How to Save Flooded Plants

While trying to take good care of our plants, we often make the mistake of watering too much. This situation often occurs with potted plants, because the water trapped around the roots cannot escape. Unfortunately, plants can become waterlogged and die if you water them too much, but the good news is that you can save a waterlogged plant before it’s too late by drying out the roots.

Table of Contents

Identify flooded trees

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Check if the leaves are light green or yellow. When waterlogged, the color of the leaves begins to change. Watch to see if the leaves lose their green color, become pale or yellow. You may also notice patchy yellow patches on the leaves. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Note: This happens because photosynthesis does not occur normally during waterlogging. This means that the plant cannot obtain nutrients.

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Notice if the plant is not growing or brown spots appear. When submerged, the roots cannot supply water to the upper parts of the plant. In addition, plants cannot take nutrients from the soil. This means that the plant will wither and die. Check to see if the tree is not producing young leaves or the branches and foliage are dying. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Plants can also die from lack of water, so you may not know for sure if your plants are being watered too little or too much. If you water regularly and the plant is still dying, perhaps the culprit here is too much water.

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Look for mold or moss at the base of the tree or on the ground. When there is too much water in the pot, you may see green moss or thin white or black mold appearing on the ground or at the base of the plant. This is a sign that the plant is waterlogged. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

You may also see mold or moss growing in small spots or spreading. Any mold or moss that appears is a cause for concern.

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Smell for an unpleasant musty smell. If water stays around the roots for too long, the roots will start to rot. When this happens, the roots will stink. You can put your nose close to the ground and inhale for the smell of rotting. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

If the roots are just starting to rot or if the roots are too deep in the soil, you may not be able to detect the smell of rotting.

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Check for drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. If the planter doesn’t have a drainage hole in the bottom, there’s a good chance the plant is waterlogged because water is trapped at the bottom of the pot. It is best to remove the plant from the pot to check for rotten roots. You can then punch holes in the bottom of the pot or transfer the plant to another pot with a drainage hole. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

You can punch holes in the bottom of a plastic plant pot with a knife or screwdriver. Carefully poke the bottom of the pot with a knife or screwdriver.
If the pot is made of ceramic or clay, it’s best not to try to punch the hole, as the pot could end up broken or damaged.

Dry the roots

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Stop watering while waiting for the plant to dry. Stop watering the plant if you think it’s waterlogged, or the problem will only get worse. Do not add more water to the pot if you are not sure that the roots and soil are dry. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

This process can take several days, so don’t worry about the plant not being watered for days.

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Place the plant in the shade to protect the leaves on the top. When waterlogged, the plant will have difficulty transporting water to the leaves overhead. This means that the top of the tree is susceptible to drying out if you place it in the sun. To save the tree, put the pot in a shaded place. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

You can move the plant back to a sunny location once the condition has stabilized.

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Tap the side of the pot to loosen the soil from the roots. Tap the pot wall with your hand or spade several times on different sides to loosen the soil from the roots. This can create air pockets that help the roots dry out. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

In addition, tapping the wall of the pot will help you get the plant out of the pot easier.

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Slide the plant out of the pot to check the roots and help them dry quickly. While it’s not mandatory to remove the plant from the pot, it’s best to do so. This will make the plant dry faster, and you can also take this opportunity to plant it in another pot with better drainage. To remove the plant, hold the stump just above the ground with one hand, then slowly turn the pot over, shaking the pot with the other hand until the root ball slides out. ^{[9] X Research Source}

When you take the tree out, you will hold the tree upside down in your hand.

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Use your hands to peel off the old layer of soil to see the roots. Gently squeeze the soil layer to release it from the roots. Gently brush the soil with your hands so as not to damage the roots. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Discard the soil if you see signs of mold or moss as it will contaminate the plant if you reuse it. Similarly, you also need to throw out the soil if it smells like rotting, as it most likely contains rotten roots.
If the soil looks clean, you can reuse it. However, it is best to use new soil to ensure safety.

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Use scissors or pruning shears to trim away the brown rotten roots. Healthy roots will be white and firm, while rotting roots will be soft and brown or black. You can use scissors or pruning pliers to cut all the rotting roots and leave the healthy roots. ^{[11] X Research Source}

If almost all of the roots have rotted, you may not be able to save the tree. However, you can try pruning the roots down to the base and replanting.

Do you know? Roots that are rotting will have a rotten smell. If you don’t remove the rotten roots, the tree will slowly die.

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Use pruning shears or scissors to remove dead leaves and branches. Cut off the brown and dry branches first. If you’ve removed a lot of roots, you’ll also need to trim off some healthy parts of the plant. Start pruning at the top of the tree and remove just enough leaves and branches so that the rest of the plant is no more than twice the size of the roots. ^{[12] X Research Source}

If you’re not sure how much pruning is enough, just remove as many branches and leaves as the roots are removed.

Replant the tree in a pot

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Transfer the plant to a pot with drainage holes and a drip tray. Buy a planter that has small holes in the bottom so water can drain out. This will prevent water from pooling around the roots and causing root rot. Find a drip tray under the pot if the planter doesn’t come with a tray. The tray will catch excess water and won’t contaminate the surface of the pot. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Some planters have a drip tray attached. If so, you should check the drain holes, as this tray is not removable.

Tip: If the pot you are using has a drainage hole, you can plant the plant back in the old pot. Before that, however, you need to wash the pot with a mild soap to remove rotting parts of the plant, mold, and moss. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Advice

Read the plant care instructions to make sure to water the right amount. Some plants don’t require a lot of water, so waterlogging is easy.

Things you need

Area with shade
Plant pots with drainage holes
Tray to catch water under the pot
New planting land
Mesh stand
Aerosol
Scissors or small tree pruning pliers
Shovel or spade (optional)
Overlay (optional)
Water

Steps

Identify flooded trees

Dry the roots

Replant the tree in a pot

Advice

Things you need

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