Salt in houseplant soil can lead to sick houseplants and can even kill them. This video shows you how to remove salinity from houseplant soil. Methods include looking for salt buildup and removing it. For instance, if you see salt buildup on the top of the soil, you can remove the top of the soil and add new soil (top dress). You can also leach houseplant soil, which means to rinse the soil by running a certain amount of water through it. When you leach, you want to wash the soil with sufficient water.
#healthyhouseplants #indoorgardening #plantcaretips #leachingplants #gardeninghacks
Hello and welcome to HealthyHousePlants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. Today’s video is sponsored by our Amazon link. Today, I’m going to talk about leaching plants.
Leaching isn’t a friend who keeps borrowing money from you! In the case of plants, leaching is actually about rinsing soil. I’m also going to discuss salt buildup in soil. What happens to potted plants over time is that salt begins to accumulate in the soil. This salt can come from fertilizers and sometimes from tap water, depending on the salinity in your area. Over time, this salt buildup can cause issues for your plants.
Signs of salt buildup include crusty white deposits on the soil surface. You may also notice that a plant isn’t doing well despite your efforts to water and care for it properly. This is likely due to the salt accumulation in the soil. Repotting or leaching the soil can help alleviate this issue.
Here’s an example: I have a plant here that’s not doing well. If you’ve checked the usual factors like watering, light, and fertilizing, but the plant is still struggling, salt buildup might be the problem. Sometimes you’ll see salt around the pot rim as well.
What You Can Do
- Repotting: Repotting is one solution. I have a detailed video on repotting plants, and I’ll link it below.
- Removing Surface Salt: If you’re short on time, you can scrape off the salty top layer of soil and replace it by top-dressing with fresh soil. Be careful not to disturb surface roots, especially for larger plants.
- Leaching: Leaching is rinsing the soil. For a container of this size, you should rinse with at least three times the pot volume in water. I recommend using double that amount. So, if the container holds one cup of soil, use at least six cups of water to leach it. Always use lukewarm water for this process.
When leaching, pour water slowly through the soil to ensure thorough rinsing. Avoid dumping water too quickly, as this can displace the soil you just added. You can leach the plant over a sink, bucket, or outdoors. Once you’ve leached the soil, it may settle slightly, which is normal if done gently.
That’s it for today. Thanks for watching! Please leave comments about any indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see, and remember to like, share, subscribe, and comment.
Leaching Indoor Plants FAQ
What is leaching in indoor plant care?
Leaching is the process of rinsing the soil of indoor plants to remove excess salts that have built up over time. This can improve plant health by eliminating toxic levels of salts from fertilizers and tap water.
Why do indoor plants get salt buildup in the soil?
Salt buildup occurs as a result of repeated watering, fertilization, and sometimes from the natural salinity of tap water. These salts accumulate over time and can harm the plant if not managed.
What are signs of salt buildup in potted plants?
Signs of salt buildup include white, crusty deposits on the soil surface, around the pot rim, or even along the bottom of the pot. Plants may appear weak or unhealthy despite proper watering and care.
How do I leach the soil of my indoor plants?
To leach soil, slowly run lukewarm water through the potting soil. Use at least three times the pot’s volume in water to thoroughly rinse out excess salts. Leach the soil over a sink, bucket, or outdoors.
Can I remove salt buildup without repotting my plant?
Yes, you can remove salt buildup by scraping off the top layer of soil and replacing it with fresh soil. Be careful not to disturb any roots near the surface.
Patreon: 
/ healthyhouseplants
One-time donation: https://ko-fi.com/healthyhouseplants
Sign up for my monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/g1PCSH
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn commissions for purchases made through the links below.
Hygrometer: https://amzn.to/3n8fx2d
Moisture Meter: https://amzn.to/3ti7XFU
Plant heating mat (seedling mat): https://amzn.to/3qXWs40
Plant heating mat (seedling mat) – 2: https://amzn.to/3qh57zr
Full-spectrum Lighting: https://amzn.to/31DNKz2
Share to Social Media.