5 Signs Your Plant Has Root Rot—And How to Prevent It

Whether you’re trying to grow a fern or a fiddle leaf fig, one common challenge plants face is root rot. Root rot can affect all plants, whether they’re indoor or outdoor. But if you’re a new plant parent, you might not be sure if your plant is suffering from root rot or if there’s another reason why it isn’t growing or blooming quite the way you anticipated. The good news is that while root rot is common, it is also preventable.

Here are five signs your house plant has root rot, and how to prevent root rot in the first place.

What Is Root Rot?

As the name implies, root rot is literally when your house plant’s roots start to decay due to pathogens in the soil. Oftentimes, this results from overly wet soil that does not have an opportunity to dry out between waterings.

Signs of Root Rot

Discolored Leaves 

According to Courtney Sixx, founder of Boquet Box, discolored leaves are a major and easy-to-spot sign your plant could have root rot. “The outward signs could be yellow or palish-looking leaves or the leaves becoming wilted.”

So, if something simply doesn’t look right with your plant’s leaves, it’s a clear indication it’s time to check your plant’s roots. 

Lack of Growth

Do you think you’re doing everything right but your plant just isn’t growing? Is the plant supposed to flower and you’re wondering why it isn’t? Sixx tells me this isn’t just a sign of root rot, but also that your plant is dying. So, you may need to do some serious triage. 

Mushy Stems

Kaylyn Hewitt, lead floral designer and senior content manager for The Boqus, tells me another indicator of root rot is mushy or discolored stems. “Check your stems periodically (more in the colder months) to make sure there are not any early signs of root rot,”

Brown, Moldy Roots

If the roots look like they’re moldy and rotting, they probably are. “This is probably the most important and obvious sign of root rot—brown moldy roots. Root rot will turn roots into mush and the soil will likely be soggy,” reveals Hewitt. 

Wet Soil

Does your soil never seem to dry out? If this occurs along with any of the above issues, watch out for the roots. “Waterlogged soil can cause fungi to grow, which can attach itself to roots,” explains Sixx. 

How To Prevent Root Rot

One easy way to prevent root rot in potted plants is to make sure the pot has large enough holes to drain the water. If the holes look a little small or there aren’t enough, it is probably a good idea to change out the pot for one that can better meet your plant’s drainage needs. 

Sixx also tells me that overcrowding your plants can cause root rot. “Overcrowded plants can succumb to the fungi, not allowing enough room and drainage to the plant,” she explains. Be sure to give your plants enough space apart when planting the seeds. 

In addition to this, both experts advise reading and familiarizing yourself with the plant care instructions for your particular plant to make sure you are not over- or under-watering. “This timeline can differ depending on the season,” notes Hewitt. “Warmer months tend to require more frequent watering schedules while cooler months can tolerate less frequent schedules.”

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that different plants, especially if they are planted near each other, can have different watering needs. “If you have a heavy watering hand, that will cause root rot, because oftentimes the plant needs drying out between watering,” says Sixx. 

Lastly, Sixx recommends cleaning and disinfecting your gardening tools, so as not to transfer fungi from one plant to another.