Too much water? How to spot it and save your plant

Every week the growers hear some version of the same thing: 'I give it plenty of water and it still droops.' Quite often, that's exactly the problem. More houseplants die from too much water than from too little.

Here's what happens. When the roots sit in wet soil for too long, they can't get any air and start to rot. Rotten roots can't take up water, so the plant droops as if it's thirsty. You give it a bit more, and things get worse.

Signs it's getting too much

• The lower leaves turn yellow and limp rather than dry and crispy.
• The soil is still wet days after watering.
• The plant droops, yet the pot feels heavy.
• There's water standing in the bottom of the outer pot or in the saucer.
• The base of the stems turns brown or feels soft.
• Tiny black flies hover around the pot. Fungus gnats love damp soil.

Underwatering looks the other way round. Leaves go brown and dry at the edges, the soil shrinks away from the side of the pot and the pot feels light.

How to save it

1. Stop watering. Completely, even if it looks sorry for itself.
2. Lift the nursery pot out of the outer pot and pour away any water underneath.
3. Stand the nursery pot on a dry towel or a rack for a few hours so the soil can drain.
4. Still wet after a week, or smelling musty? Gently ease the plant out of its pot and look at the roots.
5. Healthy roots are white or light brown and firm. Rotten roots are dark brown, mushy and come away when you pull them. Snip those off with clean scissors.
6. Repot in fresh, airy compost and only water again once the top few centimetres are dry.

Then let it rest. A bright spot out of harsh sun, no feed and no more repotting. It can take a few weeks before you see new growth, and that's normal.

Why there's a nursery pot inside

Every Kasvers plant arrives in the pot from the photo, with its nursery pot inside. There's a good reason for that. The nursery pot has holes in the bottom, so any water the plant doesn't need drains away. You can see it collecting in the outer pot and simply tip it out. Plant straight into a pot without a hole and the water sits at the bottom, out of sight, until it's too late.

Plants that make life easier

Love watering? Choose a plant that likes moist soil, such as the Calathea orbifolia. Tend to forget? The ZZ plant and the snake plant are a safe bet. They store water in their thick roots and leaves and can go weeks without.

ZZ plantZamioculcas zamiifolia € 32.50

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Not sure which plant suits your routine? The plant finder asks how often you water and how much light you have. Or browse the easy plants, which forgive the odd mistake either way.

If a plant dies within 30 days of delivery anyway, it's covered by our plant guarantee. Send us a photo and we'll send you a new one.