{"id":1184,"date":"2021-03-18T21:51:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T21:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/?p=1184"},"modified":"2021-03-24T22:01:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-24T22:01:16","slug":"3-ways-to-save-an-overwatered-plant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/3-ways-to-save-an-overwatered-plant\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways To Save An Overwatered Plant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Just like humans, plants need water to survive. When a plant is properly hydrated, it can carry out photosynthesis and absorb all the nutrients it needs to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While it\u2019s clear to see how important water is for plant survival, there\u2019s a fine line between life and death. In fact, overwatering is one of the leading causes of plant deterioration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even the most professional of gardeners can fall victim to overwatering; it\u2019s all too easy to drench a wilting plant, assuming that water is what it needs. However, we have some good news. In some cases, you can save overwatered plants. Read on to discover how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/3-ways-to-save-an-overwatered-plant\/#The_Dangers_Of_Overwatering_Plants\" title=\"The Dangers Of Overwatering Plants\">The Dangers Of Overwatering Plants<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/3-ways-to-save-an-overwatered-plant\/#Signs_Of_An_Overwatered_Plant\" title=\"Signs Of An Overwatered Plant\">Signs Of An Overwatered Plant<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/3-ways-to-save-an-overwatered-plant\/#How_To_Save_An_Overwatered_Plant\" title=\"How To Save An Overwatered Plant\">How To Save An Overwatered Plant<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/3-ways-to-save-an-overwatered-plant\/#Proper_Watering_Techniques_For_Plants\" title=\"Proper Watering Techniques For Plants\">Proper Watering Techniques For Plants<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/3-ways-to-save-an-overwatered-plant\/#Check_The_Soil\" title=\"Check The Soil\">Check The Soil<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/3-ways-to-save-an-overwatered-plant\/#Moisten_The_Roots\" title=\"Moisten The Roots\">Moisten The Roots<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/3-ways-to-save-an-overwatered-plant\/#Water_In_The_Morning\" title=\"Water In The Morning\">Water In The Morning<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/3-ways-to-save-an-overwatered-plant\/#Avoid_%E2%80%98Swimming_Pool_Pots\" title=\"Avoid \u2018Swimming Pool\u2019 Pots\">Avoid \u2018Swimming Pool\u2019 Pots<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/3-ways-to-save-an-overwatered-plant\/#Keep_Track_Of_The_Weather\" title=\"Keep Track Of The Weather\">Keep Track Of The Weather<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/3-ways-to-save-an-overwatered-plant\/#Water_Confidently_But_Carefully\" title=\"Water Confidently, But Carefully\">Water Confidently, But Carefully<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Dangers_Of_Overwatering_Plants\"><\/span><strong>The Dangers Of Overwatering Plants<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So &#8211; what\u2019s so bad about overwatering plants? It might sound dramatic, but overwatering a plant essentially means you are drowning it. And, as you drown the roots, they lose their ability to absorb the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplecare.com\/blog\/2016\/november\/why-are-nutrients-important-to-plants-\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">all-important oxygen and nutrients<\/a>. Without access to oxygen and nutrients, your plant will not have what it needs to survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As well as suffocating your plant, overwatering it may create a breeding ground for root rot. Root rot can kill your plant in as little as a week if left untreated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Signs_Of_An_Overwatered_Plant\"><\/span><strong>Signs Of An Overwatered Plant<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/dead-plant-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1186\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/dead-plant-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/dead-plant-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/dead-plant-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/dead-plant-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/dead-plant-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/dead-plant-1140x760.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/dead-plant.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can\u2019t see what\u2019s going on in the soil, it\u2019s often hard to know when you\u2019ve overwatered a plant. However, the following pointers are usually tell-tale signs that a plant is struggling:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>It\u2019s starting to wilt<\/li><li>There\u2019s no new growth<\/li><li>Young leaves are turning brown<\/li><li>Lower leaves are yellow<\/li><li>The soil is turning green<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If your plant is showing any of the above signs, the rest of this guide will help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Save_An_Overwatered_Plant\"><\/span><strong>How To Save An Overwatered Plant<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all plants can be saved from overwatering &#8211; it\u2019ll entirely depend on the severity of the case and how long it\u2019s been left. But, not all hope is lost, as we have three different methods for plant revival. The method you choose will depend on the environment in which the plant is in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Re-Pot The Plant<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have overwatered a house plant, the best thing to do is to re-pot it. This is a simple task but requires a gentle touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Firstly, find a new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardeningknowhow.com\/special\/containers\/do-pots-need-drain-holes.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pot that has drainage holes<\/a>. These drainage holes will help to prevent any overwatering in the future. Put around two inches of mulch into the new pot to further prevent overwatering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the mulch has been added, put your plant and fresh soil into the new pot. Continue filling it with soil until you reach the base of the plant. From here, lightly pat the soil so that the plant stays fixated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As soon as your plant is re-potted, water the soil to make it moist. Then, only water more once the soil feels dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Dry Out The Roots<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way to save an overwatered plant is by drying out the roots. This process involves doing the complete reverse of what you\u2019re used to!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you suspect that you\u2019ve overwatered your plant, bring it into the shade and stop watering it until it dries out. After a few days, gently shake the pot to loosen the soil. This creates little air pockets that help to dry the roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your plant still struggles, consider gently removing the plant from its pot and trimming away any rotted roots. While doing this, it\u2019s also worth trimming any dead leaves. You can then gently re-pot the plant in fresh (dry!) soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Stop Fertilising<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can tell by the previous two steps, saving an overwatered plant is much easier when the plant is potted. Unfortunately, the process is a bit more difficult when it comes to outdoor plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/gardener-with-mask-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1187\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/gardener-with-mask-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/gardener-with-mask-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/gardener-with-mask-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/gardener-with-mask-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/gardener-with-mask-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/gardener-with-mask-1140x760.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/gardener-with-mask.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you use fertiliser or some other form of treatment on your plants, hold off using it for a while. Your plant won\u2019t be able to reap the benefits from the treatment if it\u2019s drowning! This will only add to the confusion and potentially kill it off faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Proper_Watering_Techniques_For_Plants\"><\/span><strong>Proper Watering Techniques For Plants<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned before, even the most experienced gardeners can overwater their plants. Just one act of poor judgement is all that it takes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While how much water you give a plant will depend on a variety of factors, there are some techniques to keep in mind to prevent overwatering. These watering techniques are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Check_The_Soil\"><\/span><strong>Check The Soil<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the soil is dark in appearance and feels slightly moist, your plant probably doesn\u2019t need water. Adding water to already-moist soil will create a breeding ground for rot. If the soil is light in colour and dry when you touch it, however, it is then time to water the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When checking the soil, take the time to assess each plant individually. Plant\u2019s have different traits, meaning <a href=\"https:\/\/thepracticalplanter.com\/plants-that-absorb-lots-of-water\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">some will need more water<\/a> than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Moisten_The_Roots\"><\/span><strong>Moisten The Roots<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve established that your plant needs watering, water the base of the plant &#8211; not the head. If you moisten the roots, they will take care of the rest, transporting nutrients to the areas of the plant that need it the most. Stop watering the plant once the water starts to leave the drainage holes in the pot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Water_In_The_Morning\"><\/span><strong>Water In The Morning<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Refrain from watering your plants at night. If a plant is left moist all night, without any sunlight, it\u2019s at a higher risk of spreading disease. Instead, water your plants in the morning so that they have a whole day to bask in the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Avoid_%E2%80%98Swimming_Pool_Pots\"><\/span><strong>Avoid \u2018Swimming Pool\u2019 Pots<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a potted plant, check to ensure no water is sitting in the pot.&nbsp; Standing water will mean that the soil is always moist, which in other terms, means it\u2019s being overwatered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keep_Track_Of_The_Weather\"><\/span><strong>Keep Track Of The Weather<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If it has rained a lot recently, your garden will not need watering. Keep brief notes of rainfall and weather patterns so that you keep on track with this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/water-drip-leaf-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1188\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/water-drip-leaf-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/water-drip-leaf-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/water-drip-leaf-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/water-drip-leaf-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/water-drip-leaf-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/water-drip-leaf-1140x760.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/water-drip-leaf.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Water_Confidently_But_Carefully\"><\/span><strong>Water Confidently, But Carefully<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Watering your plants doesn\u2019t need to be stressful; just make sure that you approach it carefully. It\u2019s only normal to overwater plants from time to time, but now you have everything you need to resolve the situation calmly!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Just like humans, plants need water to survive. When a plant is properly hydrated, it can carry out photosynthesis and absorb all the nutrients it needs to grow. While it\u2019s clear to see how important water is for plant survival, there\u2019s a fine line between life and death. In fact, overwatering is one of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1185,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1184"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1184"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1184\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenlist.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}