Knowing how to fix root rot can help save houseplants from overwatering and diseases.
Root rot is easily one of the mostcommon houseplant problemsyou’re likely to encounter.
What is root rot?
Credit:Phoebe Cheong
Root rot is exactly like what it sounds like.
A plant’s roots start rotting and can no longer absorb water effectively.
Most often, root rot is due to overwatering or poorly draining pots and potting mixes.
Overly saturated soil deprives plant roots of the air they need to grow.
If conditions dont improve quickly, waterlogged roots start to die, and rot spreads throughout the plant.
What does root rot look like?
Plants may be stunted, and their leaves can appear dry, yellow, or pale with brown blotches.
However, if you have plants with advanced signs of rot, the following treatment steps will help.
Remove the pot and soil.
However, if root rot is severe, the plant may not recover.
Trim away damaged roots and leaves.
Be aggressive with this; rot can spread from infected roots if you dont remove them.
Removing some leaves helps your plant recover quicker.
When the roots are all cleaned up, repot the plant in a cleangrowing containerwith fresh potting mix.
Fortunately, root rot is relatively easy to avoid if you follow these simple tips:
1.
Research plant care requirements.
Check the soil before watering.
Most houseplants grow best if theyre watered when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feels dry.
If the soil is still damp, hold off on watering until it feels dry.
Select a well-draining potting mix.
Use growing containers with drainage holes.
5. verify the plants receive enough light.
Plants use water during the photosynthesis process.
However, plants dont absorb water readily if they dont receive enough light.
Providing your plants with theright amount of lightcan boost photosynthesis rates and help plants absorb water faster.
Adjust the watering schedule as needed.
Plant watering needscan vary throughout the year, and watering should be adjusted accordingly.
Plants that dont improve in a few weeks may not be salvageable.
