What is that white crusty stuff in my houseplant pots?
A. That crusty stuff is soluble salts from fertilizer. If it forms on pot rims, it can burn plant foliage that rests on it. You can scrape it off of pot rims and soil, then add new soil mix as needed. Avoid fertilizing plants in winter, when theyre not actively growing. During the growing season, if you fertilize regularly, leach the pot occasionally to wash excess fertilizer salts through the soil and out the drainage holes in the bottom. To do this, hold the pot over a sink or bucket and pour water through the soil as fast as the soil can take it. Use several times as much water as the pot would hold if it were empty. At regular watering times, add water until some drains out of the bottom, then empty the excess from the saucer. If you can’t find an answer to your problem here, email your question to us. We will reply by email whether we have a simple answer or need to refer you. Please include your name and phone number in the event we have to reach you for additional information. m
