Will a rusty watering can hurt plants? Irrigating with rusty water or adding rusty iron to a planting pot or garden bed probably won’t harm your plants. But it won’t work, at least not immediately. In healthy soil, the ongoing process of iron chelation or the conversion of iron into a usable form makes it available to plants when they need it.
Rust is iron oxide, which also does not damage plants in moderation because it is not water-soluble unless the pH of the soil is very low. In fact, iron oxide is what gives most red subsoils their color. Watering with this water will not harm the plants at all.
One might also ask, are rusty nails good for plants? Rusty nails can help rejuvenate plants by pouring water over wilted plants and watching their leaves come back to life. Rust releases iron, which is vital for nourishing dying plants.
That’s it. What does rust do to plants?
Common rust (Phragmidium spp.) is a fungal disease that attacks roses, marshmallows, goldenseal, yellow crops, beans, tomatoes, and lawns. It is most common on mature plants and its symptoms appear mainly on the surface of the lower leaves. A severe infestation will deform and yellow the leaves and cause them to fall off.
Is iron in water harmful to plants?
While having iron in the water will not necessarily harm your plant and in some cases may be beneficial, there is such a thing as too much iron. With excessive irrigation, iron-rich water can gradually lead to a build-up of iron that may begin to damage the plant itself.
