weird lines on violet pot
 

HI all,

I have an african violet potted in one of those special violet pots.
White lines are forming on the exterior of the pot. The lines are
fairly crusty, they look almost like salt and form a marble like pattern
across the sides of the pot. I washed the lines off last night and they
are already starting to reform. Any ideas what is causing these lines
and what to do about it?

TIA!
Dave

weird lines on violet pot
 

I'd like to add that the plant has never looked healthier or produced as
many blooms as it is currently showing right now. The leaves are not
wiliting, no spots, no yellowing, etc... The plant looks healthy, it's
the pot that shows signs of foreign matter.

Thanks again!
Dave

Dave wrote:

HI all,

I have an african violet potted in one of those special violet pots.
White lines are forming on the exterior of the pot. The lines are
fairly crusty, they look almost like salt and form a marble like
pattern across the sides of the pot. I washed the lines off last
night and they are already starting to reform. Any ideas what is
causing these lines and what to do about it?

TIA!
Dave

weird lines on violet pot
 

I'd like to add that the plant has never looked healthier or produced as
many blooms as it is currently showing right now. The leaves are not
wiliting, no spots, no yellowing, etc... The plant looks healthy, it's
the pot that shows signs of foreign matter.

Thanks again!
Dave

Dave wrote:

HI all,

I have an african violet potted in one of those special violet pots.
White lines are forming on the exterior of the pot. The lines are
fairly crusty, they look almost like salt and form a marble like
pattern across the sides of the pot. I washed the lines off last
night and they are already starting to reform. Any ideas what is
causing these lines and what to do about it?

TIA!
Dave

weird lines on violet pot
 

Dave wrote:
I'd like to add that the plant has never looked healthier or produced as
many blooms as it is currently showing right now. The leaves are not
wiliting, no spots, no yellowing, etc... The plant looks healthy, it's
the pot that shows signs of foreign matter.

Thanks again!
Dave

Dave wrote:

HI all,

I have an african violet potted in one of those special violet pots.
White lines are forming on the exterior of the pot. The lines are
fairly crusty, they look almost like salt and form a marble like
pattern across the sides of the pot. I washed the lines off last
night and they are already starting to reform. Any ideas what is
causing these lines and what to do about it?

TIA!
Dave


It's dissolved solids (salts, etc.) left behind when the water that
seeps through the pot evaporates. It is quite common, especially with
terra cotta pots, and there is nothing you can do about it. Some
people, myself included, consider the residue to be somewhat attractive.

weird lines on violet pot
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 01:31:07 GMT, Dave wrote:

HI all,

I have an african violet potted in one of those special violet pots.
White lines are forming on the exterior of the pot. The lines are
fairly crusty, they look almost like salt and form a marble like pattern
across the sides of the pot. I washed the lines off last night and they
are already starting to reform. Any ideas what is causing these lines
and what to do about it?

TIA!
Dave

That is normal. I suspect your pot is porous clay, which is a good
thing for the plant but bad about leaving salt lines. The salt is
from the soil and fertilizers used. Personally, I would just let it
be or place the pot in a wicker basket.

The next time you repot, soak the pot in a bucket of water for a
couple days. You can use vinegar to dissolve the salt on the empty
pot, wet with soapless ammonia (violets hate acid) to neutralize the
acid, then rinse.

weird lines on violet pot
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 01:31:07 GMT, Dave wrote:

HI all,

I have an african violet potted in one of those special violet pots.
White lines are forming on the exterior of the pot. The lines are
fairly crusty, they look almost like salt and form a marble like pattern
across the sides of the pot. I washed the lines off last night and they
are already starting to reform. Any ideas what is causing these lines
and what to do about it?

TIA!
Dave

That is normal. I suspect your pot is porous clay, which is a good
thing for the plant but bad about leaving salt lines. The salt is
from the soil and fertilizers used. Personally, I would just let it
be or place the pot in a wicker basket.

The next time you repot, soak the pot in a bucket of water for a
couple days. You can use vinegar to dissolve the salt on the empty
pot, wet with soapless ammonia (violets hate acid) to neutralize the
acid, then rinse.

weird lines on violet pot
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 01:31:07 GMT, Dave wrote:

HI all,

I have an african violet potted in one of those special violet pots.
White lines are forming on the exterior of the pot. The lines are
fairly crusty, they look almost like salt and form a marble like pattern
across the sides of the pot. I washed the lines off last night and they
are already starting to reform. Any ideas what is causing these lines
and what to do about it?

TIA!
Dave

That is normal. I suspect your pot is porous clay, which is a good
thing for the plant but bad about leaving salt lines. The salt is
from the soil and fertilizers used. Personally, I would just let it
be or place the pot in a wicker basket.

The next time you repot, soak the pot in a bucket of water for a
couple days. You can use vinegar to dissolve the salt on the empty
pot, wet with soapless ammonia (violets hate acid) to neutralize the
acid, then rinse.

weird lines on violet pot
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 01:31:07 GMT, Dave wrote:

HI all,

I have an african violet potted in one of those special violet pots.
White lines are forming on the exterior of the pot. The lines are
fairly crusty, they look almost like salt and form a marble like pattern
across the sides of the pot. I washed the lines off last night and they
are already starting to reform. Any ideas what is causing these lines
and what to do about it?

TIA!
Dave

That is normal. I suspect your pot is porous clay, which is a good
thing for the plant but bad about leaving salt lines. The salt is
from the soil and fertilizers used. Personally, I would just let it
be or place the pot in a wicker basket.

The next time you repot, soak the pot in a bucket of water for a
couple days. You can use vinegar to dissolve the salt on the empty
pot, wet with soapless ammonia (violets hate acid) to neutralize the
acid, then rinse.