When it comes to plants, there are two types of people: forgetful people and overprotective parents. Those in the first group are the ones who completely forget that they need to water or tend to their plants, they may even forget that they have plants. Those in the second group are the ones who are always checking their plants, composting them, touching them and watering them. The irony of the matter is that they both end up with the same result: dead plants. Believe it or not, too much affection and attention to your plant can be just as fatal as forgetfulness, even worse.
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One of the most common problems is overwatering. You may be following the instructions you were given about watering to the letter, but your plant still doesn't grow and looks more like it's about to cross the rainbow. What happens is that the watering instructions are usually more referential, since the amount and frequency of watering will even depend on environmental factors. But don't worry, we're ready to show you everything. You'll learn how to tell if you're overwatering your plant, how to rescue it, and how to avoid this mistake in the future.
Signs You're Overwatering
- Droopy, heavy stems
Your plant looks wilted and saggy, but when you touch the substrate it's moist. It's strange, because the plant looks green, but sad and with heavy stems. In fact, you touch the leaves and far from feeling dry or crunchy, it's kind of heavy and sad. You should pay attention to the base of the trunk, which is in contact with the substrate, because it is the first part to rot.
- Brown leaves
turn brown when the roots can't meet the plant's demand for moisture, so they begin to distribute what they manage to achieve to maintain the most basic processes, leaving out the higher and farther parts first, which will begin to dry out and the tissue will eventually die. This happens when you don't water enough, but if you water too much, you'll drown out the roots that won't be able to absorb the water well and you'll have the same effect because in both cases the roots are affected. You should be aware of the tips of the leaves, which are the first to suffer.
- Edema
is an efficient machine that absorbs water to meet the needs of the plant. But if you have too much at your disposal, then water pressure starts to build up in the leaf cells. These cells explode, forming a kind of blister that looks like lesions. These lesions open and grow granulous formations that look like warts. This is seen a lot in vegetables, succulent leaves, and other plants. It does not cause very strong damage on its own, but it does make the plant and its fruits ugly.
- This
is one of those typical signs that almost everyone recognizes right off the bat. The leaves and stems of the plant look yellowish, heavy, and light in color. As if that were not enough, the plant stops growing and developing. The yellow color of the leaves has a name: chlorosis and occurs when the leaf lacks chlorophyll, which is what gives it the green pigment. As there is not enough chlorophyll, the plant stops synthesizing sunlight, that is, it does not photosynthesize so it will not be able to feed and will die.
- Rotten roots
This symptom is not visible to the naked eye, but you would have to remove the plant from the pot. Be sure to pay attention to the base of the stem, though, as it darkens and becomes soft. When the substrate remains wet for too long, then the perfect conditions are created for certain fungi to proliferate and do their thing. Some fungi such as Pythium, Fusarium and Phytophthora will grow happily and freely in poorly drained, clayey, overwatered and oxygen-poor soils.
The first symptoms of root rot are yellow leaves and drooping stems. If you take the plant out of the substrate and look at the roots, you'll notice that they're brown, look slimy, and smell rotten, musty, and moldy. At this point, the damage is irreparable. The big problem is that if the plant is in the ground or sharing a pot with another, the fungus will contaminate the substrate and can spread to other plants. It's a disease that spreads.
It
is important to keep in mind that not all plants that have suffered from overwatering can be saved. In fact, it is much easier to recover a plant that has dried out due to lack of watering than one due to excess; Too much moisture attracts fungus and other problems that affect the roots immediately. If this is the case and the plant dies, it is recommended to throw it away with everything and substrate as it will be contaminated with fungi and it is possible that they will remain there until you plant a new plant. If you're going to keep the pot, don't forget to wash it thoroughly with soap and water.
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The most important thing when trying to save a plant that has been overwatered is to act fast. Don't let too much time pass and get to work with these first aids to rescue drowned plants:
- Even if your plant has full sun, move it to a covered location. I know the first instinct is to put the plant in the sun to dry, but this will compound the problem. What happens is that when it is in the shade, a plant will use less water so the roots will stop absorbing the excess water that is in the substrate and that is what causes problems such as edema.
- Make sure the pot has drainage holes and that water has a way to get out. If it's on a saucer to hold water, take it out of there and allow it to drain freely.
- Take the pot, tilt it, and pat it to release the substrate. The idea is that if the substrate is almost solid due to excess water, by moving it you are creating air bubbles that will help dry it more quickly, as well as allowing the root to receive some oxygen.
- If the size of the plant allows, you can transfer it to a new pot with fresh, new soil. This will allow the roots to grow in a new environment that will give you the nutrients and oxygen you need, immediately removing excess moisture that can compromise root health.
- Allow the substrate to dry and evaporate naturally. Water only when you feel it's dry to the touch. Don't wait too long because this will produce additional shock and more stress for the poor plant. If during the waiting process you see that the plant is drying out a lot, you can spray it or spray it with some fresh water.
- Avoid using fertilizers on a plant that is recovering from overwatering, as the roots are vulnerable and can cause fertilizer burn. Once you notice that the plant has resumed its growth process, has new leaves and looks better, you can resume the fertilization cycle.
- You can use a broad-spectrum fungicide, just as prevention because excess moisture is the perfect ground for the growth of fungi that can lodge in the roots and kill your plant.
- Once you've taken all these precautions, you'll be able to tell whether or not your plant will make it in a week or so.
How to avoid overwatering
The secret to not having to deal with the terrible result of excess humidity is only one: prevention. In addition, providing the right amount of water not only prevents problems in your plant, but it is better for the environment because you are not wasting water. There are a few tricks to make sure you're doing it right:
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- Choose the right plants: While it's true that you can grow almost anything with the right care, the ideal is to choose the plants that best suit the natural environmental conditions of your space and your particular needs. In fact, you can look for plants that grow in water if you're one of those who can't leave the watering can still.
- Use the right substrate. Using the right substrate for the type of plant you're growing is essential to prevent problems with moisture retention that can affect certain types of plants. If you have acquired plants that prefer dry or well-drained soils, such as succulents or similar, it is best to mix the substrate with a little perlite or sand, which will facilitate their drainage. A good trick is to use a layer of pebbles, pebbles, expanded clay or pieces of Polyxpan at the bottom of the pot to facilitate drainage. Location, location
- , location. Just like when you buy an apartment, the location is everything for the plants. Not only should you offer it the amount of light it requires, but it is advisable to group it with other plants that have similar watering needs. You can create 3 groups: those that require frequent watering, those that are moderately watered, and those that prefer to be left to die of thirst. This will help you add structure to your watering schedules, as well as balance your ambient humidity levels.
- Retains moisture. The only time I had problems with overwatering was because I had some plants in full sun and the substrate dried out very quickly. I was terrified that the plants would die, so I watered too often and came close to killing them. The solution for this is very simple: protect the substrate. A layer of mulch prevents evaporation by the sun and keeps the soil temperature cooler, even in summer. Depending on the mulch you choose, you may even be able to prevent waterlogging.
- Use self-watering. In our shop we have valuable accessories to automatically water any plant. This way, you can forget about schedules and quantities, since the plants will drink just the right amount of water they need. You can also use humidity sensors that indicate when it's the perfect time to water.
- Don't blindly trust watering instructions. These give a general idea of the plant's needs. They can indicate whether they like dry, moist, or high-draining soil, for example. These are guidelines to guide you, but they are not rules that you have to follow to the letter. The problem with watering is that the amount of water a plant needs depends on the environmental conditions. For example, watering a plant in the middle of summer is not the same as watering it is in winter. Therefore, you should always look at the substrate, its humidity levels and the time it takes before it dries out, and adjust the watering instructions according to the needs of the plant and the space.
- Avoid watering every time you see a drooping plant. Sometimes, especially in summer, plants can look a little depressed and wilted during the hottest hours. This is normal, and as soon as the environment cools down, they will regain their appearance. Plants wilt from a variety of causes, so it's better to make a diagnosis than to use the watering can. Watch out for dramatic plants such as Phytonia, Basil and others that faint easily at any environmental change that causes them stress.
- Check before watering. I like to take a wooden toothpick (like the disposables you get in Asian restaurants) and dip it into the substrate before watering. This gives me an idea of the humidity state of the substrate, because if I were to rely only on the first few centimeters of the substrate, I could overwater because the deep part of the substrate is still wet.