Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Stick your finger one inch deep into the soil to feel for dampness.
- Lift the pot to see if it feels unusually heavy.
- Inspect the drainage holes to ensure they are not blocked by soil or debris.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves will turn yellow and wilt even if the soil is wet. You might also notice a sour smell coming from the pot.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top 2 inches of soil dry out completely. If the soil stays wet for more than a week, repot the plant into fresh, well draining potting mix and trim away any black or mushy roots.
Poor Drainage
PossibleHow to tell: Water sits on the surface of the soil for a long time after you pour it. The pot might lack holes at the bottom.
What to do: Ensure your pot has drainage holes so excess water can escape. If your pot does not have holes, move the plant into a container that does or use a plastic nursery liner inside your decorative pot.
Find out what's wrong with your flowering maple
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
If the stems feel soft or mushy near the soil line, the rot has likely spread too far. It is normal for a few lower leaves to drop if the plant is adjusting to a new spot.
Stopping it coming back
Only water your Abutilon when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Always empty the saucer under the pot after watering so the plant never sits in standing water.
Flowering Maple: root rot? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your flowering maple and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I save a plant with root rot?
- Yes, if you catch it early. Trim off the dead roots, wash the remaining healthy roots, and repot in fresh soil.
- How often should I water my Abutilon?
- Check it every 3 to 7 days. Only water when the top inch of soil is dry.
More problems with Flowering Maple
- Why are my flowering maple's leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my flowering maple's leaves curling?
- Why is my flowering maple growing so leggy?
- Why is my flowering maple drooping?
- Why is my flowering maple losing its leaves?
- Why is my flowering maple not blooming?
- Why are there bugs on my flowering maple?
- Why are my flowering maple leaves getting brown tips?
- What are these spots on my flowering maple leaves?
Back to the Flowering Maple guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.