Overwatering
Soil that never dries pushes out the air roots need, so they suffocate and rot.
What you'll see
- Leaves droop or wilt even though the soil is still wet.
- Lower and inner leaves turn yellow, and the pot stays heavy and soggy for days.
- Roots are brown, soft and smell sour instead of firm and pale.
- Fungus gnats hover over the pot, or corky bumps form under the leaves.
Why it happens
When the potting mix never dries, water fills the spaces roots need for air. They suffocate and rot, and can no longer take up water.
How to fix it
- Stop watering until the top 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of mix are dry, and empty any saucer.
- If it keeps wilting, unpot it, cut mushy roots back to firm tissue, and repot in fresh, fast-draining mix.
- Give brighter indirect light and gentle air flow so the mix dries more evenly.
Keep it from coming back
- Water when a finger test or the pot's weight says so, not on a fixed schedule.
- Choose a pot only a little wider than the root ball, with drainage holes.
- Water less in winter and in dim spots, when plants use far less.
Read more
- How often to water houseplants
- Overwatering vs underwatering
- Watering houseplants in winter
- Self-watering pots: pros and cons
- Best houseplants for low light
- Choosing a pot: size and drainage
- Potting mix basics
- How to make a terrarium
- How to save a dying plant
- Winter care for houseplants
- Plant care while you're away
Sources
- Kindwise plant.health library: Water excess or uneven watering
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Overwatering
- University of Maryland Extension: Overwatered indoor plants
General guidance, not a diagnosis. For valuable, edible or outdoor crops, check with a local extension service or plant expert. Use any product exactly as its label says, and keep children and pets away while it dries.