I'm struggling with a bad case of root rot in my plants and can't figure out why! No matter what I try, it seems every plant I have eventually succumbs to this issue. I've been experimenting with different watering methods, and they all seem to lead to rot! Here's what I've been doing:
1. **Bottom watering**: I put all my plants in a bucket of water for 30 minutes to an hour when the soil is bone dry. I always thought this would be effective, but it's leading to issues.
2. **Self-watering pots**: These have a reservoir at the bottom that I'm supposed to refill when the soil dries out. However, every plant in these pots still ended up with root rot.
3. **Terracotta spike**: I use a small glass bottle to slowly water larger plants. So far, I haven't seen any rot, but I'm concerned it might happen eventually.
4. **Top watering**: I find this method really inconvenient. I water until excess drips out the bottom, but I keep getting gnats and root rot from this method.
I'm really frustrated to lose so many plants, including my monsteras and pothos—plants I thought would be easier to care for! Despite only watering when the soil feels completely dry, I still keep running into rot. I've tried clipping and repotting, but it just keeps coming back. Can anyone share some advice on how to stop this cycle?
3 Answers
Have you tried using a moisture meter? I used to rely on the finger test too, but sometimes the soil feels dry and still isn't. A moisture meter can help you know when to water more accurately. I usually check mine once a week, and it's been a game changer—no more root rot for me! Also, I always top water but never empty the tray unless it overflows. Letting it soak back up seems to work just fine for me.
Could it be your potting mix? If your soil retains too much moisture, even with proper watering habits, root rot could still happen. Try mixing in perlite or something that helps with drainage. Also, when top watering, make sure there’s no standing water left in the tray—any excess should dry out rather than just settle there. For bottom watering, maybe stick to around 10 minutes instead. Soaking for too long can also lead to issues if it stays too saturated after watering.
It sounds like your watering methods are mostly good, so I would look at the type of soil and pot size. Make sure your pots aren't more than a couple of inches wider than the root ball. And it could help to add more perlite or orchid bark for better drainage. Sometimes if plants dry out too much between waterings, their roots can die off and lead to rot when you water them again. It's a tricky balance, but worth checking out.
I agree! I use a mix of 1/3 potting soil, 1/3 perlite, and 1/3 orchid bark for my plants, and they've thrived. Chunky soil really helps!
I hadn’t thought about the potting mix! I'll try amending it and definitely check the watering times!