7 Signs You’re Overwatering Your Plants, and How to Fix It

What are the signs of an overwatered plant?

1. Soil is always wet to the touch
2. Leaves are yellowed
3. Leaves are brown or wilted
4. Soft, squishy stems
5. Root rot
6. There is stunted growth
7. There are pests around your plant

Have you ever unwittingly killed a plant by watering it too much or too often? It’s one of the most common problems when caring for a new plant. Figuring out a good watering routine can be tricky — from snake plants to fiddle-leaf figs, different houseplants will have different water needs.

There are different signs of overwatering plants that can crop up over time — being aware of possible symptoms can help you find your plant’s sweet spot.

Why Is Overwatering A Problem?

Your plant uses its roots to breathe and absorb nutrients, and gasses from its potting soil. When there is too much water, the roots are essentially suffocated, preventing them from absorbing these essentials for growth.

That’s why finding the right watering routine is important. Too much water can deprive your plant of nutrients just as much as underwatering can.

Here are seven signs of overwatering plants you should look out for, and how to fix them.

Soil Is Always Wet To The Touch

The most obvious sign of overwatering is if the soil is constantly wet. This means the soil is still retaining more than enough water — which is dangerous for your plant.

If your soil is moist from your last watering, hold off on replenishing your plant. Wait until at least the top 2 or 3 inches of the soil are completely dry before watering again. Also, check your planter. If it has no drainage holes, consider DIY-ing some, or replacing it with a planter with drainage holes. Doing so will prevent excess water from staying in the soil.

Leaves Are Yellowed

Yellowed leaves are usually caused by underwatering — but ironically, it can be a sign of overwatering as well. The colors of a plants’ leaves are influenced by the nutrition it gets. When a plant is overwatered, this supply is out of balance, hence the yellowed color.

If your plant is turning yellow, check its soil. If it seems overly moist, then it’s probably a sign that you need to reduce how often or how much you water it.

Leaves Are Brown Or Wilted

Likewise, overwatering may cause your plants’ leaves to turn brown and wilt. When your plant receives too much water, its cells become overloaded with water and burst. This creates brown spots on the surface.

However, browning and wilting are common signs of various plant problems. So the best way to differentiate overwatering versus other care issues is by checking the consistency of the leaves.

If the leaves feel dry and crisp to the touch, or the browning is concentrated around the edges of its leaves, it’s probably caused by too little water. On the other hand, if the leaves seem limp or squishy, or the spots are located in the middle of the leaves, then it’s most likely an overwatering problem.

Soft, Squishy Stems

Another way that oversaturated plant cells may show up on your plant is a soft, squishy stem. Your plant’s stem may look swollen and lose its firmness. This symptom plus yellowed or browning leaves are a sure sign that your plant is getting too much water.

Root Rot

Not only does overwatering affect the leaves and stem of your plant, but also its roots. When your plant’s pot is filled with water, it can slowly suffocate and oversaturate the roots. This limits its ability to breathe — eventually causing a fungal disease called root rot.

This condition causes plant roots to have a slimy consistency and grayish-brown color. Left alone, root rot will eventually cause your plant to wilt. If you notice your plant has root rot, it is best to remove it from its pot and cut off all dead and decaying roots. The plant should then be repotted in new, dry soil. Immediate treatment is important as it can spread the disease to nearby plants, particularly those it shares its planter with.

There Is Stunted Growth

You may notice that your plant seems to be growing slower than it should be. You may also see that its leaves fall off at an accelerated rate, and budding stems and leaves are not progressing. If so, this is a sure sign that you’re giving it too much water.

To help your plant grow better, you can try tipping out any excess water in the soil and leaving your plant be for the moment. When its soil is completely dry, water well and wait until the next dry period to water again.

There Are Pests Around Your Plant

Many plant pests like flies, mosquitos, and gnats love humid and damp environments. If you frequently notice these pests hanging around your plants, then it may be because you’re overwatering them.

Check if this is the case by checking the soil and roots. You can gently remove your plant from its pot and inspect its root system. If overwatered, your plant can feel mushy, or give off a sour smell due to waterborne bacteria and pest infestations.

How To Fix An Overwatered Plant

If you’re pretty sure your plant has fallen victim to overwatering, it may be salvageable. Most of these symptoms, if caught early enough, can be fixed quite easily.

The main thing to do is try to drain your plant container of excess water. Place it in an area with filtered sunlight and good airflow to encourage its soil to dry out faster. Transfer it to another planter (preferably with drainage holes) with new, dry soil if necessary. Remove soggy and damaged stems or roots.

Most importantly: hold off on watering your plants until the soil feels thoroughly dry in the future. If you do these early enough, your plant should make a recovery within a week or two.

Key Takeaway

Overwatering your plants is a common mistake most beginner plant parents make. Luckily it’s easily avoidable when you know the signs of overwatering a plant. Small and quick adjustments can then be made to save them and help them thrive in your landscape.

If you ever need help with taking care of your plants, reach out to Unbeleafable’s team today! We can answer any plant care questions you have and can help you build your perfect home garden. If you need new plants to replace those you’ve (accidentally) killed, check out our shop!