Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
If you have a pool or a larger swimming pool in the garden, you will probably use chlorine for bacteria-free and clean water. But what to do with the chlorinated water when the pool and paddling pool have to be drained? The Plantopedia guide has taken on the subject and explains whether plants can be watered with it.
pool water
Can you water flowers with chlorine water - does pool water damage it?
House or allotment garden owners often ask themselves whether they can safely let the chlorine-containing water run off into the garden because they do not know to what extent their flowers, herbs and shrubs and the lawn will react to it. Chlorine is a chemical that attacks many substances and at first it sounds logical if sensitive plants in particular could not survive this unscathed. But subject matter experts disagree here, provided certain factors are considered.
chlorine amount
Chlorine consistency/amount
Basically, a decisive point is the consistency of the chlorine for pool cleaning and the amount in which it was used. This is relevant because some consistencies will break down and break down faster than others. The amount of chlorine also determines the content in the water, which ultimately determines whether flowers can be poured out of the pool with chlorine water.
chlorine tablets
In tablet form and when added to the pool water, the chlorine breaks down very slowly but evenly. This means that with each new tablet a certain amount of chlorine is released, which is more or less constant until the tablet has completely dissolved. Strong water movements caused by swimming or the use of water and filter pumps can increase the delivery volume. Before draining the water in the garden or on the lawn or in the flower bed, the current chlorine content should always be measured. Chlorine tablets are difficult to dose down to the smallest milligram.
chlorine granules
Due to the loose unit of chlorine granules, the dosage can be divided up better than a chlorine tablet. This means that the total chlorine content can be set better and thus determined more easily. In addition, granules usually dissolve much faster. As a result, it can also be broken down more quickly when watering and the chlorine content is reduced accordingly. Nevertheless, a previous content measurement is advisable to be on the safe side that no damage is caused during casting.
liquid chlorine
If you use liquid chlorine to disinfect the pool water, you avoid a decomposition time compared to other consistencies. So you always know that the chlorine level in the water is decreasing every hour. The longer it has been since the last chlorination, the more suitable the pool water is for watering flowers and draining the water becomes increasingly safer. Depending on how high the chlorine concentration in the liquid chlorine is, it takes between one and two days to break down the pool water until it is “water-proof”.
shock chlorination
Shock chlorination is undertaken when the water appears above average dirty and a quick water cleanup is desired. Shock chlorination is always associated with a high proportion of chlorine. If irrigation water is removed immediately after shock chlorination or the pool water is drained shortly afterwards, there is a very high risk that your flowers and shrubs as well as the lawn will even suffer life-threatening damage in the worst case. After a shock chlorination, watering the flowers or draining water in the garden is not recommended for at least a week.
chlorine demand
Chlorine is considered a trace element in nature or in botany. It is ubiquitous in nature as an aqueous solution and is absorbed through the roots and in some cases through the leaves. However, this chlorine is a chloride anion (Cl-), chloride for short. Healthy plants have an average of between two and 20 milligrams of this. Sodium hypochlorite, which is similar to naturally occurring chlorine, is usually used for pools.
For some plants, however, the requirement is far below that, so that lower values of 10 to 100 times are completely sufficient. Symptoms of poisoning occur in the event of an oversupply of chlorine, while serious reactions are not to be expected in the case of a chlorine deficiency. This depends on the chlorine sensitivity that the different flowers/plants have.
Here it is divided between:
- Chloride loving such as celery
- Chloride compatible like roses, tulips to daffodils.
- Conditionally compatible with chloride like conifers
- Chloride sensitive like sunflowers or daisies and firs
chlorine water
Chlorine - yes or no?
The question cannot be answered in general terms. In principle, flowers planted in the bed tolerate chlorine water better than in pots, because the water can sink to the side and deeper there. But experience shows that a chlorine level of less than 0.3 milligrams per liter does not pose a health threat to all flowers and the lawn. In some cases it can be observed that although growth falters, density improves. This is often the case with turf and cruciferous plants, for example.
TIP: If you are not sure about the chlorine content in the pool or are completely undecided, you can take the irrigation water and simply leave it for a few days. This way it degrades faster and you can use it regularly for watering without any risk.
Conclusion
Despite chlorination, the pool water can be used as irrigation water for most flowers. If the pool is left out and there are still chlorine residues in the pool, this will not harm flowers that are sensitive to chlorine if the content is below 0.3 milligrams per liter of water. Therefore: before draining or watering the flowers, always check the level or leave the pool for a few days without chlorination, then you don't have to worry about anything.