Generally, you should avoid watering indoor houseplants and sensitive garden plants with softened tap water. Ion-exchange water softeners remove calcium and magnesium by replacing them with sodium ions (or potassium ions, depending on the salt used). Over time, the accumulation of sodium in potted plant soil will increase salinity levels, burn delicate roots, cause leaf tip burn, and stunt plant growth. For outdoor lawns and hardy landscape plants, softened water is usually fine, but it is best to use unsoftened water (drawn from an outdoor hose bib before the softener loop) for potted plants and delicate vegetation. Verification: Collect rainwater or use unsoftened outdoor spigot water for houseplants.
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