Finally got around to building a rain barrel system last month

I'd been putting it off for like 2 years because I thought it'd be complicated and expensive. Picked up a 55 gallon food grade barrel off Facebook Marketplace for $15 and spent about $40 on fittings and a spigot from Home Depot. After one decent storm I had 40 gallons of water stored and my hose bill is already looking lower. Has anyone else noticed their plants doing better with rain water versus tap?

3 comments

3 Comments

colegarcia11d ago

My neighbor set up a whole rain barrel system last year and his tomatoes ended up with some kind of root rot while mine from the hose were fine. I tried using rain water on my pepper plants and they actually got yellow leaves after a week. Maybe it's just me but I think the chlorine in tap water helps kill off bacteria in the soil. Do you test your rain water for anything before using it?

robin89611d ago

Huh, I always thought rain water was better for plants but you might be onto something there.

sullivan.quinn11d ago

Friend of mine got fancy with rain barrels and ended up with mosquito larvae soup by July. He went back to tap water and his plants perked right up.