Good afternoon, my reader. A common problem for inexperienced amateur flower growers is the appearance of a whitish bloom in pots on the surface of the earth. However, there is nothing to be afraid of: solving this problem is not difficult, and avoiding it is even easier.
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What causes plaque?
First, a little about the causes of this phenomenon:
- Limescale builds up around the edges of the pot and on the ground due to too hard watering. It contains many dissolved salts, which are deposited on the surface when dried. Usually, with such watering, plants look depressed, do not bloom, and even begin to turn yellow and shed their leaves. But it is enough to start watering with settled, or even better - boiled and cooled water, as everything quickly returns to normal.
- Another reason related to the first is the poorly chosen pot size. If it is too large, the root system of plants will not have time to absorb all the moisture. The water will dry out uselessly, leaving a thin layer of deposits on the surface (even the softest water is still not a distillate, and contains some salts).
- The most dangerous option is mold. If the temperature is too low, the flower is standing away from direct sunlight (for example, during winter dormancy), then the earth can really become moldy. Mold is not so dangerous for plants, but it is an indicator that fungi have begun to develop. If they begin to devour the root system, the plant is finished.
- Finally, with excessively abundant watering, it is possible to wash out useful substances from the soil. They float in water and, after drying, are deposited as a whitish film on the surface. This is fraught with an imbalance in the chemical composition of the soil, which can lead to oppression and even death of the plant.
How to solve the problem?
First, it is necessary to determine what kind of error in leaving was made, and only then, starting from this, to correct the situation.
Excessively hard water
There are two solutions - chemical (to neutralize salts with citric acid) and physical (to purify water using filters or boiling).
Advantages of a chemical solution:
- Simplicity. Only 0.5 teaspoon of citric acid per 1 liter of water - and the liquid comes back to normal.
Disadvantages:
- If you make a mistake with the dosage, you can not soften, but acidify the soil, which is very unhealthy for most plants.
Physical cleaning benefits:
- Reliability. Filtered and boiled water definitely contains less salts, there can be no overdose.
Disadvantages:
- Time spent on settling, filtration, boiling and cooling.
- Labor intensity.
- Plants also need salt solutions in water. You can't do without them.
A selection of the optimal pot size
Advantages of the method:
- Absolute reliability.
Disadvantages:
- Not available.
Soil replacement
If the purchased soil is oversaturated with fertilizers, and they are washed out and deposited with a film, then you need to remove the top layer and fill up with ordinary humus or leafy soil.
Advantages of the method:
- Reliability.
Disadvantages:
- There is a risk, along with the new soil, to bring in pests or pathogens. Therefore, the soil must be calcined in the microwave.
Fungicide treatment
If the soil is moldy, it can be spilled with foundationol (2 g per 1 liter of water), or treated with another preparation.
Advantages of the method:
- Reliability.
Disadvantages:
- You can make a mistake with the dosage and poison the plant.
REFERENCE: If possible, expose the moldy soil to direct ultraviolet rays of the sun. Mold doesn't like that.
Preventive measures
Preventing a problem is easier than fixing it. Here are some simple rules that will prevent bloom from forming:
- Do not pour water immediately from the tap - let it settle, and soften if necessary.
- Do not pour too much water and monitor the drainage.
- Make sure that the plant does not dry out.
- Select a pot by the size of the roots.
- Use activated carbon for disinfection.
- Do not feed the plants too often.
- Loosen the topsoil more often so that it does not cake or mold.
If you follow these rules, you are unlikely to encounter such an unpleasant phenomenon as white bloom in a flower pot. Remember: both water and fertilizers are good in moderation! Be careful and your plants will appreciate your care with abundant growth and lush blooms when the season is right.
Do you know what causes a white film in flower pots - and how to deal with it?
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