Avoid Overwatering: How much is too much?

As the temperature increases, we here at Weidner’s see more customers having trouble with finding the right balance of water, sun, and overall care for their plants. Most gardeners can tell when a plant needs water, but the symptoms of over watering can be harder to distinguish, and can happen very quickly.
How Root Rot Happens
During hot weather, plants that are susceptible to heat can wilt even when the soil is moist. This usually includes plants such as fuchsias, begonias, and impatiens. When this happens, it’s tempting to water the plant, since it looks thirsty. If the soil gets too wet however, the roots can suffocate, and you end up with root rot. The confusing part is that after root rot takes hold, the plant wilts further, and usually gardeners water again, which only speeds up the process.
Diagnose Root Rot
Some signs of root rot are squishy stems, a very quick loss of foliage, and brown mushy roots. If you can, slide the plant out of the pot, and check the roots. Healthy roots should be white, or a very light tan, whereas dead roots will be medium to dark brown. The weight of the pot is also a good indicator. Super saturated soil tends to be very heavy, so if you have severe wilting and a very heavy pot, chances are you’ve over watered.
It can be very difficult to bring a plant back from root rot, and usually the best option is to replace it. If you do want to try, you can cut back any damaged pieces, and let the soil dry out, before resuming a regular watering schedule. If the plant can recover, you should see new growth within a few days to a week, depending on the plant variety.
Avoid Root Rot
The best way to avoid root rot is to only water when the soil is actually dry. You can use a chopstick or wooden skewer to check down into the soil, and if it looks moist, don’t water. A lot of times the first inch or two of soil will be dry due to sun exposure, but deeper soil can stay wet much longer. If your plant still looks wilted, try spraying the foliage. Leaves have small pores called stomata that can take in water along with the roots. Many times a plant will bounce back within a few hours of getting a foliage spray.