I cleaned my water butt with vinegar a few months back, but mold and possibly algae have returned. I even made a filter using muslin to keep debris out, but I can't remember the dilution ratio of vinegar I used—it might have been 1/3. This is getting a bit frustrating! How can I maintain a clean water supply without having to empty and clean it every few months? I specifically use this water for my sensitive house plants, so I'm wondering if there's anything I can add to help keep it clean without harming them.
4 Answers
Do you mean algae? Keeping it completely sealed can help, but a little algae shouldn't be harmful to your houseplants. They can usually handle it just fine.
Which house plants do you have that can’t handle a little algae in their water? Most can adapt pretty well!
You can always filter the water, but really, it's not a must for your houseplants—they’re fine with rainwater, which is non-chlorinated. Algae won’t hurt them!
Microbes are persistent! They can thrive even in space shuttles, so there's really no way to completely prevent growth in your water butt. The best you can do is keep it as clean as possible, but since water tends to encourage life, you'll likely need to clean it every so often. Instead, consider using a smaller water butt for your houseplants to ensure that the water doesn’t sit stagnant for too long—it’ll stay cleaner longer that way!
Exactly! Just like in diesel tanks, standing water can promote microbial growth, especially in warmer conditions. Keeping the turnover of water fresh will really help.