Plant problems · Water and roots · Any stage · Act this week
Overwatering
What you see
- The whole plant droops with leaves that feel firm and swollen, not limp
- The pot stays heavy for days after watering
- Leaves yellow and growth slows
- Fungus gnats appear on the surface
Why it happens
Roots need air as much as water. Watering too often, pots without drainage or pots too big for the plant keep the roots wet and short of oxygen.
What to do
- Stop watering until the pot is clearly light when lifted
- Make sure water drains freely out of the bottom
- Next time, water until a little runs out, then wait until the top few centimetres are dry
Next time
- Lift the pot to feel the weight before watering
- Use fabric pots or add perlite for drainage
Easy to confuse with
- Nitrogen deficiency: Lower, older leaves turn pale green, then evenly yellow from the tip inwards
- Underwatering: Leaves hang limp and soft, like they have no strength
- Root rot: The plant wilts even when the medium is wet
Not sure?
Take a photo of the whole plant and the soil surface and ask the Grow Doctor, or send it to the grow companion on Telegram.