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#70332 October 24th, 2006 at 04:24 AM
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Hello,

I'm new at herb gardening this year. Since it's getting cold here, I brought my rosemary and sage indoors. They're both in terracotta pots.

This morning, I noticed a white ring had developed at the top of the pot containing the sage. I was wondering if it's sick or if I should change the soil.

Thank you for your help in advance!

#70333 October 24th, 2006 at 05:09 AM
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If you mean that the white ring is on the pot, it is mineral deposits. You can scrub it off with white vinegar and a wire brush.
You must have hard water as we do here.
Although, sometimes here we get a white crumbly film on the top of the soil of potted plants, which is mineral deposit too.

#70334 October 24th, 2006 at 05:46 AM
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yup, sounds like mineral deposits...rain water (which is probably what fed the plants during the summer) doesn't have any additives to it like the tap water.

you could try to let your water sit (preferably overnight) and see if that helps. over time, you'll still see that ring, tho. easy enough to scrub it away tho...a toothbrush and some baking soda and/or vinegar should do it. if you let the ring sit too long, it'll harden up and it will be hard to get off...

#70335 October 24th, 2006 at 06:46 AM
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Joclyn, letting water sit 24 hours removes the chlorine but not the minerals.
I know that muriatic acid will also remove hard water deposits, but I don't know if it will harm plants.
Maybe someone will come along and tell us.

#70336 October 24th, 2006 at 06:47 AM
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I have tried Lime Away on pots, but all it did was foam up and didn't even budge the white stuff.

#70337 October 24th, 2006 at 08:26 AM
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Vinegar in my opinion works the best for removing mineral build up. If you are trying to clean an empty pot the best thing is to use denture cleaning tablets in water and let it soak over night before giving it a little scrub...they work great to remove most anything from posts.

#70338 October 24th, 2006 at 10:33 AM
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Hey......... I heard that too, Comfrey, glad to meet someone who can say that it really works.

#70339 October 24th, 2006 at 12:10 PM
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Quote
Originally posted by Deborah L.:
Joclyn, letting water sit 24 hours removes the chlorine but not the minerals.
I know that muriatic acid will also remove hard water deposits, but I don't know if it will harm plants.
Maybe someone will come along and tell us.
yes, i know the main purpose of letting the water sit is to let the chlorine dissipate...i

i've found that using water that's been sitting at room temp, rather than using it straight from the tap, doesn't leave that white ring.

i've got really hard water here, so it's a big issue for me now that i've got more things that need to be in clay pots.

they were doing fine (no white stuff) until i got busy (and lazy) and started using water straight from the tap. after just 3 doses straight from the tap the clay pots have those white rings starting.

i've had these plants since march, so if it's just the hard water, i'd think the rings would have appeared much sooner - not after i stopped using water that had been sitting for a bit.

dunno what it is about letting it sit (besides the chlorine issue) before using. i have seen a difference tho.

guess i should have clarified my earlier statement and explained why i was suggesting that.

#70340 October 24th, 2006 at 02:05 PM
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Oops, did I seem rude or like a know-it-all?
I don't want you to apologize-ya didn't do a darn thing wrong !! wavey
Besides, we prolly have different water and different experiences with it ! wink wavey

#70341 October 24th, 2006 at 11:41 PM
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no, biggie, deb!! i should have explained properly the first time 'round! wink

the thing is, all water has some amount of minerals in it...hard water more than usual...so, anyone will potentially have the issue of the white ring on the clay pots.

my usual is to keep water for the plants ready/waiting in gallon jugs (because there is SO much chlorine in my water and it is so hard). i just didn't explain myself clearly enough as to my experiences recently.

oh, and thx, comfrey! i'm going to try the denture cleaner trick!!

#70342 October 25th, 2006 at 12:02 AM
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Hmm, I wonder...my clay pots and soil-tops started getting the white deposits just about the time I started getting the eczema...could that be related? As in, something happened to the water earlier this year?

#70343 October 25th, 2006 at 03:30 AM
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Thanks, Joclyn !
Myndful, I have eczema too, but my doctor says it's stress.
I do notice that it pops up when I'm raging over some current issue.
Like wondering if I offended Joclyn..... shocked

#70344 October 25th, 2006 at 03:40 AM
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actually, I think it looks totally cool - adds a "worn" look to the pots idea smile

#70345 October 25th, 2006 at 06:08 AM
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Clearly, we have someone here who does NOT have hard water..... laugh laugh laugh

#70346 October 25th, 2006 at 06:26 AM
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rofl!!

#70347 October 25th, 2006 at 07:09 AM
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laugh laugh laugh wavey


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