Significance

• Using the microwave to boil water for purification before watering plants is quick and easy. It is important to boil the water in a glass container in the microwave to guard against contaminates from plastic containers.
  
  

Function

• Pure microwaved water has the same nutrients of potassium, calcium, magnesium and copperas water boiled on the stove. Once the water is cooled and sprinkled on the plants, the continued results are thriving healthy plants.
  
  

Consideration

• After several experiments with plants watered with microwaved water and those watered with boiled water on the stove, the Snopes website found the effects of watering with or without microwaved water were the same. The results were based on growth, color of the leaves, and height of the plant.
  
  

Misconceptions

• When water is heated in the microwave it is not filled with radiation and the structure of the water itself is not altered. The purpose of microwaving the water is to eliminate water additives such as the fluoride and chlorine found in city water, which can damage plants. After the water is microwaved and cooled it is safe to use on plants and will not cause stunted growth, according to the University of Minnesota Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series.
  
  

Theories/Speculation

• People have jumped to conclusions that microwaved water contains radiation that is harmful plants. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the microwave energy is changed to heat within the water and does not make it radioactive or contaminated. In cases where plants have been damaged by microwaved water, the cause is usually that the heated microwaved water was not given time to cool down before watering the plants, or the plant was already compromised, according to Snopes.
  
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