It isn’t easy to get the timing and amount of water right. Wrong schedules make your plant suffer from overwater and underwater distress.
If you want to get your watering assignment right, continue reading the article.
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Signs of Under Watered and Overwatered Plants
Your plants will most likely to suffer watering complications if they lack diligent watering habits and care.
Being plant parents, we tend to overwhelm our plants, which often leads to excess watering.
Plant exhibit signs of under-watering once the water level drops. But, the symptoms of over or under-watering could be deceiving.
To simplify, here is a list of over and under-watered symptoms.
| Signs of Overwatering | Signs of Underwatering |
|---|---|
| Wet soggy soil | Dry and crusty soil |
| Yellow to brown leaves | Droopy wilted leaves |
| Unpleasant smell from the root | Immature blossom drop |
| Mushy rotted roots | Tiny and weak leaf growth |
| Decaying plant's crown | Faded pale color of leaves. |
| Leaf edema | Limpy curled leaf at early stage |
| Fungal and pest infestation | Paper thin leaves with brown tip |
| Plant growth is stunted | Slower growth of entire plant |
How to Fix Watering Issues (Overwatered Vs. Under Watered Plants)
You can fix the watering problem in a plants with suitable treatment measures as they can’t revive on their own.
Regardless of your efforts, plants on the verge of death may not revive.
So, it is obligatory to start fixing the issue as soon as you identify the symptoms.
Fixing Under Watered Plants
The only thing your underwater plant long for is rehydration.
It would help if you moved your plants to humid areas such as the kitchen or bathroom. It eases the process and prevents further damage.
After relocating, follow these steps to hydrate your water-deprived greens.
- Let your plant sip on as much water as possible using the bottom watering approach.
- Avoid using too hot or too cold water as it might induce temperature shock in the plant.
- You could also run water over the plant pot till the water begins oozing out from the drain holes.
- If possible, mix perlite or coco coir to enhance the soil’s porosity and aeration.
Besides water, you should prune the dead foliage and damaged blossom to speed up the revival.
Fixing Overwatered Plant
Many plants, like the ZZ plant, Snake plant, Jade, and Spider plant, can go for a week without water.
Despite this, overwatering still takes more toll on a plant’s root zone, as it is a more common problem among gardeners.
The soggy rotten roots fail to supply sufficient nutrients to your plant.
Here are the quick steps to help your overwatered plants.
- Immediately cut off the watering and inspect the root for rotten roots.
- Trim off all rotted and decaying parts of the root which appear brown, soggy, and foul smelling.
- Run lukewarm water over the healthy roots to clean off all toxic soils.
- Spray the roots with hydrogen peroxide to prevent and kill potential pathogens.
- Consider repotting the plant in a clean pot with some well-draining potting mix. Terracotta or ceramic pots with few drain holes at the bottom are ideal.
- While using the same pot, make sure to sterilize them with chlorine bleach.
- Place the plant in a bright, humid, air-ventilated place with gentle warmth.
Your plant could take about two to three weeks to rejuvenate toward its healthy and happy state.
However, the roots take longer to revive if your plant is severely damaged.
How to Prevent Watering Issues (Overwatered Vs. Under Watered Plants)
Watering issues lead to severe consequences for the plant in later stages. It is better to opt for preventive measures rather than feel sorry later.
Now here are some tips to prevent inundating or starving your plants.
- Every plant requires a different amount of water. Cacti and succulents are less watered than other woody plants.
- Create an optimal and dynamic watering schedule that fits with plants watering needs.
- Increase watering frequency during summer while reducing it in the winter season.
- Use terracotta pots to ensure quick drain-off.
- Allow the top few inches of soil to dry before watering plants. Perform a soil moisture test using a hygrometer or use a chopstick.
Wrapping up…
Many plants share similar signs of improper watering.
Don’t worry if you sometimes mess up watering your plants. But act upon it as quickly as possible.
Try adopting a flexible watering schedule to tackle your plants’ water needs.
