That seems like an oversimplification.

Heard somewhere that rainwater doesn't have the chemicals found in tap water. It makes sense that plants would grow better without that stuff. Your peppers looking better sure seems to prove it.

Consider using something like a slowly curdling hollandaise to show distrust building over time, not just an exploded dessert. I mean, the way someone stirs a risotto could reveal their control issues way more subtly. Idk, maybe it's just me, but I'd love to see a character's anxiety mirrored in how they meticulously arrange a charcuterie board, you know?

Those 90s light leaks are just technical errors, not charm.