It’s all too easy to overwater houseplants and end up with a dripping plant pot and soggy potting mix. But if plant roots stay waterlogged for too long, plants can develop root rot and die back. To help you avoid this common plant problem, here’s how to quickly fix overwatered plants and ways to avoid overwatering in the future.
Signs of Overwatering
When we overwater our plants, that extra moisture fills up the air pockets in plant potting mixes and makes it harder for plant roots to absorb the oxygen they need. If the soil dries out quickly, this usually doesn’t cause major problems. However, if the soil stays saturated for a while, plant roots start to die and this leads to issues like root rot and plant decline.
Sometimes we immediately know when we’ve overwatered our plants, either because the soil is waterlogged or excess water pours out of the pot’s drainage holes. But other signs of overwatering are a bit more subtle and easier to overlook. If you see any of these signs, it’s important to act fast to save your plant.
- Potting mix stays wet long after watering. Overwatered soil takes longer to dry out, but plants affected with root rot also absorb water less efficiently.
- Plants look wilted even when the soil is moist. As root rot progresses, plant roots lose their ability to absorb water, and plants may look dry and wilted even when their soil is damp.
- Yellowing leaves. Yellowing leaves that begin at the base of the plant can be a sign of overwatering, although leaf yellowing can be caused by other issues.
- Dark splotches on plant leaves. Dark splotches that occur in the middle of plant leaves and primarily affect the plant’s lower leaves may indicate that the plant has root rot.
- Smelly roots. If root rot has set in, plant roots will be dark, smelly, and slimy and they may also be thin and brittle. By comparison, healthy plant roots are usually firm, well-formed, and white to yellow in color.
How to Fix Overwatered Plants
The protocol for fixing overwatered plants varies depending on how overwatered the plant is, how long the plant has been in soggy soil, and whether or not the plant is displaying signs of stress. If you’ve given your plant just a bit too much water, you may only need to withhold watering until the soil dries out. But if your plant has been overwatered repeatedly and is displaying signs of root rot—like wilting and dark leaf splotches—you may need to take a few more steps to save your plant.
1. Reduce Watering
If you’ve overwatered your plants, the most important thing to do is to stop watering. This can be hard as plants with root rot often look wilted and parched, but it’s an essential step if you want your plants to recover. Most tropical plants can be lightly watered again when the top 1-2 inches of soil feels dry to the touch, while succulents and cacti should be allowed to dry out more thoroughly before you resume watering.
2. Boost Airflow
Saturated soil dries faster when air is circulating around your growing space. If you want soggy soil to dry out, place a small fan near the pot or turn on an overhead fan. Weather permitting, you can also open your windows to help air circulate or place your overwatered plant outdoors in a partially shaded spot.
3. Add Light
Plants absorb moisture more readily when they receive adequate light, while low-light conditions can increase the chances of root rot. While you should never place low-light plants in full sun, slowly increasing the light levels around your plants can boost photosynthesis rates and help soil dry out a little faster.
4. Increase the Temperature
Turning the thermostat up by a few degrees can also dry saturated soil, but don’t overdo it or place your plants near a heating unit. Too much dry air can turn even well-watered plants crispy and brown. If you prefer a more hands-on approach, use a hairdryer set on the lowest, coolest setting to slowly dry the soil without blowing potting mix around.
5. Aerate the Soil
Adding more air pockets to wet potting mix can speed up evaporation and provide more air to waterlogged roots. You can do this by tipping plant pots to one side and gently rapping on the sides and bottom of the pot to loosen the soil. Or you can gently poke holes in the soil with a chopstick.
6. Repot if Needed
Boosting light, temperature, and airflow around your plants is usually enough to dry out soggy soil. But you may need to take further action if you want to fix plants with root rot. This can include repotting plants into fresh soil, cutting away rotted roots, and propagating plant cuttings if you don’t think your plant will survive.
Jay Wilde
How to Avoid Overwatering Plants
If you catch overwatering and root rot early, there’s a good chance that your plants will recover. But while overwatering is usually fixable, it’s much better for your plants if you avoid overwatering in the first place. To help you out, here are some simple watering guidelines to keep in mind no matter what type of houseplants you’re keeping.
- Do your research. Some plants need more water than others and it’s always a good idea to research the care needs of each plant before bringing new houseplants into your home.
- Provide ample light. Plants photosynthesize more efficiently when they receive plenty of light. If your plants aren’t getting enough sun in your home, add a grow light.
- Water right. One of the easiest ways to avoid overwatering is to always feel the potting mix before watering plants. Most tropical plants prefer to be watered when the top 1-2 inches of soil feels dry to the touch.
- Use well-draining pots. Drainage holes allow excess water to flow away from plant roots and are essential for preventing root rot. If your plant pots don’t have drainage holes, carefully drill your own or repot your plants into new containers.
- Select terracotta pots. Terracotta planters are porous and they dry out faster than plastic, glazed ceramic, or glass pots.
- Avoid self-watering planters. Self-watering planters make watering a lot easier; however, they usually keep the potting mix consistently moist. This can lead to root rot in succulents, cacti, and some tropical plants with sensitive root systems.
- Choose a well-draining potting mix. Garden soil is too dense for houseplants and it can lead to watering issues if you use it indoors. Instead, choose a well-draining potting mix intended for houseplants or make your own DIY blend by mixing together equal parts coconut coir, perlite, and compost.
- Empty plant saucers. If you keep your plants on plant saucers, empty the saucers each time you water. This keeps plant roots from sitting in water and can help you avoid issues with root rot.
- Reduce watering in winter. Plants absorb less water in winter when the days are short and light levels are low. That’s why you should always reduce watering in fall and only increase watering when your plants start actively growing in spring.
