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White blobs on my terracotta pot. What is it?

Sazz101Sazz101 Posts: 248
in Problem solving
Hello All. Is this fungus? Limescale? Not on any other pots. Chalky when I rub it. Any ideal time of how to permanently stop it happening? Thank you.


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  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Lime scale. Never found a way of stopping it. Clean off with a pan scrubber and sand.
  • Sazz101Sazz101 Posts: 248
    Palustris said:
    Lime scale. Never found a way of stopping it. Clean off with a pan scrubber and sand.
    Thank you Palustris:)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    If you scrub the pot and dry it completely in a warm, dry place you can paint it with clear acrylic, water-based varnish in matt, satin or gloss finish according to taste.  It will stop water entering and causing the limescale stains but also protect it from frost damage.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    We don't get limescale of any significance here - even in kettles. That's quite something! 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I thought the white marks came from salts coming out of the tap water or fertiliser.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Calcium deposits from hard water is more likely but, either way, the varnishing does the trick.   I do it to all my unglazed pots before planting up.  3 coats, inside and out with a day between to dry thoroughly.  2 coats will do if you're impatient and their location is sheltered but never more than 3 coats or it goes milky looking.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Sazz101Sazz101 Posts: 248
    @Obelixx, thanks for the tip. Would you ever eat something that had been grown in a coated pot?
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    We never get limescale here either. :)
    The downside is that we do get holes in our copper pipes. You see the little blue pin-prick marks appearing and know that before very long there will be another plumber's bill :(
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Yes @Sazz101.  Water based acrylic varnish sets hard and gives off no nasty chemicals.
     
    I grow herbs in them and started off a small lemon tree in one.  It's no been moved to a bigger, plastic pot to give it room to grow and make it easier to move into the polytunnel for winter and then back out again for summer.

    I also have a peach tree and a nectarine in two more coated pots and now big enough enough to be planted out.  They have both given fruits.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Sazz101Sazz101 Posts: 248
    Thanks @Obelixx. Will wait for spring now and give it a go. Sanding it had improved then look no end, so hopefully will look decent until my tulips are done :)
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