In addition to purify the air It is give life to our homes, plants work our caring side. Like most living things that breathe, houseplants they need attention, care and water to survive.
But not all plants require constant attention. In fact, many prefer to be ignored altogether. “Plants can and will die from overwatering,” says Bloomscape’s Joyce Mast. «If the roots are in soggy soil, they won’t be able to breathe and will drown.»
This problem is very common especially during the summer and now in quarantine, as the plants are in their growing season and their owners spend more time at home looking for something to do. To save your vegetation from death by drowning, Here’s how to tell if you’re overwatering your little plant!
How to avoid excess water
Firstly, it’s important to read each plant’s care instructions and adjust your watering routine accordingly – for example, a Saint George’s sword will not need the same amount of water or be watered as often as a palm tree.
Second, you should always buy a pot with drainage holes. “One of the main reasons a plant gets waterlogged is because the pot doesn’t have the proper drainage holes. This allows excess water to leak out from the bottom of the pot,” notes Mast.
“People tend to think that their plants need to be watered every day, especially in the summer months, and a pot without drainage holes exacerbates this problem.”
See too
Signs of overwatered plants: what to look out for
According to Mast, keep an eye out for the five signs of overwatering plants to keep your greenery in good health:
1. If a plant is overwatered, it will likely develop yellow or brown, limp leavesinstead of dry, crunchy leaves (which are actually a sign of low water). Withered leaves usually mean root rot has set in. and the roots can no longer absorb water.
2. If your plant is losing young and old leaves, you probably watered too much. Remember that falling leaves can be green, brown or yellow.
3. If the base of the plant’s stem starts to feel mushy or wonky, you’ve over-watered it.. The soil may even begin to give off a rotten odor.
4. If the leaves develop brown spots surrounded by a yellow halois a bacterial infection due to excess water.
5. Similar to sign number three, fungus or mold can grow directly on top of the soil if you overwater repeatedly.
How to save plants that have been over-watered
In mild cases, you can simply stop watering for the next few weeks and wait for her to recover. «Don’t water until the soil is completely dry at root level, which is at the bottom of the pot,» instructs Mast.
“If the drainage hole is big enough, you can lift the plant and feel the soil from the bottom to get an accurate moisture reading. If it’s still wet, don’t water – even if the soil surface is dry.”
If your plant shows all five signs of overwatering, «you’ll need to be more aggressive,» notes Mast. She recommends repotting the plant and trimming any affected roots to keep it alive.
Healthy root systems are white, while waterlogged roots are black or brown. “Carefully remove the plant from the pot and trim any black or pasty roots with sharp garden trimmers. Be sure to use an alcohol wipe between each cut to prevent the spread of root disease.”
If you choose to repot in the same container, be sure to wash it thoroughly with disinfectant soap and fill it with clean, fresh soil. Once this is done, water until you see it flowing through the drainage holes.
How to water your plants
After rescuing your plants from flooding, it’s time to make amends. “In the future, let the soil tell you when it needs water. Always push your finger about two inches below the surface of the soil, and if it feels damp, wait a few more days and check again. If the soil is dry, water until it flows freely from the bottom of the pot and remove all standing water.”
*Via bloomscape