My soil looks strange …

Orange crust

Most likely FERTILIZER SALTS. Maybe you are using more fertilizer than you need. This happens in hot weather when you use more water. It evaporates quickly and leaves behind salts that are dissolved in the water. Plants need extra water in the summer. If you use 4 times as much water in the summer, and add fertilizer to all of that water, you are giving your plant 4 times the fertilizer load… which is way too much.

Green crust

Probably algae (which is a microscopic plant). This green muck likes fertilized water. It grows on perlite, on watering mats, on wicks and in reservoirs. The most reliable solution is to use Physan 20 in your water. . I did a test where I mixed up water and fish emulsion fertilized along with algae and set the mix in the sun. This would be a perfect home for algae to grow. A drop or two of Physan prevented the algae. 

You do not need so much as Physan as the label suggests (1 tsp per gallon). Also, if you use it all the time, a residual amount will remain from previous usage. You can do your own test to see how much Physan you need. Or just keep reducing the amount you use until the problem returns then increase the amount you use slightly. We have seen no negative effects on the plants from using Physan.

White crust

If it is a soft white crust, it is mold. Your soil is probably too wet. You can also use some sort of fungicidal chemical to control this problem. Phyton 27 works well.

Hard white crust on pots is most likely salts and minerals left as your hard water evaporates. You can wash the pots with something designed to wash bathroom scale. If it is a big problem for you, consider getting a reverse osmosis water system. This removes minerals from the water. NOTE: A water softener will not solve your problem. These work by chemically substituting salt ions for mineral ions. It is great for washing, but the salt is bad for plants.