What kind of water comes into your plumbing? Is it treated and coming from a filtration plant, or are you on a well system? If your water is chlorinated, then you would want to collect the water and let it set and allow the chemical(s) to dissapate -- several hours or overnite is what I've heard. Although, when I used to live where the water was chlorinated, everything outdoors was watered with that water. Don't recall any ill affects. Come to think of it -- maybe that's why I never could grow plants indoors.

I don't know about stale water. I collect rain water to use just because I try to keep my water bill down. I don't know much about chemistry and wonder how long it takes for the nitrogen in rain water to dissapate. I know that just after a rain, most everything seems to get a bolt :) of energy. I haven't noticed the same affect when something has been watered with rain water that has been collected.

Mosquitoes are a threat, and for that reason if I don't need the rain water, I dump it.

My dear Mom used to collect rain water to use when she washed our hair on Saturday nites. Bless her soul. It made our hair so soft and silky.

My palm trees say it all....
When I use to water them with tap water, water that isn't hard, they use to get leaf burn. They also got yellow alot, and the pots would develope a crust over a period of time, especially on the clay ones. They were fertilized lightly.
But when I started saving rain water, even through the winter, I would melt the snow, and use this as the only source for watering, I even used distilled water from the market, what a difference. Just green leaves and cleaner pots. So I definately prefer bottled water, and rain water over tap.
Mike

would bottled water have the same effect? i have a palm too lol and want to give it the best chances i can!

I always use tap water, unless its been raining very hard, every now and then i flush the plants through over and over again with a couple of spoons of vinegar in a bucket of water, the vinegar dissolves the built up salts

I would not use bottled drinking water the salt can be far too high, salt is more of a problem than chlorine, distilled water is ok but can be expensive, i used it at work for manufacture of superglue but i dont bother using it as tap water is ok

it is better to use a water filter to purify the water than buying special water, not one that adds salt though ive heard some do but never seen one that does add salt,

With anything other than tap water you need to be carefull though that the plant does not get a calcium defficiency as citrus need calcium and there is none in most citrus fertiliser as its designed for use with tap water the filters strip the calcium out and the plant will suffer.

You know what never occured to me. I live near a lake. Can I use lake water to water my plants??? HUM
You are right about regular bottled water, some might have salts in them, but I buy the distlled one, and it can be expensive all winter long when the water in my barrell has frozen over or I am too lazy to melt snow.
But tap water has always done no justice for my houseplants nor citrus trees over a period of time.
I can tell a huge difference using rain water almost all the time.
About the calcium defficiency, I never knew this. Interesting. I will have to make sure my plants are getting it like they are suppose to. I think the fertilzers I use do provide it since I am using fertilizers with all the minors. Great info!!! Thanks