Not everyone has a green thumb. I certainly don’t. I thought that watering your plant everyday would keep them alive, not kill them. My husband is a farmer and knows a lot about plants, naturally. I was surprised when he told me to stop watering my watermelon seeds everyday. The good news is that I’m not the only one that thinks watering is the cure all for a dying plant. If your plant is dying, your watering it could be the problem. Here are 3 important signs that you are overwatering your plants.
Wilting
Yes, plants wilt when they are too dry. So what do we do? Dump more water on them. What if the soil is wet and the plant is still wilting? This is a tell tale sign that we are overwatering a plant. Plants can drown and if we put more water on the plant every time it’s wilting, it has more water than it knows what to do with. Look for wet soil and a wilting plant and you’ll know the problem is too much water. Keep an eye out for brown leaves as well. You’d think that plenty of water would make the plant green and lush, not always. Lots of water will cause the plant to slowly die and turn the leaves brown.
Falling Leaves
A plant that is overwatered tends to have a lot of leaves that fall off because it is not healthy. The leaves that fall off are usually yellow or brown. Look at your plant and see if it seems to be shedding more leaves than it’s growing. If that’s the case, you are probably overwatering.
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Edema
Edema is another word for swelling. This can happen to people too. A plant that is getting too much water will swell to the point of cell rupture. When a cell ruptures on a plant it causes lesions or scarring. Look carefully at your plant for any signs of injury. They might look like little blisters or bubbles on the plants stem or leaves. They can be dark or light. It might look like scar tissue on your plant. This is a very good sign that you’re overwatering your plant.
Root Rot
Root rot is a disease that plants get. It can be spread to other plants so you need to be very careful that your other plants don’t get it. Roots that are being overwatered stay in water for a long time and begin to develop fungus. This fungus causes the roots to turn grey and slimy. The roots need to dry out and breathe to try to cure the plant of root rot. When a plant gets root rot, it begins to die and have many of the symptoms listed above.
Summing Up
Overwatering could be the reason you’re not having success with your plants. Do not despair. It’s not too late to save your plants. Water your plant when the soil gets dry and let the plant get some air once in awhile. The plant’s soil doesn’t always have to be wet. Look for these 4 important signs that you are overwatering your plants and you’ll be able to give your plants new life.
Image Source: Pixabay
