Check your pot for proper drainage and, if possible, create additional air space around the roots. This will allow oxygen to reach the root zone. Remove any dead or dying roots and keep only the roots that are healthy. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch, but do not let it get too dry.
The good news is that most plants will bounce back between 7-14 days if they're given proper care (which includes rehydration). If this isn't possible because major damage was done or little healthy root system exists then expect about 2 weeks until improvement can be seen.
To dry out soil quickly, you can apply hydrated lime to the soil, add compost and then turn the soil thoroughly to aerate it.
Cut off brown and dry leaves and stems first. If you trimmed off a lot of the root system, you'll also need to prune away some of the healthy part of the plant. Begin trimming at the top and remove enough leaves and stems so that the plant is no more than twice the size of its root system.
When you overwater your plant, there are several ways to rescue it. Overwatering doesn't always have to mean that your plant dies. You can let the soil dry, repot your plant in soil or leca, or propagate your plant to not have to give up on your plant and let it die.
1. If a plant is overwatered, it will likely develop yellow or brown limp, droopy leaves as opposed to dry, crispy leaves (which are a sign of too little water). Wilting leaves combined with wet soil usually mean that root rot has set in and the roots can no longer absorb water.
Using a hairdryer directly on the soil is an easy way of removing that excess moisture easily. However, there are some things to take into consideration when doing so. When directed at the soil the dryer will only remove the moisture from the surface having the rest of the soil wet.
Look out for signs of overwatering – including a limp plant, yellowing leaves, or dropping leaves. If you see these signs, test the soil with your fingers. It should be pretty obvious if it's soggy! Stop watering and let the soil dry out.
It may take an hour or more to thoroughly re-wet the soil. Be careful not to leave pots soaking in standing water continuously. Check them after an hour or two and remove them when they are hydrated.
Signs of root rot are slow growth, mushy stems, and wilting, yellow, distorted leaves (especially when the plant has been well watered, as wilting leaves can also be a sign of a dry plant).
To revive the plant, you can soak it in water and then adopt a predictable watering schedule that uses the same amount of water each time.
A wilted plant can recover in a few weeks with the right care and attention to address the root cause of wilting. It is worth noting, however, that not every wilted plant has the stored energy to make a full recovery, and some plants can take months to look as they did originally.
Leaves begin to wilt and turn yellow or fall off, growth slows, and blooming may be delayed. In the most extreme cases, when conditions are ideal for the fungus to spread quickly, plants can die within 10 days.
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Grab a handful of your garden soil. If you can form it into a ball, the soil is too wet for planting. (Chances are the seeds will rot.) If it crumbles through your fingers, it's ready for planting.
Air drying
This is super easy with no special equipment required, just select good quality flower stems and strip off the lower leaves. Tie with a rubber band and hang upside down in a place with low light levels and good ventilation. They should be ready in a week or two.
One of the quickest, first signs of overwatering your plants is to observe occurs at the tip of the leaf. If the tip of the leaf is turning brown this is a sign of overwatering. Too little water will result in your plant's leaves feeling dry and crispy to the touch while too much water results in soft and limp leaves.
If overwatering is the issue, the roots will look dark and feel mushy to the touch. The plant's soil may also give off a sour, funky smell, due to water-loving bacteria forming around those roots.
Yellow Leaves + Fading to Green + or Bright Yellow =
These symptoms together mean that your plant is overwatered. Usually lower leaves drop first, although the whole plant may be affected. The solution = repot (to remove soaked soil) and water less, or let soil dry out and water less.
If your plant has been overwatered due to the lack of drainage holes, you should repot your plant as soon as possible.
Ensure that the plant needs watering. Stick an index finger 1 or 2 inches into the plant's soil. If it feels dry, the plant needs water. If the soil feels moist, another problem is causing the wilting, such as over-watering, too much wind, very bright sunlight, pests or disease.
Yellowing or Wilting Leaves
Discolored or drooping leaves is often an indication of a dead plant. "When plants are in stress, leaves fall off because the plant is losing moisture and trying to protect itself," explains Kip McConnell, director of Plant Development Services, Inc.