Can You Water Houseplants With Melted Snow? Here's What To Know

When summertime turns to winter and a rain barrel becomes a snow collector, it's a logical thing to wonder whether the melted snow can step in for the usual supply of houseplant water. If snow is just frozen precipitation, then once it's melted, what's the difference between that and rainwater, anyway? This is why using melted snow can sound like a genius tip for watering your plants, especially for anyone who prefers gentler water than what's in the tap.

But there is a catch here, and it all comes down to how the snow is collected. Snow that falls directly into a container should be fine to give to your plants after it melts. However, snow that has been scooped up as you remove ice and snow from driveways may also carry salt, dirt, and debris that houseplants will not appreciate. 

Another thing to remember is that melted snow should be allowed to reach room temperature before you water your plants with it, since icy cold water can shock their roots, especially if your plants have more tropical origins. So allow the melted snow to rest and come to room temperature first. You can also sift out any debris to ensure you have clean water. With all of this in mind, there's no real reason why melted snow can't stand in for rainwater as the seasons change.

There are a few other details to keep in mind here. Snow compresses dramatically as it melts down, so while you may think you have a container filled with snow, by the time it melts, you'll have much less water to use than you first thought. So if you've been relying exclusively on rainwater collection for your houseplants, you may not be able to do the same for snowmelt – as a general rule, about 10 inches of fresh snow will melt into roughly 1 inch of usable water.

And whether you're using snow or rainwater, think about the nutrient content of what you're feeding to your plants. Rainwater collects small amounts of nitrates and other trace elements on its way down, which can give houseplants a subtle boost, and that's a great reason to reuse rainwater in your home. But while snow also contains nitrogen, it is available in much lower amounts — meaning it may deliver less of an immediate "boost." This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if your plants have gotten used to more nutrient-rich rainwater, then the change may be a shock to them. 

So yes, melted snow can absolutely be part of a winter watering routine, but it probably works best as an occasional supplement rather than a full seasonal replacement.