Root Rot: How to Identify, Treat & Save Your Plant
Root rot is a fungal disease caused by overwatering. It's silent, deadly, and by the time you see symptoms above soil, significant damage has already occurred. Here's how to catch it early and save your plant.
Stages of Root Rot
Early Stage
Treatable- Leaves yellowing for no obvious reason
- Plant wilts despite moist soil
- Slower growth than usual
- Soil stays wet for too long
Reduce watering immediately and improve drainage. Recovery is likely if you act now.
Moderate Stage
Treatable- Multiple yellow/brown leaves
- Musty or rotten smell from soil
- Some roots are brown and mushy
- Stems may feel soft at base
Remove plant from pot, trim affected roots, and repot in fresh dry soil. Survival rate is good with intervention.
Severe Stage
Critical- Most roots are brown/black and mushy
- Stem is soft and discolored at base
- Most leaves have dropped
- Strong rotting smell
Try propagating healthy stem cuttings if any exist. The original plant is unlikely to survive.
How to Treat Root Rot
Follow these steps carefully. The sooner you act, the better your plant's chances.
Remove from pot
Gently slide the plant out of its pot. Don't pull by the stem—turn the pot upside down and let gravity help.
Wash the roots
Rinse all the old soil off the roots under lukewarm running water. This lets you see the full extent of damage.
Identify healthy vs. rotted roots
Healthy roots are white, tan, or light brown and feel firm. Rotted roots are dark brown/black, mushy, and may smell bad.
Cut away all rotted roots
Using clean, sharp scissors, cut off all mushy roots. Cut into healthy tissue to ensure you remove all rot. Sterilize scissors between cuts.
Let roots dry (optional)
For severe cases, let the roots air dry for a few hours. You can apply cinnamon or hydrogen peroxide to cut ends as a natural fungicide.
Repot in fresh soil
Use new, well-draining potting mix. Add perlite for extra drainage. Choose a pot with drainage holes—slightly smaller if you removed many roots.
Water sparingly
Give a light watering to settle the soil, then wait until the top inch is dry before watering again. The plant has fewer roots now and needs less water.
How to Prevent Root Rot
Prevention is much easier than treatment. Follow these guidelines to keep your plants healthy.
Use well-draining soil
Mix perlite, pumice, or orchid bark into potting soil. Most houseplants need a chunky mix that doesn't hold water.
Choose pots with drainage
Always use pots with drainage holes. If you love a decorative pot without holes, use it as a cachepot with a nursery pot inside.
Water on a schedule... of checking
Don't water on a fixed schedule. Instead, check soil moisture every few days and only water when the top 1-2 inches are dry.
Improve air circulation
Stagnant air promotes fungal growth. A small fan or open window helps soil dry properly between waterings.
Don't let plants sit in water
Empty saucers 30 minutes after watering. Standing water is root rot waiting to happen.
Adjust watering seasonally
Plants need less water in winter when growth slows. Reduce watering frequency in fall and winter.
Plants Most Susceptible to Root Rot
Surprisingly tolerant, but will succumb eventually
Loves water but needs great drainage
Extremely sensitive to overwatering
Rot quickly in wet soil
Drought-tolerant; overwatering is easy
Store water in rhizomes; rarely need watering
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a plant recover from root rot?
Yes, if caught early to moderately early. The key is how much healthy root mass remains. Plants need roots to absorb water and nutrients—if more than half the roots are rotted, survival becomes difficult. Act quickly for the best chance.
What does root rot smell like?
Root rot has a distinctive musty, swampy, or rotten smell. It's similar to decaying organic matter or stagnant water. If your plant's soil smells bad, that's a strong indicator of root problems.
Should I use fungicide for root rot?
It can help in moderate cases. Hydrogen peroxide (diluted 1:3 with water), cinnamon, or commercial fungicides can kill remaining fungal spores. However, the most important treatment is removing infected roots and improving drainage—fungicide alone won't save a plant.
Why does my plant keep getting root rot?
Usually it's an environmental issue: soil that holds too much water, pots without drainage, or overwatering. Even if you save the plant, it will rot again if you don't fix the underlying cause. Focus on well-draining soil and proper watering habits.
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