Salt? on terra cotta plant pots

[Colm Osiris]

i live in a soft water area, and i have a water filter, which i use for my plants as well as myself. the kettle never gets furred up.

but some pots have a white dusty coating on them. they happen to all contain Begonias, which often get soaked in a bucket for a few hours.

i'm assuming it's some kind of salt, but i can't be sure. is this something i need to worry about? thanks.

 

[Anniekay]

That's totally normal. Salts and minerals in the water go right through porous terra cotta. That's what makes thrm cool !!

 

[MiTmite9]

You can scrub it off, if you like, but, as u/Anniekay stated: harmless.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Did you taste it? Here it might well be calcium.

 

[Anniekay]

Did you taste it? Here it might well be calcium.

In chemistry, calcium is a type of "salt".

 

[DirtMechanic]

In chemistry, calcium is a type of "salt".

I thought it was a metal. Do all salts come from an acid?

 

[Anniekay]

I thought it was a metal. Do all salts come from an acid?

I'm not that good in chemistry. I passed the class but it was, let's see, 56 years ago !! You'll need to ask someone else.

 

[Colm Osiris]

thank you everybody. i'm glad it's harmless. i won't worry then. as to whether calcium is a salt or an acid or a metal, or whatever, i could only muddy the waters further with my scant knowledge, so i will refrain!

 

[Colm Osiris]

is there perhaps a connection between these deposits and the whitish grey film that appears on the top of soil when the plant is watered from above? i hope so, and it's not mould.

 

[Anniekay]

is there perhaps a connection between these deposits and the whitish grey film that appears on the top of soil when the plant is watered from above? i hope so, and it's not mould.

Yes, same stuff.

 

[Colm Osiris]

Yes, same stuff.

brilliant, thanks so much, that's a relief.