Overwatering vs underwatering
How to tell them apart, and how to fix each one
Why they look alike
Too much water and too little can both make a plant wilt and turn yellow. Soggy soil holds too little air, so the fine roots die and can't take up water. Either way, the leaves go thirsty.
The soil and the roots tell you which it is, so always check them before you water again. Watering a plant that's wilting from rot only makes it worse.
Signs of overwatering
Overwatering is one of the most common ways houseplants die. These are the usual signs.
- Soil that stays wet for days, and a pot that always feels heavy.
- Yellowing of old and new leaves at once, and wilting even though the soil is wet.
- Stems that turn soft, or ringed with brown or black, at the soil line.
- Brown or black, soft roots, and soil that smells sour.
- Small flies over the soil, or corky bumps under the leaves.
Signs of underwatering
A thirsty plant gives different clues.
- Dry soil that has pulled away from the sides of the pot.
- A pot that feels light when you lift it.
- Wilting and curled leaves that perk up after a drink.
- Brown, crispy leaf edges, with the oldest leaves at the base yellowing and falling first.
Fixing an overwatered plant
Stop watering and let the mix dry out. Empty the saucer and check that the pot drains. If the plant keeps wilting, slide it out and look at the roots.
If only a few roots are dark and soft, cut them off and repot in fresh potting mix, in a pot with drainage holes. If most of them are dead, the plant usually can't be saved, but healthy stems may root as cuttings.
Fixing an underwatered plant
Give it a long, slow drink until water runs out of the bottom. Very dry mix can shed water so it runs straight through. If that happens, water it twice, half an hour apart, or stand the pot in a sink of water until the surface is moist, then let it drain.
Crisp brown edges won't turn green again, and they can also come from dry air or salt buildup. Check the soil more often from now on.
Related plant problems
Sources
- University of Maryland Extension: Overwatered Indoor Plants
- University of Maryland Extension: Drought Stress to Indoor Plants
- RHS: How to help a poorly houseplant
- Clemson HGIC: Houseplant Diseases & Disorders
General guidance, not a diagnosis. Written by PlantWiz in our own words from the sources above.