Greenhouse watering, tap or rain?

[Urban]

I have planned to have a water butt in the greenhouse, to act as a heat store, and also make sure the water warms up before I use it on my plants

I can easily divert rainwater into it, but I am not sure if I should be just filling it with tap water though to avoid diseases

Anyone tried rainwater in there greenhouse? Is it ok to use?

Thanks

[Potstubsdustbins]

I like to use tap water on my seedlings. Once the plants are established rain water is fine.

Nippy out there around here today.


Colin.

[WendyC]

Personally for small seedlings I use tap water as you say never quite know what diseases there may be lurking. I would think bigger plants would be OK with rainwater but I do tend to carry on with tap. Might be different when we have a meter...

[Matt94]

i alway use rainwater in the greenhouse - and the plants have been fine. outdoor plants are fine with rainwater - so greenhouse crops will be fine with it too - also some people say its better that tap water as it doesnt contain chemicals like chlorine.

[donnakebab]

What rain water?

If I had relied on this my seedlings would be dead.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I wouldn't dream of using diverted rainwater amongst my seedlings in the greenhouse because of the possibility of introducing pathogens lurking on roofs, gutters and down pipes. No problem with mature plants though.

[Two_Sheds]

Butt water is supposed to contribute to damping off. However, my tap water is really alkaline, I'm sure it's not ideal for plants.

I use butt water on seedlings, I've been OK so far

[Urban]

Thanks all, I will route the rainwater into the inside water butt aswell

[Bigmallly]

Thanks all, I will route the rainwater into the inside water butt aswell

Don't forget to incorporate some kind of overflow Urban or you could have a greenhouse swimming pool............

[Urban]

Yeh I've decided to route the overflow directly into the pond that is across the path from the greenhouse

[Sanjo]

I have a small butt outside my greenhouse and on top of that is a "lid" made from a bit of bent chicken wire to stop any birds falling in. (I had that happen once, a baby tit and it was very distressing.)
On top of the wire I have several folded over layers of the cheap £1 weed suppressant which acts as a sort of filter for the larger bits of moss/leaves/general debris and the hose from the greenhouse gutter sits on top. It helps keep the water just a little bit clearer. An old bit of net or similar will also work of course.

Edited to add - I don't use this water on my tiny seedlings, only on the trays when the plants are fairly big. Like others I worry about "damping off" otherwise

[braders]

I prefer to use tepid tap water for seedlings as you never know how contaminated rain water is...