I know rainwater is recommended but I often have to use tap water for watering container plants. I have a well, and when I had my water tested years ago the outcome was:

74mg/L chloride
7.45 pH
371 mg/L total dissolved solids ('very hard' level)
3 mg/L nitrate as N
0.09 mg/L Iron

Should I worry?

Do you know what the carbonate and bicarbonate levels are as part of the dissolved solids of your well's water? For citrus, levels of 50-PPM should not cause any problem. Above 100-PPM begins to causes growth problems, and leaf toxicities. My guess your well bicarbonate level is at or near 200-PPM. The problem takes a little while, but every time you water the leavels continue to build up in the growth medium. My well contains 192-PPM bicarbonates, therefore I have gone to watering with a mix of 10 gallons well water and 90 gallons rain water. The trees thereby have shown amazing quality improvement. I have four large barns to collect rain from. Presently I have over 4,000 gallons in storage. - - Millet

I'll double check the water report but I don't think it goes into that detail. I know that if I boil a quart of water down a noticeable while film covers the pot. Sounds like its time to fix my gutters and direct them to rain barrels. Thanks

Hi , I know that Evveris (former Scotts) had something to cure hard water by disolving them

http://www.everris.com/Home/Ornamental-Horticulture/Products/Product.aspx/Specialty-Fertilizers/Water-Soluble-Fertilizers/Peters/Peters-Excel/21510215

Quote:

Peters Excel Hard Water Finisher is a premium fertilizer that helps to neutralize bicarbonate levels in hard-water.

I never used it although I have the same data on my well

But I use the main water from the city who is down to 1/4 hardiness and from time to time some from well because calcium is needed too

Of course I have 2 barrels with rain water when it rains so 2 x 50 galos