Dealing with Root Rot: Prevention and Treatment
Learn to identify, treat, and prevent the most common cause of houseplant death.
What is Root Rot?
Root rot occurs when roots sit in waterlogged soil, leading to fungal infection and decay.
Symptoms
- Yellow, wilting leaves despite wet soil
- Soft, mushy stems
- Foul odor from soil
- Black, slimy roots
Treatment
- Remove plant from pot
- Cut away affected roots
- Repot in fresh, dry soil
- Water sparingly until recovered
Prevention
Use well-draining soil, pots with drainage holes, and allow soil to dry between waterings.
Tools and supplies for this
Products we'd actually buy for this job. Linking to Amazon — if you buy through these links we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
- Weston Mill Pottery Terracotta plant pots, 175mm (pack of 10)
Mid-size workhorse terracotta — perfect step-up for plants outgrowing their nursery pots.
- Weston Mill Pottery Terracotta plant pots, 20cm (pack of 5)
Heavyweight 20cm clay for established plants — the porous walls help prevent the soggy roots aroids hate.
- Whitefurze G04012 7.5cm Garden Pot - Terracotta (Set of 10)
Cheap, cheerful plastic propagation pots — what we actually use for cuttings and small offsets.
- Whitefurze G04013 10cm Garden Pot - Terracotta (Set of 7)
Reliable mid-size nursery pots with proper drainage holes — the boring essential every plant parent runs out of.
Maria Rodriguez
Plant Pathologist
Passionate about helping plant parents succeed with expert tips and proven techniques.
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