chlorine

Hi All,
I sure could use your help. We live in the south and have our house and garage washed once a year to remove mold and mildew. The people we use do a great job but to do so they need to use a very strong chlorine solution. Because of this, I have lost my poinsettia which was planted along side of my garage. Does anyone know of something I can add to the gardens around the structures after they are done washing that would neutralize the strong chlorine? I need to get my house washed and love my gardens around it but after losing my favorite plant, I thought I would ask my Dave's Gardens Friends.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Dorsey

I don't know of a way to neutralize the soil but couldn't you protect plants with large boxes or nursery type pots for smaller plants?

I use a lot of bleach outside on the courtyard and in the back, on the terrace, and I've never lost a plant but it may be the spray that hurt your prized Poinsettia.

You can see the Clorox on the steps at the right.

I think it's more likely that the cleaning solution splashing on the leaves of the plant caused most of the problems so I would also suggest trying to cover the plants with something while they're cleaning. I think if you do that you'll be fine.

When we washed the house last year (bleach and detergent), I took some empty pots and placed over some of the plants, but spread either a drop cloth or tarp over the rest. Nothing was crushed or damaged. The biggest threat came from hubby and son tromping around my plants.

Chlorine becomes inert (inactive) once it dries. What you might do is make sure all the plants are well hydrated and spray all the foliage of the plants before they clean and after they clean. For the really sensitive ones, put some kind of barrier like a box, pots or shower curtain over them like mamasita and ecrane suggested.

X

Thank you all for your insight and help. I see now that it is probably what got on the plant and not what got into the soil. I will make some changes before my next house washing. Thanks again.

Chlorine breaks down rapidly into salt and water (same stuff it is made from). I don't know but I'm wondering if perhaps, after a few seasons of disinfecting with chlorine, you might have too much salt in the soil? Does seem as if rain and watering would leach the salt out pretty quick but maybe not?

I'd imagine a 10% solution would be weak enough not to bother plants but even when I finish one of my bleach jobs I water the plants heavily with plain old water.