while others claim to experience the opposite effect.
But AC water does not have anything that enhances plant growth and does not, should not contain any chemicals that will kill a tree.
The condensate, a fancy way of saying the water that got collected, should be good for plants. As per my understanding.
What Are The Ac Types In India?
This water from air conditioners do not have strong chemicals. But not having any minerals is a bad thing though. Thus, AC water should be given to outdoor plants.
The AC water might have some dust, algae etc so for plants, it’s no big deal
How can AC water be bad to plants?
Lack of nutrients
A common misconception is that AC water can be used for indoor plants. However, when water is distilled into vapor, it loses nutrients. This may sound clean and environmentally-friendly, but not beneficial to plants because they need minerals for photosynthesis.
So yeah, you can get the soil wet, but it is not food for the plants. If you are giving it to outdoor trees then the water will mix with natural elements from the soil.
But the easy way around will be provided with composite plant foods.
Bacterial Growth
AC water if stored in a bucket or something for long periods of time then it might get bacteria in it. That can be hurtful to the trees but most of the time it should not matter, what you think?
But if you use the same water for indoor plants then it might put your health at risk.
And if the ac water is stored in a bucket for too long, it might get mosquito colonies as well.
How do plants respond to AC water?
Plants require water in order to thrive, but some plants are more likely to grow and flourish when exposed to different types of water.
This also depends on where the plant is.
The outdoor plant will have no problem if you give them bland AC water. They will get the minerals from the world.
But an indoor plant will not survive on that. Unless you mix something from your end as well.
What to consider when watering plants
Water should not be acidic!
The water used for watering should be neutral so that the plant can grow. Water with a high level of acidity is not good for plants, and the water can be slightly acidic if one lives in an area with industrial pollution or near nala.
AC water is when condensation from atmospheric vapour produces a solution which ends up being acidic.
Water used for watering should be neutral. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from industrial areas can make the water too acidic, which is not good for plants.
For this reason also, you should use the AC water to outdoor plants.
Outdoor Soil will filter impurities
Ac water is a good option for watering plants as it does not contain harmful contaminants. But even if the AC water has some chemicals in it, which is also very possible, then soil on the other hand, is a good filter for contaminates.
This also works in favor of watering the outdoor plants with AC water.
AC water temperature is not suitable!
Watering plants in cold or hot water is bad because it can harm the plant. Watering plants at room temperature is best for watering, and using a bucket to cool down the temperature before pouring into the pot helps prevent damage from happening.
Thus it is best to keep the water in bucket to get it warmer naturally and then give it to the plants.
Is AC Condensation for Plants Safe?
AC water is pure, pulled from the air and contains none of the chemicals found in chlorinated or other types of tap water. The condensate forms when the unit cools warm air which creates condensation. Condensation is not harmful to plants and they will grow just fine as long as there’s enough light to provide energy for them.
Many large institutions are already harvesting this resource and reusing it thoughtfully. AC condensate is a mixture of water vapor, which can be used for plants to grow. It saves the institution money on its energy bill by reducing the amount of electricity needed in cooling systems due to more efficient distribution methods.
Is AC water acidic?
The answer is yes. AC water can be used for plants, but it should not be consumed in large quantities and will require supplemental mineralization.
As distilled water has a TDS value near zero and in our tests we found AC condensate water TDS value varying from 40-80, this means that the amount of minerals present in the AC water is minimal.
However, if the AC is clean and serviced regularly the TDS will remain low else higher.
AC water is a good source of moisture when soil is present in high quantities. It also has low minerals, but can absorb minerals from the soil and make them available for plants to use. The issue with using AC water as irrigation or hydration solution on plants depends on how its used.
The level of contamination will increase overtime if it’s being stored in pots without regular cleaning or proper disinfection processes taking place because of the contaminants that are present (e.g., oil).
What AC water contains?
Condensation from air-cooled units can be collected and redirected to plants. Plants that are able to grow in AC rooms include:
AC water is like distilled or rain water, it has nothing. But if the AC is dirty then it will contain some bacteria for sure.
What is the water coming out of AC?
The water coming out of the AC’s drain line is what is known as “condensate.” When an air conditioner works properly, it condenses and then flows down a drain line. The condensate can be used to hydrate plants by absorbing moisture from its surface.
So it does not have any minerals or chemicals. But if the AC is dirty then it will have some bacteria in it.
Is AC water safe for hair wash?
It is recommended to implement fresh water on your hairs for better hair growth, but it damages the moisture of the hairs and leads to hair loss.
AC water will have everything that air has, like dust etc, so, AC water is a very bad choice for hair wash.
Is AC water harmful for skin?
Yes, AC water is harmful to skin and can cause dryness. It’s best to use distilled or filtered water for plants because the air in the room will contain dust, dead skin cells and whatever fumes are in the air.
Is AC water Toxic?
The air conditioning unit of a building can be the source of condensate. This is water that comes out of the system and it has been shown to cause outbreaks in hospitals, motels, cruise ships, and other places where people are not always washing their hands after using this water.
Conclusion
Can ro water be used for plants? Yes, if that is what you want to do and nothing else. AC water is not bad for plants but for other human use where it will contact with your skin then it will cause some issue.
Ref: Short version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKbH8ctD2GE&feature=youtu.be