White Crust (Salt Buildup)

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WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN

A white-colored crust forming at the surface of your plant's soil or on the pot it's growing in is very common. This is most likely the mineral residues from the water you're giving your plants with or minerals from the fertilizer, soil or from the clay used for your pot.

If you're using unglazed terra cotta or clay pots mineral residues on the pot are inevitable as the water pushes through the pores in the porous material and then evaporates, leaving the minerals to dry up on the surface.

Usually this doesn't cause any issues to your plants health, but some plants are more sensitive to mineral build up than others. When watering your plants with liquid fertilizers or using a tap water, that contains a high amount of minerals, it can be a good idea to occasionally flush your plant with neutral water. Rain water, reversed osmosis water and distilled water can help flushing through the soil and pot and helping removing excess minerals.