The main ways to make soil dry faster are to increase light, heat, and ventilation for your plant, ensure the soil and pot are draining well, and choose an appropriately sized pot for your plant. Consider moving to a pot made of a porous material such as terracotta, and make sure to drain the pot well after watering.
Hydrophobic soil occurs when a waxy residue builds up on the soil particles resulting in it repelling water rather than absorbing it. It is most common in sandy soils, dried out potting mix and soils containing unrotted organic matter. You can identify hydrophobic soil by watering it.
You can get waterlogged or overwatered soil to dry out by either repotting the plant or creating an environment that encourages the plant to lose water through evaporation. You could also try relocating the plant to an area that receives more sunlight or has better ventilation overall.
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).
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.
Most plants benefit from drying out completely between waterings; some moisture-loving plants like ferns can be watered again when the soil is mostly dry. Step 2: If the soil is dry, fill a watering can or vessel with room temperature water.
One of the most frequent issues plant owners have is overwatering. After watering, the soil around the plant should remain moist for a while to allow the plant to receive the nutrients and water it needs. 2 to 4 hours after watering, the soil should still be moist.
Just wait until the soil is dry and slightly firm, then work in repotting your plant or addressing the other issues caused by overwatering.
The planter is too small — or too big
Alternately, if the plant is staying wet for a long time, that's a sign the pot is too big and you should downsize. Using an oversized container will prevent the soil from drying out properly between waterings, which will lead to root rot.
Problems with muddy garden soil include poor water drainage, reduced aeration, and low oxygen levels.
The most common remedy for problem soils, whether the problem is soggy clay soils or dry sandy soils, is to add organic matter in the form of compost. Not only does compost help diminish soggy problems, but it also adds a host of other benefits to make your garden healthier and more productive!
Make a ball of soil and drop it. If the ball crumbles, your garden is ready for seeds. If it holds its shape or breaks into two clumps, it's still too wet for planting. You can also step into the garden and then step back and look at the footprint you've left in the soil.
Plus, a damp root ball will be easier to work with than a dry one. You'll need a new pot that's 1 to 2 inches larger in diameter than the plant's root ball. Going too much larger just wastes potting mix and can throw off the proportions of the plant to the container.
When a plant is first becoming overwatered, leaves turn yellow. If soil doesn't have a chance to dry out before you water again, leaves start to wilt. When overwatering is the problem, wilted leaves are soft and limp. (If too little water is the issue, wilted leaves are dry and crispy.)
Your letting the soil get too dry. The surface tension if water will hold it together on top of the soil because there is no moisture in the soil to break into the surface tension if the water you've just added. Just wait a few minutes and it'll soak in but really you should water a little and often.
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.
In the most extreme cases, when conditions are ideal for the fungus to spread quickly, plants can die within 10 days. If these symptoms occur in a plant, loosen the soil around the base of the plant with a hand trowel or shovel and remove the plant from the soil.
You will need to take the appropriate steps to treat the root rot to give your plant a second chance. Unfortunately, if the root rot is left for too long and there are no remaining healthy roots, your plant can't recover.
Hydrogen peroxide can help to control fungal growth and fungal infection, such as root rot, by preventing the growth of fungi. It can also help kill fungus and bacteria on plant roots.