If your soil is constantly wet, there won't be enough air pockets for your plants and the roots will not be able to breathe properly. This can cause your roots to rot and, therefore, your plant will suffer. Some symptoms of overwatered plants include dropping leaves, both new and old, at the same time.
You may be overwatering. Make sure your container has adequate drainage and then cut back on watering. Use pruning snips to trim away dying foliage. Yellow leaves can also mean the plant is rootbound and needs to be moved to a bigger pot with drainage holes.
Poor Drainage
No matter what kind of indoor plant you grow, drainage holes are essential. A container or pot with inadequate drainage or no holes is bad for the health of the plant. Wet soil is most frequently caused by pots without any holes in them. If you are cultivating aquatic plants at home, moist soil is best.
Add Organic Material
Aside from adding fertility, organic material is also great for breaking up heavy dense soils. By mixing and bonding with soil particles it allows for more air space and drainage. As a side note adding organic material can also help dry soils hold moisture.
Wet soil can mean the death of many landscape plants — due not only to excess water but also to lack of oxygen. Plants that can't tolerate such conditions usually die of suffocation. Improving drainage in the area is always a plus; consider installing a French drain, a wet-weather bed or raised beds.
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).
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.
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.
House plants can recover from overwatering pretty quickly if given: bright light, preferably from a grow light so it won't burn. High humidity. warm temperatures.
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.
Just wait until the soil is dry and slightly firm, then work in repotting your plant or addressing the other issues caused by overwatering.
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.
Yellow leaves, mushy or loose bark on the plant stems and molds that appear on the top of the soil are also indicators of overwatering.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Just dip your index finger into the soil near the stem of your plant up to about your first knuckle. If the soil feels dry, and your finger comes out clean, then it's probably time for some water.
Only water the plants when the soil is dry 1-inch (2.5 cm) down. Tiny plant roots need time to absorb the water in the soil and they also need air. By allowing the soil time to dry out on top the roots will have time to absorb most of the moisture in the soil. Water plants deeply to encourage deep root growth.
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.