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Flushing salts from house plants?

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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I've never bothered, but I always water from the top until the surplus runs through into a saucer then tip away the surplus, and now and again they get either put outside and hosed down in summer (hosepipe ban permitting) or put in the bath and given a cool shower, primarily to clean the dust off the leaves but plenty of water runs through the pots as well.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    When gh crops were grown commercially in glasshouse soil , flushing excess salts away was important. If allowed to build up they could restrict the plants ability to take up water.
    I flush some of my houseplants but not all (I grow about 150) I don't notice any difference.
    In theory it is a good idea and does have a scientific basis. In practice I suspect that a build up of salts is the least of most house plants problems.
  • I've never bothered - if your current regime works and all are healthy, there seems little point.
    If problems arise and you can pin it down to excess salt, then worth doing.
    Commercial growing is a different kettle of fish of course.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Thanks everyone!  Such great advice and possible solutions.  
    Utah, USA.
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