Every plant needs water and care to grow. But sometimes this water created problems for plants. Extra water in the root area invites many problems, especially in plants like pothos. Today you will learn how to save overwatered pothos as quickly as possible.
With a few simple methods, you can save your overwatered pothos.
You will also find a detailed section on how to water pothos to protect incorrect way. It is very important to learn how to water plants. Because no two pothos plants need the same amount of water every time.
You need to check many things before watering plants. All are listed in this article.
Let’s start
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Negative effects of overwatering and underwatering on Pothos?
Overwatered pothos develops brown leaves. These brown leaves are soft to the touch. The cause of the problem is extra water. When we give a large amount of water to plants. They use the required amount of water and leave the extra water in the soil. This extra water makes the soil wet and blocks the air pockets of the potting soil.
This reduces the air circulation in the roots and the roots of the plants start dying. This invites root rot disease.
Underwatering also causes problems in pothos. Without proper watering techniques, you cannot grow a healthy plant.
Pothos without sufficient water looks brown and wilted. The leaves are crispy to touch. The lack of water means the lack of moisture in plant leaves. When the plant uses the water stored in leaves for its survival and not water left in the plant. Then the leaves start turning brown.
What are the different signs of overwatered pothos?
Pothos start showing signs of overwatering in the early stage. You need to know about them to fix the issue. Below is the list, identify your cause and then follow our fixing techniques.
Root rot
Whenever you talk about overwatering you will hear a term called root rot. As the name suggests it is related to roots and is a rotting disease. Because the roots are the first part of the plant that gets in touch with the water.
Excess water makes the potting soil waterlogged and heavy. This blocks the circulation of fresh oxygen. But the roots need oxygen to breathe. They transport the oxygen to the different parts of the plant.
In the absence of oxygen, the plant starts dying. Therefore, if the soil is wet and the plant has yellow leaves. Then check the plat roots first.
Fungus on Soil
Soil fungus is the second common sign of overwatered pothos. In this condition, you will see fine powdery material on the soil surface. Fungi need high moisture to grow. This is the reason you see fungi on the lake shores and in rivers.
Soil fungus quickly spread over the plants then the root rot. The best solution is to change the soil and inspect the roots. If they are infected cut the infected part.
Brown spots on pothos leaves
Generally, brown spots are linked to many other common problems. But sometimes it is rarely caused by overwatering.
When plants absorb extra water than their requirements. Then the leaves of the plant start developing brown blisters. They are called brown spots on leaves.
So, if the brown blisters are present on the plant leaves. This means the plant is suffering from extra water.
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Yellow pothos leaves
Yellow pothos leaves are the second sign of overwatering after the root rot. Once the roots start to rot, they turn the old bottom leaves yellow in color.
Old leaves are an easy target for the root fungus to spread.
Again, the solution is to remove the infected leaves and inspect roots.
Wilting
Wilting pothos can be caused by both overwatering and underwatering. The only difference is we can revive the under-watered wilting pothos. But you cannot revive the overwatered wilting pothos.
In short, Wilting means your plant will die in 3 to 4 days if you will not fix the problem.
Wrinkled and curled leaves
When leaves develop brown spots, they start developing wrinkles. The blisters deformed the shape of plant leaves.
Not no doubt leaf curling is caused by many issues. Overwatering has also triggered leaf curling in pothos. When the plant leaves do not have enough water in them, the leaf edges start to curl downwards.
Loss of moisture in leaves is the cause of leaf curling.
How to save your overwatered pothos?
Below are the proven tips on how to save overwatered pothos:
Drain extra water
The first thing you need to find out is the percentage of plant damage. If the extra water in the root is the cause. Then drain the water first to save overwatered pothos. To drain water from the pot it must have a bottom draining hole.
Otherwise, you need to take out the plant and then drain the water.
Stop watering plant
Stop watering the pothos for several weeks to revive them. Do this only if the roots are not infected. Because once the roots get infected you need to take out the plant and cut the infected parts.
If the plant has healthy roots, then it can tolerate the high amount of water in the pot for few days. In these few days the water gets evaporated from the potting soil.
Note: Healthy roots mean high immunity.
Change the soil
Many articles suggest that turn the soil to save pothos from overwatering. But this is not true and it does not work. I followed this advice 9 months ago and my plant died due to fungus.
Then I discovered the best solution if the soil has fungus bacteria. Buy a new well-draining potting soil and use it in the pot. Do not use the same old potting soil. Do not mix it in your garden because the soil might contain harmful pathogens and other fungi bacteria.
Repotting pothos
Repotting is necessary if the roots are Heavily infected, plants have brown leave with spots on them. And it also shows weak and stunted growth.
In this condition take the plant out of the pot, and inspect the roots. Use a sharp sterilized knife to cut and remove the infected roots. At once you can remove 50% of the roots.
Then wash the old pot with soap and let it dry or use a clean cloth to dry it.
Then use fresh soil and plant the pothos in it. Use a spray bottle to mist water on the top surface of the soil.
After that remove the yellow leaves from the plant. This way you are helping the plant to save some energy. That it is wasting by supplying it to the yellow leaves. Then the pothos plant uses this energy to produce healthy leaves and flowers.
Best way to water pothos
Water from the bottom
Water your pothos from the bottom instead of the top watering. This way the roots absorb the required amount of water. And extra water drains fast and easily. This watering method saves plants from root rot.
All you need to do is fill the sink with water and then put the pot in it for 5 minutes. In the summer season, you may need to soak it for 10 minutes. Do not use this technique in winter. On cold days use a spray bottle to keep the soil moist and do not mist water on plant leaves. The mist is only on the soil (base of the plant.)
Quality of water
The quality of water decides the health and size of your plants. In most parts of the USA tap water is good for watering outdoor plants and grass. But this water is not good for potted plants. You have to use fresh drinkable water for watering pothos or your plant will die slowly.
Tap water may contain heavy minerals that are not required for growing plants. They start building up in the root area and block the nutrient absorption.
Due to the lack of nutrients, the plants stop growing and start dying. In this condition flush the soil ad change the water.
Your plant will become healthy in few days but the yellow will not turn green.
You’re your tap water only when you are sure it is safe and tested for watering pothos.
