What can i add to sour smelling soil in house plants? they are too big to repot.?

Even if you can't re-pot you can scoop up the top layer of soil and add sterilized potting mix to refill that top.

What can i add to sour smelling soil in house plants? they are too big to repot.?
I would suggest garden lime (a mineral) available at most garden centers.
Reply:i agree with jerry c.



and first place think why it smells sour: because you water too much! this itself is not good for the plant even if it is water-loving one it doesnt want rotting smelly environs around its roots.



you can do this - remove as much of the soil as possible, then if there is a hole on the bottom take the pot outside of in bathtub. pour plenty of water through the pot till it starts coming out clear. then let it drip well, then draw more water out of the pot by placing it on a cloth or mop, then add dry soil on the top, then, PLEASE ,dont water again till the soil dries out. that is if you stick your finger in the soil, you find little or no moisture in the deeper parts of the soil, not only on the topmost layer.



if the pot has no hole, the more important it is not to water while the bottom is still wet or even soaking wet and rotting. you dont want the sour stench to come back.
Reply:Do not add salts such as lime or baking soda - this could kill your plant. The idea of replacing as much soil as you can is a good one, but you can also considering adding activated charcoal to the soil (from your garden center or aquarium store) - it will bind up some organic compounds and have the effect you desire without increasing the salt concentration. It is often used in the bottom of bottle gardens for this reason.
Reply:Try mixing in some fresh soil with baking soda.
Reply:try febreeze :]