Skip to main content
Problems⏱ 6 min read

Preventing Root Rot

Root rot kills silently and is often misdiagnosed as drought. Understand causes, spot it early, save an infected plant.

What Is Root Rot?

A fungal disease that attacks roots in waterlogged, oxygen-deprived soil. Roots turn brown and mushy.

The Cruel Irony

Root rot causes wilting — which looks like drought stress. People water more, making it worse.

Warning Signs

  • Wilting despite moist soil
  • Yellowing leaves from the bottom
  • Mushy, dark stems at the base
  • Foul, sour smell from soil

Saving an Infected Plant

  1. 1Remove from pot — Don't replant in same container
  2. 2Trim rotted roots — Cut back to healthy tissue
  3. 3Let dry briefly — 30–60 minutes in open air
  4. 4Apply fungicide — Dust with cinnamon or commercial fungicide
  5. 5Repot in fresh, dry mix — With extra perlite
  6. 6Hold off watering — Wait 5–7 days

Prevention

  • Always use pots with drainage holes
  • Never let plants sit in standing water
  • Water based on soil moisture, not a schedule
More in Problems