If you as a plant owner discover white spots on the potting soil of your plants, you should quickly clarify whether they are mold or lime deposits. Read here how you can recognize and avoid limestone to protect your plants.
How does lime form on the potting soil?
Limescale stains on the potting soil are usually causeddue to very calcareous irrigation waterAs the water seeps into the earth, lime residue remains on the earth's surface and accumulates there. Chemically speaking, calcium carbonate (limestone) consists of calcium, carbon and oxygen.
How do I recognize limescale in the potting soil?
Calcification deposits are most likely to be confused with mold. However, both can be easily distinguished: While mold appears as whitish, soft and fluffy spots on the surface, lime deposits are alsowhite, but form ahard, crumbly structureLimestone is deposited on the surface and is easy to crumble with your fingers. In contrast, for example, perlite or slow-release fertilizer (small whitish beads), which are mixed in to improve the soil, are distributed throughout the entire substrate.
Do I have to remove limescale from the potting soil?
The mold caused by waterlogging and moisture can be very harmful to he alth and should be professionally removed immediately. Limescale deposits, on the other hand, are rather harmless. In small amounts, you can carefully loosen the soil surface with a fork and mix in thelime Be careful not to damage the roots. If a thick layer of lime has already been deposited, that is too much for most plants. Carefully remove the white layer and top up with fresh plant soil if necessary.
How do I prevent limescale on the potting soil?
To avoid limestone in your flower pots, it is best to waterwith lime-free water Rainwater is ideal for this. In winter, you should not water your houseplants with rainwater that is too cold. Otherwise, the plants that are used to heat could suffer a temperature shock. First put ice water in to warm up for a few hours. If you don't have rainwater available, you should use a limescale filter for your tap water.
Can lime in potting soil also be beneficial for plants?
Lime increases the pH value in the soil. Depending on the situation and the crop, this can cause damage or even improveplant growth If the soil in the garden has become acidic, for example due to acid rain or too intensive cultivation, lime can help bring the earth back into balance. Here, however, the right amount is very crucial.
Tip
How to find out the lime content in your tap water
The lime content in tap water varies greatly from region to region in Germany. Depending on the source, the water is soft, hard or very hard. Water containing lime is particularly hard and should be filtered. You can find out the exact lime content on your waterworks website. You can also inquire about this by telephone.
