With yellowed or wilted leaves, many people often have to save overwatered plants without being prepared. The dried out appearance of the plants is deceptive and often leads to excessive watering, which could further worsen the situation. If one of your houseplants has started to wilt or has brown leaves, you shouldn't give up on your favorite plant right away. If the stems are still green and don't break and the roots aren't rotten, it gets a second chance. Follow the steps and tips below to get your houseplants thriving again!
Awaken new hope with proper plant care and save overwatered plants
When gardening at home, loving plant care can sometimes be too much, especially for delicate plant varieties. Many inexperienced amateur gardeners try to repair wilted houseplants with even more water, which is actuallylead to their premature deathcan. Additionally, it is important to look out for signs such as yellowing and overly waterlogged potting soil to halt the process. These are the first steps you should take in the rescue operation. However, if your houseplant has started to show wilted stems and leaves, the task may require more effort.
Additionally, excessive watering can cause plant diseases such as root rot. Since the root cells need oxygen to survive, constant watering prevents them from doing so. Furthermore, mold spores or bacteria can spread quickly and cause fungal infections, but you will recognize them by strange smells and take the necessary measures. If the roots are dying, you should ensure that they supply the plant leaves with enough water. Unfortunately, the symptoms of drought stress are identical, which is why you should check the potting soil for moisture. Otherwise, you can save overwatered plants by taking a step-by-step approach using the following advice.
Remove the houseplant and inspect its roots
If you can determine that overwatering is the main cause of the existing problem, you need to act quickly. However, there is a risk that your plant may not be able to recover, but there is no harm in trying. Prepare your work area by using newspaper or a baking sheet. However, you can also use absorbent cloths to keep the area dry. Then pull the entire plant out of the pot and place it on the newspaper. Allow the plant to dry overnight with the roots completely on the paper or cloth so that they absorb the moisture.
As a crucial next step, repotting in such cases can do wonders for a wilting flower or houseplant. If the rhizome is mostly rotten, you can cut some leaves off the plant to relieve pressure on the root. Feeding with new potting soil and placing it in a new and wider pot to allow the roots to grow freely are the next steps that can save overwatered plants.
Add nutrient-rich potting soil and save overwatered plants
Staying in the same potting soil for a long time can lead to nutrient deficiencies, with the soil tending to retain too much moisture. Take the next rescue measure by removing as much old potting soil as possible without damaging the roots. Adding fresh and nutrient-rich soil allows water to drain freely and retains just enough moisture to meet the plant's needs. Then use clean scissors to trim off any roots that are slimy or darkened. Otherwise, such roots will begin to rot and will not recover. Now you can next repot your houseplant.
When repotting you can also get one at the flower marketadd purchased or homemade fertilizerto enrich the potting soil with the necessary nutrients. However, do not use more than one product when doing this to avoid overdosing and causing the opposite effect by killing your sick flower instead of reviving it. Remember that the healing process is slow and requires patience on your part. Also try to use bagged potting soil rather than garden soil for potted plants.
Use clean pots and allow houseplants to recover
It is important to use well-cleaned containers when repotting the plant. Additionally, you can also layer small stones at the bottom before adding potting soil. This can be a smart preventative measure to prevent water from building up. In addition, the root balls need approximately 2.5 cm of space at the edges to recover. Also use pots with drainage or drainage holes. Place the plant in the potting soil and spread the roots as widely as possible throughout the pot. The soil line on the plant stem should be about 1 inch below the edge of the pot. Add more potting soil to the edges and do not bury the plant too deeply.
Recovery time is also a crucial factor if you want to save overwatered plants. In such cases, indoor plants will usually recover in one to two weeks by following the steps described above. However, if your plant has major damage, this may take even more time. What matters is that there are enough healthy roots so that you can meet the mentioned recovery time. After you're done repotting, you should continue with light watering and allow the potting mix to dry before watering again. Avoid making the same mistake again to avoid overwatering the plant.
