I'm in zone 8a and have a situation with three house plants I'm worried about. The weather's been odd lately, and my plants just can't seem to dry out. They're in consistently wet soil due to unusual rainfall, and unfortunately, I've already lost three plants to root rot. I have a San Pedro cactus, an unidentified cactus that looks like a prickly pear, and a red dracaena marginata, all of which have been sitting in wet soil for weeks. They seem fine for now, but I'm anxious since it looks like it's going to rain every day next week. I read that I shouldn't repot when the soil is wet, but it feels impossible to get them to dry out, even with direct sunlight for eight hours a day. What can I do to save them before I bring them back inside?
2 Answers
If it's too wet outside, seriously consider bringing them in. I know your house might not get much light, but even a little can make a difference. Just make sure they’re not sitting in water inside either!
I totally get your concern! I'm in 8a too, and I've faced similar issues where even my tomatoes are tasting watery! If I were you, I'd go ahead and repot them. Grab some good potting soil and take your plants out to check for any root rot. Use clean scissors to snip away any damaged roots, and try to aerate the wet parts of the soil with something like chopsticks. When you replant, aim for damp soil rather than soaking wet. You got this!
Just a heads up, be careful with too much direct sunlight if it’s more than they usually get. Don’t want them to get sunburned, you know? I believe in you!
When you think about repotting while wet, just imagine wet feet in wet boots. It's better to get them dry before putting them back into proper pots!
I keep hearing that repotting while soggy can make things worse, which seems counterintuitive.