The Secret to Saving Your Overwatered Plant

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

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[@DonMoretalk]

I really enjoyed the part, where you repotted the plant "live". Nice to see what struggles can come up and that even the best of us can do mistakes :)

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ellaleela]

I’ve just been through this with my monstera. The roots were literally falling off when I took it out the pot to see what was going on. Whoops. Happy to report that since repotting with your compost/perlite mix the four previously black stumps are now sprouting new leaves. Lesson learnt!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great stuff 👍

[@bones5785]

I removed mine from the pot and planted it into a big pot with dry soil to soak the excess water. Once the soil felt more normal in moisture, I checked the roots for rot then just replaced it in its pot. I now keep a big pot with dry potting soil for over watering emergencies.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Good save!

[@JermaineJagger]

The similar side effects of overwatering and underwatering are SO confusing 😢 I thoroughly watered my plants before going on a 4 day trip and can home to my monsterra having a leaf with a yellow edge 😭 cant tell if shes under or overwatered! But watered her & sat her in more direct sun without her cover pot to hopefully help. Thanks for this helpful video!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

It shouldn't be suffering from overwatering after 1 deep watering so maybe it's something else. My monstera was developing yellow leaves and it was because it was pot bound

[@JermaineJagger]

@@SheffieldMadePlants Ahhh good to know!! it had been growing swiftly but hoping i dont have to up its pot already haha also noticed some fungus gnats once home too 😭 so hoping it peps back up with its jacket(cover pot)off for a day and those grower pot holes exposed 🤞🏾

[@vaderladyl]

Yes keeping fans on all around the house helps to move the air around the spaces and does help to keep moisture from accumulating and avoids mildew and mold growth in the house and the plants.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

👍👍👍

[@faithcomesbyhearing724]

Can't wait to see how nice it looks after taking soggy roots off. I'm careful not to over water my zz and snake plants and succulents. Have a blessed day.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

It's looking better already!

[@maryperrysmith5815]

Morning it’s 5:01 here in America Indiana. My dog woke me up saw your video

[@pomroy65]

I’m in Indiana and my dog just woke me up too! 😂

[@maryperrysmith5815]

@@pomroy65. Hi I did go back to sleep about 5:30 woke up at about 8. Hope you did too. I’m in West Lafayette. Where are you ?? Richard is great plant teacher don’t you think. I’m having issues with my prayer plants.

[@pomroy65]

​@@maryperrysmith5815 i! I am in Indianapolis. I agree that Richard is a great plant teacher. I have trouble with my prayer plants too. I started using distilled water to water them. I hope that helps. They are tempermental

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks guys 👍

[@painetdldy]

@@pomroy65 I think using distilled water is a game-changer. Thanks Richard (I always hear 'Richard' in my head in Hyacinth Bucket's voice LOL)

[@melissajenkins9960]

In so many videos, people are using gloves and rubbing alchohol or hydrogen peroxide to wipe their scissors and spray the roots after cutting. It honestly makes me feel paranoid that I’m never doing enough when I cut off root rot. I noticed that you don’t use any of these things, just your hands and scissors and some of the soil was kept there when you repotted the plant. Does that work? Are other gardeners being a little over the top about handling the rot? I really appreciate your videos, you have helped ease my worries as a plant ‘parent’, and my spider plant is thriving (though I still make mistakes). It’s so nice to finally see progress and to feel more and more confident! Thank you!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I don't get too concerned with sterilising etc. I've not really had trouble before. If the plant dies then so be it.

[@melissajenkins9960]

@@SheffieldMadePlants that makes sense. Thank you for the reply!

[@pendlera2959]

Gloves are not so much about the plant. It's good to wear gloves if you do decide to use peroxide or rubbing alcohol because those chemicals can damage your skin.

[@_evangelina__]

Hi Richard, I get the best useful tips from your videos. They should be the part of a syllabus in horticulture related studies. You are so disciplined with your plants. Even the drunk uncle would get sober after a chat with you. 🪴🪴🎍🪷

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

😂 thank you.

[@Gkrissy]

Thanks for the symptoms in the video. Now I realize the surface fungus on my dracena is due to overwatering. I have a mini peace Lilly that maybe overwatered so I repotted and hopefully it bounces back.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

They're normally pretty robust and bounce back

[@kingjoekur]

I got this plant after seeing yours ! It’s fun and the pups are super easy to prop

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

👍👍👍

[@natasa378]

my syngonium started dying last winter the soil never got dry and its foliage was dying slowly but endlessly. PS it thrived in the same soil last summer. It suffered from root rot (althought I hadn't watered it for weeks). I separated the dead and health roots, put the healthy ones in water and guess what! It's coming back to life. 5 new leaves are here! ❤

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Awesome! Glad it's bouncing back

[@natasa378]

@@SheffieldMadePlants should I put it in soil after a while?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@natasa378 it can live in water if you want but it’s probably happier in soil

[@mariepatterson7804]

I tell everyone about you I’ve learned so much and people are impressed with my knowledge lol feel proud

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Excellent!

[@The-Man-From-Del-Monte]

Its funny seeing this and your comment about airflow and using a fan, as only today i noticed my plants have dried a lot more than they normally would over the last few days. Got a fan that oscillates up and down as well as left and right, so really moves the air about, and i was amazed at the difference this made to the moisture levels of my plants. I actually thought my moisture tester might be broke the drying was that unexpected.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great stuff 👍

[@victorb145]

Do you ever replace your moisture meter? Do you know of any recommendations that say how often it should be replaced? Just curious as mine is quite old. I'm thinking about at least getting another one to compare it to. It's the same as yours and seems to still work. But it is getting old and everything has a lifespan.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Can’t remember how it works to be honest. There’s no electrical parts or anything so I don’t think it would break down. I’ve had mine a few years now and seems fine

[@platinakuka]

Thanks for the new video! I've ordered two moisture meters, but unfortunately they don't work too well in my case. I think my soil mix is not even. I use orchid bark, soil, perlite, choir, compost and carbon mixture. The finger method shows it's moist, the devices show dryness 🙈 They work outdoor, in the flowerbeds well. 😅

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for watching 😁

[@jenc9333]

Sometimes I find that leaving the moisture meter in the pot for a couple minutes changes the reading. Kind of like the meter needs a moment to work accurately. I've had my meter give me an immediate reading of "damp" only to go all the way to "dry" after a couple minutes.

[@reclaimingminds2811]

Thank you for your work on this video. I have been charged with caring for my friend's plants and have overwatered a couple of them! Trouble is, they are too large to move and remedy as you have outlined here. Hopefully as it's only been two weeks they can recocer by reducing watering! ❤

[@dallassukerkin6878]

I have to say, tho' the indoor setting is obviously utterly different to the gardening programmes he used to present, that you remind me very much of Geoffrey Smith in the way you put across information in an easy to comprehend fashion.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Might be a tad before my time 😁

[@dallassukerkin6878]

@@SheffieldMadePlants :grins: Just a bit :) He was a very great influence on a lot of us working class lads developing an interest in helping our dads in the garden - the other gardening programmes weren't bad, don't get me wrong, but they were very targeted on middle-class-flower-gardeners rather than people trying to put a bit of extra food on the table.

[@kbm4409]

Awesome video thanks for repotting to show you sometime struggle as well. What is the difference between the compost you use and standard potting mix?

[@_evangelina__]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIu1qGh5fcmBoZo

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks! I'm not sure. It depends where you are I think. Potting soil should be ok

[@kbm4409]

@@SheffieldMadePlants i know in the video you mentioned potting soil being to dense even with the addition of perlite so I was just curious what type of compost you currently use and maybe I can find one similar.

[@painetdldy]

@@kbm4409 I also think that was a huge tip that just slid right by! 'topsoil' is too dense even with perlite?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@kbm4409 i use regular all purpose garden compost from my local garden centre

[@mfiin]

Great tips! God bless.

[@YoSpiff]

That was helpful. I have a Monstera with a jagged hole in a new leaf, similar to your money plant. Now I know what caused it. Thanks.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad it was helpful 👍

[@palowankhan330]

Could you either give some tips or make a video about saving a plant that has lost all of its leaves, but the roots are still alive? This is in the setting of overwatering and/or underwatering. thanks

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Will have a ponder

[@kaymau5268]

Glad to stumble upon your channel with tons of helpful videos for beginner plant hobbyist like myself. You got a new subscriber! One question, for how long should the soil stay wet after watering - 1, 3 days, 1 week? I notice in few of my plants that the soil stays wet around 10 in my moisture meter even after a week. Is this something to be worried about? Thanks!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I’d say around a week

[@JustHarperGray]

That root ball was way smaller after you were done. Too much soil can also cause root rot because soil isn’t drying out enough or taking too long to dry out between waterings.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I know, most of it rotted away. It's quite a big plant and the pot it was in was much too small. I'm being super careful to not water too often and it's doing better

[@macsan1234]

My new nursery plant leaves are limp and tips brown. Sign of over or under watering? Also what do i do? Do i repot !? Is it advisable as it is already now Lost its leavea?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Could be either and what you do depends on which one it is

[@user-3thworldcountry]

I just had this problem with my fucsia outside i had to cut it down .😢it survide a second year but killed it bc of stress and forgot i watered . I hope The other fucsia survives bc i changed the soil and is in bright light. Really praying😢

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Fingers crossed 🤞

[@tonysatchery5895]

I need some advice. 3 weeks ago I got a Raindrop Peperomia. I watered it that day, but not since, and the soil is still reading 10 on my moisture meter. Even at the surface. It’s in bright-indirect light, and I’m keeping the humidity at around 50%. There aren’t any signs of distress, the leaves are looking great, but I can’t figure out why and I’m wondering if I should repot with new better draining soil?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

3 weeks is a long time. Is it in a bright spot? Maybe see how it gets on for a while

[@tonysatchery5895]

@@SheffieldMadePlants yes, it’s in the brightest window I have, it even gets some direct sunlight for the first couple hours in the morning. I’ll keep watching it, I know your experiment with watering a plant every day for a month wasn’t enough to harm the roots, so I’ll be patient. Thanks!!

[@quietspacearts]

i found a quick 5min dunk in h202 absolutely helps kill of physillium root rot and saved plants by doing so then as you said fresh soil with clean hands etc

[@pinkyssj4]

In a 1:3 ratio with water, right? That's the ratio I use to fill fungus gnats on top soil

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Top tip 👍

[@quietspacearts]

@@pinkyssj4 yes never heard it to rid fungus gnats but defo that ratio for root rot it works a treat once you cut the dead or dying roots off, the plant will thank you for it

[@pinkyssj4]

Awesome, thanks!

[@MarisaAndChew]

How did you choose to upsize pot even though you have less roots? Doesn't that generally lead to root rot? I know you said the pups, but they had no fancy roots either. I am not judging just wondering what all went into that choice, examples, plant grows roots fast? Or only watering with water meter assistance? Thanks!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

It was probably too big looking back but the plant is quite large and was often tumbling over from the top heavy weight. So I decided to put in something bigger and watch my watering. Or maybe I hate the plant and want to see its demise 😅

[@MarisaAndChew]

@@SheffieldMadePlants both are fair options!

[@jackiewhitney5031]

@@SheffieldMadePlants Maybe give it away to a subscriber in your neck of the woods. The plant can't help it if you don't like it anymore. Wished I lived near you!

[@firozapatel9811]

My calathea plant roots come out bottom…Yday noticed why they look unhealthy ..changed pot and compost..thanks x

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

You bet!

[@shigily2340]

What's your opinion on Miracle-Gro Continuous Release All Purpose Plant Food instead of liquid plant food?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Nothing wrong with it at all

[@sickcat-nu4ci]

I got a ficus tineke thanks to your channel, so i had a question! My tineke has been growing i think happy and healthy since i got him home, but so far, both new leaves ive seen unfurl have got wrinkles and curling around the edges. Do you know how i can help my beloved ficus? Thank youu c:

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Curling leaves normally means lack of water. But if they are new maybe they’re just hardening off?

[@sickcat-nu4ci]

@@SheffieldMadePlants that may be it, I'll try to keep a better eye on my watering and observe how the next leaf comes out. I honestly wasn't sure if id get a reply or not, i really appreciate that, so thank you! C: keep making fantastic content, hope you're having a pleasant day.

[@HGnome]

Thanks so much for your great tips! Super helpful, really enjoying your channel. May I ask you to consider making a video about caring for a ficus ginseng? Ours is losing leaves.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@BIGBOY1996-pu5wz]

See my question is that I have a calathea Zebrina and most of the soil reads about a 3~4 on a moisture meter but just a small patch of the soil reads 6 on a moisture meter, I think I'm under watering it because a new leaf it shot out came out with brown crispy bits on it and it's definitely on due to humidity because the average humidity in my room is around 60%. I also don't think it's due to too much light either because I have it under a grow light. Not really sure what to do any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Might be chlorine in the tap water doing the damage. 3-4 on the meter isn't too dry. Could try changing the water or adding some conditioner?

[@BIGBOY1996-pu5wz]

@@SheffieldMadePlants I use deionised and distilled water for my calathea. I honestly have no clue why it's throwing a fuss my other calatheas have little to no brown edges on them, maybe my grow light is too strong or it's too close to it?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@BIGBOY1996-pu5wz could be. Experiment with having it further away

[@JJ-ec9lp]

The new pot is too big for that root system. The pot size is determined by the amount of roots, not size of the plant. If the plant is top heavy put it in a heavy cover pot

[@Alexf14]

I had done the same thing to a dying lipstick plant. I realized after a month that the bottom half of my pot was always wet even if the top was dry when I was checking with my finger. I thought that this may be a mistake cause it didn't have any roots to suck the water and the soil will start rotting or develop fungus. I repotted it to a much smaller pot so the roots can suck the water from everywhere.But I just saw you also filled the half pot with just soil. What do tou think about that? will these roots be able to suck the bottom water from the top?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

It should be fine. The water should wick up and roots will eventually start searching down towards the moisture

[@ruuddeckers3287]

Have you ever had this problem with the moisture meter? : Testing with my fingers the soil is wet. Testing with the moisture meter on multiple spots, it tells me it's dry, from top to bottom? Do you know the reason for this and what do you do when this happens? Thx!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I've not had that really. Is your mix super chunky? Could be air pockets.

[@erinspitfire]

what value does the moisture meter need to reach to know that it's time for watering? 🤔

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Anywhere in the dry zone is good

[@AmandaErrrrr]

lmaooo @ the drunk uncle. but omg your money plant :o Glad you made this video Richard. Question! When doing the finger test, I always hear "if the top inch or two is dry give it a drink" what if its a bigger pot, and the top is dry but theres still a good bit of moisture at the bottom according to the ol moisture meter? would you water or leave it be?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I'd leave it till the bottom is drier. That's where most of the roots will be. Top of the soil being dry is a good thing

[@Bonkpunktexe]

i dont think i have ever seen an overwatered chinese money plant, only underwatered and sunburnt ones. interesting to see tho, im just kinda surprised to see someone do it lol.

[@barbsdee3831]

I overwatered my snake plant (I’m new to keeping houseplants) and it rotted at the base but I was able to save one small group of leaves. Not realising I could have propagated the leaves I chucked out the parts that fell out of the pot! 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Ah well at least you know now.

[@campenelloyt2967]

Does the moisture meter work in leca/substrate

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

No needs to be soil

[@jackrice2770]

I've gotten into trouble with over-watering, in a sense, from putting a plastic pot with drainage holes into a decorative pot, instead of a saucer. I'm too damned lazy to take each plant to the sink to water it, and for some of my larger ones, that would be impractical anyway. I've got a Marantha on the critical list now, however, because it's in a plastic pot that's inside a decorative pot and I didn't make sure to empty that pot after watering. It wound up sitting in water for a day or two and that was enough to put it into a near death experience. Lesson learned. I just think it's easier to go with the pot/saucer combo, that way I can readily see that the saucer's full and empty it. Okay, so OCD isn't an issue for me. Oh yeah. Use a bloody moisture meter! I've tried using my finger, and it's just not a reliable gauge of moisture content, besides, my Fiddleleaf pot is about two feet tall, and my fingers aren't two feet long (that would be a sight!) so good ol' meter buddy tells me what's up at least a foot below the soil level. Thoughts and prayers needed for that poor abused Marantha.

[@LayllasLocker]

My monstera suffered from overwatering due to low light. >.< This May and June we had so much rain and with the trees outside there was just not enough light indoors. All I could do is move her outside and hope for the best.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Hope she bounces back 🤞

[@LayllasLocker]

@@SheffieldMadePlants tnx 😊

[@pinstripesuitandheels]

Hello Richard! I'm a recent subscriber from Belgium. I really love your channel and have changed so many bad plant parent habits thanks to you. I've got a question. I've been repotting my plants these last few weeks, but I've made the mistake of using dense soil from the shop around the corner. I've ordered perlite and compost to make my own airy potting soil. I will also be going down in pot size for a few plants, as I've noticed root rot due to too large a pot. For some of my plants this will the third repotting in two months! Will this cause them harm? Thank you!

[@irairod5160]

Not Richard, but still, a person with lots of experience: The wrong soil will be more detrimental, in the long run, than a repotting. Just be very, very gentle removing the too-dense soil from around the roots, and very careful settling the plant in its new pot. Wishing you great success!

[@pinstripesuitandheels]

@@irairod5160 thank you! If anything else, it'll be a good learning experience. You can't dabble in plants without destroying one or two.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Ira got it spot on 👍

[@irairod5160]

@@pinstripesuitandheels Live and Learn, right? The good thing is that plants are more forgiving than we give them credit for. When repotting this time, don't even tamp the soil down too much. Do press the soil at bottom of the container so it's firm, position the plant, add soil around the roots, and TAP the sides of the container so the substrate fills all the nooks and crannies. Keep adding little by little until it comes to a good height in the pot. In a day or too, examine the soil line and add more if necessary.

[@pinstripesuitandheels]

@@irairod5160 thanks again for the advice. I've repotted all my plants, but had to resort to non-clumping organic clay cat litter for better drainage, since my order of perlite never came through, and I can't find any perlite in the local garden centres.The litter pieces are quite large, and hard as a rock, and I immediately noticed the positive effect when watering my plants. No more water staying on top of the soil! Unfortunately, my Musa Dwarf Cavendish didn't make it, nor did my Fitonia Jolly Josan. My Ficus Pumila (creeping Ficus) had to be cut back to the stem, and my fern is looking a bit droopy. I also lost a couple of leaves on my Begonia, Monstera Deliciosa, and Scindapsus Epipremnum Aureum. I'm a bit sad now, and hope the rest of my plants will recover. Of course, I have an excuse to buy more plants now.

[@naveenkapoor8065]

I got same issue with my aglonema and I put it in 90% perlite and 10 % compost. Waiting for the results now

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Super airy!

[@naveenkapoor8065]

@@SheffieldMadePlants will this ratio work.

[@painetdldy]

@@naveenkapoor8065 experiment underway!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@naveenkapoor8065 seems very heavy in perlite. You probably want more compost for water and nutrient retention

[@naveenkapoor8065]

@@SheffieldMadePlants I eas waiting for you response and finally realized the same. I added compost and make it 80-20 (compost - perlite). Seems I learnt the mantra of gardening now

[@matytj5738]

I really do love your videos. So much common sense that sometimes we just need to hear from someone else..heheh

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad you liked it 😁

[@shawnahare4299]

Great video.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@MarisaAndChew]

You said I think "squelching" and I said "Richard you're gonna need to speak English" but then I remembered you're literally in the UK so it's my Canadian that has failed 🤣😭

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

You've got squelching in Canada right?

[@Natural.Tresses]

Can u use the same soil?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

If it's free of bugs then yes should be fine

[@sahandmahdavi6134]

Amazing man, amazing 🎉

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks!

[@sahandmahdavi6134]

@@SheffieldMadePlants sure!

[@annann-fn2zi]

What to do to overwatered rise plants on the ground

[@perthian]

What on mushy earth did that plant do to you to warrant the torture you put it through with cloggy soil and waterboarding? I can only imagine it's choices were the trash bin or a starring role in your next video 😂 great video thanks.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

😂 thanks

[@ariellebro]

This video is my 5,000 liked video!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Wow 😯

[@lukejakaria6449]

Have you ever considered iron deficiency? Iron deficiency could weaken cell walls and make them more susceptible to root-rot-causing fungi and bacteria. My Caladiums and Alocasias suffered from root-rot rather frequently and it all ends after I supplied chelated iron into my tap water, yes, even unconditioned tap water could do the roots no harm as long as their cell walls are sturdy enough.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I haven't but can see that being an issue. In this case I was watering too much. Not checking and just giving it more. I don't like the plant so maybe I was trying to subconsciously kill it 😅

[@pinstripesuitandheels]

@@SheffieldMadePlants maybe you should gift it to somebody. It's supposed to be good luck to the person you gift it to. If it doesn't spark joy, and all that...

[@jackiewhitney5031]

@@SheffieldMadePlants Use your plant meter, silly....ha,,,,,I'm playing with you, okay? How are all the plants doing after they were watered daily for a month?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@jackiewhitney5031 they’re all doing great. Even the croton!

[@jackrice2770]

"Impossible?" "No, impassable." - Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

[@JillWhitcomb1966]

I killed a Christmas cactus due to overwatering. Really, had no idea that I was caring for it too much, and killing it with kindness : (

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

It's an easy trap to fall into

[@casperinsight3524]

Interesting ... Plant roots and human teeth roots are similar although different 😉 Rotten roots should be cut off not bleached and cemented like the outdated proven ineffective and cancer causing " root canal " Oxygen therapy works wonders for teeth too 😎😘

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Good to know 👍

[@MrYarabandi]

Oh poor plant, chosen as a victim for us, the sake of newbie grower knowledge. Hope it is doing fine after all. I don't know why but I laughed my ass off so bad watching this video.

[@francissomadaly4043]

As previously discussed the wife was sneakily water my plants because she was feeling sorry for them. The compost is still top end of 'moist' after 4 weeks. Beginning to wonder if I need to change out the compost because it was pre-perlite epiphany and only has compost in it. Problem is that my pole is fixed into my pot so it's going to be more complicated because I can't just lift them out of the pots.🫢 some serios thinking needed 😂

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Sounds like it might be a worthwhile time investment 😁

[@francissomadaly4043]

Done it ✔️ Fingers crossed 🤞

[@francissomadaly4043]

Raaaar 24 hours after changing the soil, it's pushing out new growth