Can Bleach Kill Plants?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 03, 2020

In larger doses, chlorine bleach will kill plants while oxygenated bleach will not. Many people use a chlorine bleach and water mixture to kill weeds. In any quantity, chlorine bleach can be hazardous to plants.

Because the primary ingredient in chlorine bleach is the element chlorine, it can cause a phenomenon in plants known as chlorine toxicity. However, plants require a certain amount of chlorine in the soil to remain healthy. When chlorine bleach is added to their environment, they become exposed to too much chlorine, which will turn the tips of their leaves brown. They develop a “scorched” look and can even develop white bleach spots on their leaves.