---
title: "Hi everyone! Can someone please help me identify this white, crusty,…"
description: "Hi everyone! Can someone please help me identify this white, crusty, flakey stuff that’s in my Croton? I’m not sure if it’s calcification from my tap water,…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/yoIG06SMzc490YPH7EPDel?language=it"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Kirsten"
published: "2025-04-22T11:13:31.637727Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/fNNEhrbV2gUvuwbi2sRUYVFufs3BoKT0bbvkFqjcSSc/RISB_WlKRieJxDQ9p1IJrw.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md?language=it) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md?language=it)

# Hi everyone! Can someone please help me identify this white, crusty,…

_Pubblicato da Kirsten il 2025-04-22_

Hi everyone! Can someone please help me identify this white, crusty, flakey stuff that’s in my Croton? I’m not sure if it’s calcification from my tap water, but I don’t think I’ve always watered with tap, and none of my other plants have this specific substance on them. It’s on the base of this leaf, and then this leaf started drying and curling in. The white stuff is on some of the wood chips in the soil. The white stuff flakes off and doesn’t leave anything behind. But the fact that this was on the base of this leaf and now it’s dying, I feel there’s a connection, but I’m not sure what exactly it is and how to treat it? Any help, advice, suggestions I’d really appreciate it! I’ve been having trouble getting this guy to grow.

![Allegato 1 di 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/fNNEhrbV2gUvuwbi2sRUYVFufs3BoKT0bbvkFqjcSSc/RISB_WlKRieJxDQ9p1IJrw.webp?size=large)

![Allegato 2 di 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/fNNEhrbV2gUvuwbi2sRUYVFufs3BoKT0bbvkFqjcSSc/2KaA6eQpSd-8l-9lMKm6fA.webp?size=large)

![Allegato 3 di 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/fNNEhrbV2gUvuwbi2sRUYVFufs3BoKT0bbvkFqjcSSc/bviynlnvQpiZcWLvlQSVFg.webp?size=large)

![Allegato 4 di 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/fNNEhrbV2gUvuwbi2sRUYVFufs3BoKT0bbvkFqjcSSc/rDVr5bmJSh-DII5FijzlUQ.webp?size=large)

## 5 commenti

### G Man ha commentato il 2025-04-22

Looks like a mealy bug infestation. You should probably isolate that plant for now and treat with Neem oil.

### fuey ha commentato il 2025-04-22

With that many mealys, just bring it in the shower/sink and hose them off because they are very sticky and it would take you forever to take them off individually, especially from the soil. Maybe change the soil also?

### cherrbear🐻 ha commentato il 2025-04-22

i could be wrong but i don’t actually see any individual mealies. might just be hard water/mineral/fertilizer buildup. give it a through shower next time you water.

### Sunny ha commentato il 2025-04-22

Doesn’t look like mealybugs. There would be hundreds of bugs with this amount. They don’t produce hard crystalline deposits. It’s likely salts from the fertilizer and hard water that rise up from the soil with each watering. It will be on the drain holes and drainage tray. Flush with distilled or filtered water or soak it in a bucket of water to dilute the salts.

### Kirsten ha commentato il 2025-04-24

There isn’t anything in the tray, but maybe a little around the drainage holes. Thank you! I’ll give it a good rinse with diluted water next time I water.

![Allegato 1 di 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/fNNEhrbV2gUvuwbi2sRUYVFufs3BoKT0bbvkFqjcSSc/9YkMdFmtSUOFQgt8IOVawA.webp?size=large)

![Allegato 2 di 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/fNNEhrbV2gUvuwbi2sRUYVFufs3BoKT0bbvkFqjcSSc/YXWJmX2RQ-Kqd4uT_vC2bw.webp?size=large)

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