Root Rot Signs

Root rot is an issue that is hard to reverse. That makes it important for plant lovers to know and recognize root rot signs as early as possible. In fact, ideally, you’ll learn to recognize the signs of the issues that show up before you have root rot. Root rot develops when the roots are exposed to too much moisture making them vulnerable to disease. Rotten roots will appear to be darker brown, they may even be a bit translucent, and squishy to the touch (see a picture below). Healthy roots will be white or light brown and will feel firm. The effects of root rot are pretty detrimental to your plant’s health.

Early Root Rot Signs

• Soil that doesn’t dry out very well.
• Soil that has an odor (that is not fertilizer).
• Limp leaves.
• Leaves with yellow or brown spots.

Not all of these signs will show up, so don’t take this as a checklist. All of these signs are from overwatering your plant. One of the more confusing ones is the limp leaves, which many confuse as the plant needing more water. Read on for tips on avoiding root rot.

How to Avoid Root Rot

If your plant is kept in soil, root rot is caused by soil that is too moist for too long. The soil in potted plants needs a chance to dry out to an extent, not completely, to remain a healthy environment for your plant’s roots. But what about plants kept in water with no soil? Why don’t they get root rot? They do. If the water is stagnant or not changed often enough, then plants kept in water will also get root rot.

Proper Pot

An important part of avoiding root rot is choosing a good pot. There are a lot of factors that make a pot a good fit. The most important factor is that the pot must have drainage holes for water to flow out of the bottom of the pot. If there is no drainage or inadequate drainage, that water will pool at the bottom of the pot with nowhere to go which is an invitation for disease. In addition, the pot needs to be the proper size. A pot should be no larger than two inches in diameter compared to the root ball. If a pot is a lot larger than the root ball, then the soil can take too long to dry out making it more susceptible to overwatering. Finally, you may want to consider the pot’s material. For example, a terracotta pot will dry out pretty quickly because it’s porous while plastic or glazed ceramic pots take longer.

Good Watering Technique

There is not an easy prescriptive way to water, because there are too many factors at play. The most practical advice I can give you is to pay close attention to soil moisture. Some plant lovers use their fingers to test the soil’s moisture, but I prefer a tool. Soil moisture meters are very affordable and handy for monitoring soil moisture. I have used one for years and it’s easily one of my most used plant tools. When using the monitor, I generally don’t water my plants until they fall into the lower part of the moist zone or below it.

When to Water

There is no preset interval of time between waterings. It is something you can learn to do at some set intervals though if you’re precise on timing and amount of water. Using a moisture meter will help you learn enough about how quickly your plant dries out that you can start to get on a watering schedule. Most of my plants are watered once a week, but there are a few plants that need a mid-week watering because they like moister soil. That’s another factor you need to be aware of. Some plants prefer moist soil and some prefer a drier soil. You still have to be careful about sticking to a schedule because what works in the growing season, will not work when your plant is dormant. You have to really pull back on watering in the winter.

How Much Water

Monitoring soil moisture is the best way to learn about the amount of water to give your plant. The general consensus in the plant forums is that giving your plants frequent small sips of water is not good. I know the small sips tactic can be tempting if you’re very concerned about overwatering your plant. Instead of small sips, it’s better to water your plant deeply and then allow it the appropriate amount of time to dry. A good way to tell if you have watered deeply is to see if water drips out of the drainage holes after you have watered. To be clear we’re not talking about a lot of water, but some presence of water a few minutes after watering should be a good indication.

Soil Mixture

Your soil mixture can be just as important for preventing root rot. Many premixed soils exist and will work just fine. Others like to mix their own. Good soil has the right ratios to help the soil dry out appropriately between waterings. Organic materials like peat hold moisture, which to some extent you want. Potting soil needs to hold some moisture, but not too much. The organic material needs to be balanced out by something that helps encourage drainage. Bulky materials like perlite are often used to aid in drainage in many premade soil mixes. I always keep a bag of perlite on hand because it’s cheap and easy to throw into a pot when I’m repotting.

Environment

Where you put plant has some importance but not to the level of the factors above. However, it can impact how quickly your soil dries out. A plant that is in full sun for many hours a day will have soil that dries out more quickly compared to a plant that is in more shade. Airflow is also a factor. A plant near an air vent, window, or door will dry more quickly due to convection. And a plant kept in a humid bathroom will dry out more slowly.

Do you have any lingering questions about root rot signs? Ask in the Comments section.