40 lb. Potassium Chloride Water Softening Pellets

I'm not sure but I don't see why you couldn't. I believe you are asking due to change over? And not wanting to continuously mix the 2?

This can be purchased in store or order it online. I have been purchasing it in store. They are always in stock. Home depot make sure they are always available.

Most likely, it comes from mines in Canada as that country supples over 40 percent of Potassium Chloride worldwide; next is Russia then Belarus. China is not a supplier.

I live in Florida don't have a clue whether it will melt snow or ice,

Don't know about your fern, but we use it on all our plants, inside and outside. Use it in my conditioner for my whole house.I have orchids and ferns and about any other plant you can think of. They say it is safe for plants. I've used it for over 10 years.

According to Home Depot own website. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Diamond-Crystal-40-lb-Potassium-Chloride-Water-Softening-Pellets-100012447/100614656 If you pick "Scheduled Delivery", the third option. You need a minimum of $45.00 to make a delivery and the charge is $8.99, effectively $54.00 or more depending on your sales tax. Basically, two bags bring your around $60 without the scheduled delivery. I hope this helps!

If you have a water softener you can use salt or potassium.

It's just water, any salt or potassium content would be very minimal, and both are a naturally occurring product anyway.

Irish, "sodium shield" is imho an uninformative rather "stupid" marketing term that confuses rather than clarifies. Look for POTASSIUM CHLORIDE if you want a "salt" free alternative. People on reduced sodium diets, and are on diuretics could benefit from using potassium chloride to regenerate their resin beds. However, the benefit is quite small, and the expense over regular sodium chloride is substantial. Remember, most of ones water use is not consumed, it's used for washing, bathing, etc. A little chemistry: both sodium chloride and potassium chloride are salts. But if you are on a "salt restricted diet" and encouraged to eat potassium rich foods (e.g. bananas, sweet potato, acorn squash), your physician may also ask you to watch your fluid intake...... If you have kidney disease, then talk with your physician - potassium intake is an important component in managing your kidney disease.

Chloride is acidic by nature. Softening salt is used to bring the percent of Hydrogen down to a more acidic level from basic or higher pH (insoluble mineral water).