I cleaned out the bird bath and bleach got into the soil around a plant

[XemaSab]

It's a Mesa Azure Salvia, and the leaf tips are horribly burned.

Is there anything I can do to help the plant? How can I bleach the bird bath without poisoning the plant? Why did I have to learn this lesson the hard way?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Why bleach the bird bath?

Mine gets pretty nasty at times, but all I do is scrub it out with a hard sponge and a hose. The birds seem to be fine with that.

As far as the current plant goes, I'd think maybe just flush the area with a lot of water to diffuse the bleach as much as possible.

[pscot]

2. Water if you have it.

flush the plant with water. my dog prefers an unbleached bird bath.

[Lilyhoney]

3. I think the poster saying to flush with water has a good idea.

I have been having much success with hydrogen peroxide to kill mold and mildew. It might be an alternative cleaning product for you to use on your birdbath.

Best of luck.

[Elad]

4. Water the crap out of it

With any luck you'll just flush the bleach down deep into the soil.

[NJCher]

5. I'd dig up the soil

and put it elsewhere, where it won't damage a plant.

XemaSab:

Sometimes--a lot of times--gardening is not easy.


Cher