Hard water confusion

[SouthernGorilla]

Here's what confuses me. I keep reading that hard water stunts plant growth. It's supposed to be hard to grow plants in hard water. What confuses me is why. Hard water is just water with a lot of dissolved minerals in it. So how is it any different from soft water that's been dosed with fertilizers?

[stlouisan]

I had to think about is for a sec, because it seems like hard water and soft water with ferts should be similar. Only thing I can think of are the carbonates are tied to the minerals in hard water that makes it different, and that buffers a bit of the chemistry in water, which changes how the ferts are readily available to the plants?

[Darkblade48]

Originally Posted by SouthernGorilla

Here's what confuses me. I keep reading that hard water stunts plant growth. It's supposed to be hard to grow plants in hard water. What confuses me is why. Hard water is just water with a lot of dissolved minerals in it. So how is it any different from soft water that's been dosed with fertilizers?

Where are you reading this from? I grow plants fine in my (hard) water.

[SouthernGorilla]

Originally Posted by Darkblade48

Where are you reading this from? I grow plants fine in my (hard) water.

Some of our plants seem to be fine. But the dwarf hairgrass didn't last long. It's hard to tell if it died off because of the water or because of the snails though. The banana plant is certainly thriving.

As to where I've read this I'm afraid I can't provide those details. I've read so much from so many places that I can't possibly remember where each tidbit came from. Sadly, this hobby is so rife with myth and misinformation that you can find any answer you want to any question you have.