Caring for plants is not always easy. Before growing a plant indoors or outdoors, it is important to know the conditions of its cultivation, to prevent it from wilting. In fact, some mistakes can be fatal for your plants, especially those related to watering. Check out this bug that can kill your houseplants.

To keep your plants thriving and healthy, it is important to take good care of them. To do this, you need to know its state of cultivation, to avoid excesses that could be harmful to your plants, especially when watering.

What is the bug that can kill houseplants?

Withered plant – Source: spm

The mistake that can be fatal for your indoor plants  is excessive watering according to Etienne Laurentides, gardener and landscaper from Jura.  In fact, excess water removes oxygen from the soil and therefore,  suffocates the roots and causes them to rot.  In addition to this, when the soil is very wet, the plant can no longer feed, because the moisture blocks the photosynthesis process. As a result, their leaves soften, turn yellow  and then die.  In addition, excess water makes the plant vulnerable  to attack by parasites,   but also by fungi. Mold can then form in the pot and in the soil.

How to save plants from excess watering?

To save a plant that has received too much water, first start  putting it in the shade.  Leaving it in the sun would cause it to dry out, because an overwatered plant cannot send water to its ends. Then  you have to let it dry.  To speed up the drying of the plant, tap the sides of the pot several times with your hand. This helps loosen the soil, that is, lighten it, as well as creating air pockets that can aerate the soil.

Next, remove the plant from the pot  to check the condition of its roots  and place it back in a new pot. To do this, gently turn the plant over, hold it with one hand, and with the other hand, shake the pot until you can remove the root ball. Then, using your fingers, remove all the soil from around your plant’s root system. There is no need to maintain this soil because, when transplanting, new, colder soil will be used.   Using a well-cleaned and disinfected pruner, remove rotten roots. You will recognize them by  their brown or black appearance, soft and doughy. Healthy roots, on the other hand, are white and firm. Don’t hesitate to prune dead leaves and stems.These are brown and dry. 

After cleaning your plant of its dead parts, repot it in a new pot  that has drainage holes.  To promote water runoff and promote drainage, you can add a layer of mulch or clay pebbles to the bottom of the pot. Then add fresh potting soil and lightly tap the surface to compact it. Water lightly to moisten the soil, and only water a second time  when the soil dries out.  Also, after each watering, be sure to remove any standing water in the saucer or pot.

How to avoid overwatering indoor plants?

To avoid overwatering that can kill your plant, water it only when it needs water. To do this, several clues can help you know if you should water your plant or not.

• The soil:  Before watering your plant, insert your finger into the soil. If it is dry more than 4 cm deep, water it.
• The weight of the pot:  a plant is heavier after watering. Lifting the pot allows you to weigh it. If it is heavy, it means  that the soil is still full of water  and therefore it is useless to water it.
• Type of plant:  The amount of water a plant needs depends on its type. For example, cacti and succulents  only need a low supply of water.  It is not necessary to water these succulents regularly, as  their thick, fleshy tissue helps retain water.  This means that these plants can withstand drought very well. On the other hand, plants that have fine foliage, buds or flowers need to be watered regularly.

That said, avoid being heavy-handed when watering your indoor green plants, as too much water can suffocate your plants’ roots and cause them to rot.