How to Catch and Store Water for Plants

Consider watering household plants with water that would otherwise be wasted - from both indoors and out. Rainwater is free of chemicals and minerals; all you have to do is catch it as it falls from the sky.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 32-gallon Plastic Trash Containers
• Rain Barrel
• Garden Hoses And Attachments
• Screens
• Washers
• Watering Cans
• Buckets

1. Place plastic trash containers, 30 to 35 gallons in size, beneath rain gutters and downspouts. Place a screen over these barrels to keep debris from fouling the water.
2. Collect water that would otherwise go down the drain from sinks and tubs as you wait for the hot water to flow. This water can be collected in buckets or watering cans kept near the source.
3. Cover any containers tightly with a lid when storing water for longer than a few days. Place the containers in the shade if possible.
4. Dip or ladle the water from large containers into smaller buckets or watering cans when it's time to water your indoor plants or garden.

Tips & Warnings

• Link two or more barrels together with flexible rubber hose and threaded connectors. Drill a 3/4-inch hole near the top of the first barrel, insert a rubber washer, the threaded connector, the hose - then reverse the order on the second barrel. You can also use the threaded connectors to attach a garden hose directly to your barrels for distribution.
• Delux Rain Barrels are available commercially. They are rather expensive, but work very well.
• Runoff water from freshly treated wood roofs might contain copper naphthenate, which is harmful to plants.

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