Is the water from rusty barrel bad for the plants?

Question

Is the rust bad for the plants?

Answer 1

No, the rusty barrel i assume contains rain water so this will have low calcium content making it soft and the rust is iron oxide and combined with the minerals already present in rain water will do your plants good.
As for iron nails turning some plants blue, it,s copper that does this in the form of copper sulphate.

Answer 2

That depends upon the plants or the flowers. If you put some pieces of rusty metal (such as nails or pieces of scrap metal) in the soil next to Geraniums it will sometimes affect their colour turning them purple or blue.

Perhaps the rusty barrel water will have a similar effect?

Answer 3

Actually the iron in the water from the rusty barrel will probably do your plants good-no kidding.

Rick ~30yrs in profession

Answer 4

In the old days you would have dug in old nails to add iron to your soil, plants need iron as much as we do. If you check the ingredients in Miracle Gro you'll see 'chelated iron', and blood fish and bone is another rich source.
I've no idea why anyone would believe that iron is bad for the garden. And rainwater is fine too. It doesn't contain as much calcium as tap water but you can add that by digging in eggshells and snail shells.

Answer 5

yes because the water will then have rust in and that will effect the plant and kill it!!!!
he says

Answer 6

Very bad! Try using bottled Evian water from Marks & Spencer my dear horticulturist.

Answer 7

Well, seems Ok for that,as minerial such as in the running tap is Ok for plant!

Answer 8

Nope, not bad at all. Might even do them some good.

Answer 9

Doubt it , when it rains they get fed a chemical cocktail ... so just throw it on.

Answer 10

not if you give them a regular squirt of WD40