Saving Overwatered Plants
Plants that have been over watered often have similar signs to plants that have been underwatered. An over watered plant will be droopy, wilty looking, with leaves hanging as if weighed down. Why does the over watered plant begin to hang down and become droopy looking? The roots of the plant are drowning; unable to breathe the air that they need to support the plant. The roots become weak and start to rot.

Posted Thursday, April 6, 2006

When the soil or the compost has become too wet or saturated, the leaves of the plant will become limp. Disease can over take a plant quickly when it is in this vulnerable state. The lower portions of the plant are the first to become infected, so you might have to cut a few leaves off if you find this happening to your plant.

For the plant that has become too wet and moist, take the plant and soil out of the container in which it was sitting. Hold the plant firmly in your hand so it will not break or be damaged while you are working with it. A plant with lots of roots will retain the shape of the container when you first pull it out. The next step is fairly easy, you are going to take a few paper towels and set the plant on them. Allow some of the excess water to drain out of the soil and into the paper towel. Pat down the soil to bring more water out. Check the roots for fungus, bacteria or worms that may be taking over in the soil.

Leave this over watered plant to sit out on a few fresh paper towels over night. Excess water will continue to drain out of the soil and the roots will have a better chance of getting the air that it needs for reviving itself. After a day, or at least twelve hours, you can put the plant back into the container. Add a little fresh soil if need be around the edges and the top of the plant. Allow the plant to dry out normally before watering once again.