Plant problems · Water and roots · Any stage · Act today
Root rot
What you see
- The plant wilts even when the medium is wet
- Roots are brown, slimy and smell bad instead of white and fresh
- Leaves yellow and the plant declines fast
- In hydro, the water turns cloudy or brown
Why it happens
Pythium and similar organisms attack roots that sit in warm, still, oxygen poor water. Overwatering and reservoirs above about 22 C are the classic causes.
What to do
- In soil, stop watering until the pot is light and improve drainage
- In hydro, cool the reservoir to 18 to 20 C, add air, change the water and clean the system
- Beneficial microbes (Bacillus or Trichoderma products) help healthy roots take over again
- Cut away roots that are mushy only if you can see healthy white roots left
Next time
- Never let pots stand in water
- Keep hydro reservoirs cool and aerated
Easy to confuse with
- Overwatering: The whole plant droops with leaves that feel firm and swollen, not limp
- Fusarium wilt: Leaves yellow and wilt on one side or one branch first
Not sure?
Take a photo of the roots (in hydro) or the base of the stem and the soil and ask the Grow Doctor, or send it to the grow companion on Telegram.