Overwatering

Overwatering is a phenomenon that often happens in houseplants due to excessive watering, so this excess water can often deplete oxygen from the soil and encourage the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi ^[1]

Symptoms

Overwatering often causes plants to have:

• Yellow or brown leaves that have started to droop ^[2]
• Shedding leaves that are both new and old ^[3]
• Multiple brown spots and mold on them ^[4]
• Their soil seems to have a foul odor ^[1]
• Grey, foul smelling and mushy leaves ^[5]

Cures

The main method of fixing a plant that has been overwatered is to ensure there are enough drainage holes in the pot to let excess water out of the soil. ^[6] It is also recommend to trim off any leaves or roots that are dead, mushy, or wilting. ^[7]

References

1. "Plant Care 101: How to Fix an Overwatered Plant". BIRDY'S PLANTS. 2024-03-21. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
2. Pangborn, Lindsay (2022-01-15). "5 Telltale Signs of Overwatered Plants". Bloomscape. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
3. MacArthur, Amanda (2025-07-25). "How to Identify an Overwatered Plant". Food Gardening Network. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
4. "10 Signs You're Overwatering Your Plants". The Green East. 2025-01-11. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
5. "Plant 101: Signs of Overwatering your Indoor Plant". Lively Root. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
6. "How to Rescue Overwatered Plants | BrightView". www.brightview.com. 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
7. "Save Your Overwatered Plants in 4 Easy Steps". Jim's Mowing Australia. 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2025-07-31.