Overwatering vs. underwatering: how to tell the difference

Watering problems are the number-one reason houseplants struggle. The confusing part is that too much and too little water can look alike at first. The soil and the texture of the leaves tell you which one it is.

Signs of overwatering

• Soil stays wet for many days and may smell sour.
• Lower leaves turn yellow and feel soft, not crispy.
• Stems or leaf bases become mushy or dark.
• Fungus gnats hover around the pot.
• The plant wilts even though the soil is wet — a sign roots are rotting.

Signs of underwatering

• Soil is bone dry and pulls away from the sides of the pot.
• Leaves droop, curl or wrinkle, then turn brown and crispy at the edges.
• The pot feels unusually light when you lift it.
• The plant perks up within hours of a good drink.

How to water well

1. Check before you water. Push a finger 3–5 cm (1–2 in) into the soil. Most tropical houseplants want water only when that layer is dry; succulents want the whole pot dry.
2. Water thoroughly. Pour until water runs out of the drainage holes, then empty the saucer.
3. Use a pot with drainage. Decorative pots without holes are the most common cause of root rot.
4. Adjust by season. Plants use far less water in winter when growth slows.

Rescuing an overwatered plant

Slide the plant out of its pot and look at the roots. Healthy roots are firm and pale; rotten roots are brown, soft and smell bad. Trim the rotten ones with clean scissors, repot in fresh, well-draining mix and water sparingly until new growth appears.