Excess moisture, also known as moisture stress, can be caused by inadequate water drainage or a pot without any holes. A few things that encourage the growth of fungus include dense soil, a lack of drainage holes, and the wrong pot size. There are beautiful pots with no drainage holes in some homes.
To dry out soil quickly, you can apply hydrated lime to the soil, add compost and then turn the soil thoroughly to aerate it. Adding hydrated lime and compost will help absorb the water in your soil, and turning it all will help distribute the water in the waterlogged soil throughout your garden.
Soil not drying out is usually a sign that drainage or evaporation is insufficient, or water use by your plant is reduced. Increase light, ventilation, and temperature to increase evaporation and water use by your plants. Make sure the soil drains thoroughly and the container has drainage holes.
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.
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.
Adding lots of organic matter such as compost, farm manure, or shredded leaves to clayey soil will allow it to drain more easily and hold the right amounts of water and air for better plant growth and increased biological activity.
A great option is to place your pot in a bowl or container of water where the water comes halfway up the pot. Then water your potting mix from the top, leave this for a while and then repeat. If you do this several times you should notice the soil absorbing water.
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).
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. The soil should then feel damp, which is also a sign of its darker hue, which often persists for more than 24 hours.
If the soil clings to your fingers and feels moist to touch, don't water. If, soil falls loosely off your fingers and is dry to the touch, then water.
Effects of Planting in Wet Soil Conditions
This decreases the soil's ability to drain well and reduces the amount of oxygen available to the plant's roots. Additionally, compacted soil is heavier and harder for the plant's roots to penetrate. This limits the amount of nutrients the plant can reach.
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.
It Grows Mold
Mold is another sure sign that your potting soil has gone bad. Mold usually grows on the surface of the potting soil and can be white, gray, yellow, or green. It can also be fuzzy or have a slimy texture. Mold will often form if the potting soil is too moist or has been wet for too long.
You should always check the state of your soil before tilling. Avoid tilling in wet soil as soil compaction can occur and lead to poor root penetration in the growing season. If it rains, it's best to wait a few days to allow soil to become semi-dry.
Root rot can be identified by the presence of soft, brown roots. The root system of a healthy plant should be firm and white. But when soil is soggy, fungal spores multiply and the fungus starts to spread3, developing in the extremities of the roots first.
Adding Ground Limestone and Fertilizer to Soil and Soilless Potting Media. Small amounts of ground limestone and fertilizer will need to be added to the media. These ingredients can be blended together in a separate container and then added to the bushel basket.
Heavy clay soils: Clay soils have very small particles that compact easily, making it difficult for water to flow through them. Did you know: Clay soil is very common around North Texas! Lack of organic matter: Soils that are low in organic matter have a lower capacity to absorb water, resulting in poor drainage.
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.
There is never a guarantee that your plant can bounce back from overwatering. If your plant is going to survive, you will see results within a week or so. At this point, you can move your plant back to its original location and resume watering it as normal.
When plants have too little water, leaves turn brown and wilt. This also occurs when plants have too much water. The biggest difference between the two is that 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.
Remove about one-third or more of the old potting mix surrounding the plant's roots. As it grew, your plant removed some or all of the nutrients in the current mix, so you'll want to give it fresh potting mix or soil. Pour a layer of fresh potting soil into the empty planter and pack it down, removing any air pockets.
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.