Bay Tree watering
By Williamd
United Kingdom 
I have just discovered that the cleaners (who visit every 2 weeks) have been emptying the water/detergent used to clean the floor into our Bay Trees which are in pots outside the front door. Will this do any harm?
2 Jun, 2008
Answers
Unfortunately, this could indeed be a problem for the Bay trees. When we have hose-pipe bans and are advised to use 'grey water', the experts tell us not to water our plants with it on a regular basis. Is it possible to change the compost they are in? And of course, stop them 'watering' the pots!
2 Jun, 2008
Short of changing the potted compost as Spritzhenry suggests, just pouring good rainwater will flush the stuff away provided your plants don't die first. But don't kill them by over watering to compensate. See my blog on overwatering.
5 Jun, 2008
Do you have access to the bottles of detergent used? The ingredients would be helpful. See if the label says "biodegradeable" - less harm from those chemicals. Glad you found out!
2 Jun, 2008