Watering with salty bath water

[Tinkie_Bear]

My hubby likes to have a bath in water with a little salt in it (about a handfull in a bath full of water) we have devised a way to syphon the water stright from the bath into a waterbutt, do you think this little amount of salt (no soap or bubbles) will upset my veg when I water them?

Thanks in advance

Helen

[Tinkie_Bear]

[Georgie]

Hello Helen.  I don't think there are many plants that would appreciate salt water apart from perhaps asparagus which I gather likes seaweed.  Other more experienced gardeners may know better.

G x

[supersprout]

Clever you for figuring this out tinkie. If it were me, I'd chance it in the garden - it sounds like a very small amount of salt & detergent. If the water butt gets additional input from rain or other salt-free baths, or if you water with bathwater alternating with rainwater, the salt will be even more dilute. As G says, prioritise the asparagus - or seakale - which love it ::) I'd just keep an eye out for any strange veg behaviours but wouldn't expect them.

[Gadfium]

It might be wise to be a little cautious.

Although there are articles saying it is okay to use bath water on the garden when you have used small amounts of bubble bath/bath salts http://www.mqmagazine.co.uk/issue-18/p-66.php?PHPSESSID=29bf3a7562b822354b4a, there is also the following article http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/main.jhtml?xml=/gardening/2006/03/18/dtgfront180306.xml&sSheet=/gardening/2006/03/18/ixgmain.html
which states you should never use water which has been softened with sodium on the garden... Also this: http://www.cat.org.uk/information/catinfo.tmpl?command=search&db=catinfo.db&eqSKUdatarq=InfoSheet_Greywater&eqCURRENTdatarq=0

Bath salts are usually epsom salts...  this is (I think) MgSO₄, magnesium sulphate.

Household salt is NaCl, sodium chloride.

You might find this useful... http://www.grey-water-recycling.co.uk/grey_water_faq.htm

And if you do a google search on: using grey water garden.... you will find a few handy documents. Interestingly, they nearly all say to avoid using it on edible plants i.e. fruit and veg.

[davy1]

Having a few problems with heart rot last year i asked the show judge about trying to prevent it he told me to try a teaspoon of salt in the watering can. I have to say that i never tried it

[Tinkie_Bear]

Sorry it's daft newbie question time again ... What is heart rot?

I think I am going to take a chance using the salty water, it is so diluted that I don't think it will do much harm. If a teaspoon in a watering can is OK then a little pile in a bath full shouldn't be any problem.

Thanks for the info and the links, provided me with some more food for thought too.

Helen