Beginner Gardening: Help...Stange Substance!!!, 1 by SemiGreenThumb

SemiGreenThumb wrote:
One of my cacti has a white crust forming around the holes on the bottom of the pot. I am not sure how long it's been there, but it doesn't seem normal. I was checking for roots poking out of the holes when I noticed the crust. Through further inspection I also noticed that there are very small crystal-like "pellets" on the soil. Unfortunately I couldn't get a clear pic of the crystals (pot too small). Does anyone know what this is and/or why it is forming. The cactus looks the same as when I bought it, so I don't think it's affecting the plant...yet.