Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Smell the soil for a sour or rotten odor.
- Gently pull the plant to see if it feels loose in the pot.
- Check the roots for a dark, slimy appearance.
Likely causes
Poor Drainage
Most likelyHow to tell: The plant wilts despite having wet soil and the leaves may turn yellow or drop.
What to do: Carefully remove the tree from its pot and wash away the old soil. Trim off any mushy, dark, or foul smelling roots with sterilized scissors and repot in fresh, well draining soil.
Excessive Watering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil stays wet for more than a week and the stem base feels soft or mushy.
What to do: Allow the soil to dry out significantly between waterings. Use a moisture meter or your finger to ensure the top inch is dry before adding more water.
Find out what's wrong with your soursop
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.
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When to worry
If the stem base is soft or the roots are entirely black and mushy, the plant may be beyond saving. Act immediately at the first sign of wilting.
Stopping it coming back
Always use a pot with drainage holes and a high quality, airy potting mix. Never let the pot sit in a tray of water.
Soursop: root rot? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your soursop 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 a soursop recover from root rot?
- If you catch it early and remove all the damaged roots, the tree can recover. It will need time and careful watering to grow new, healthy roots.
- Should I fertilize a plant with root rot?
- No, do not fertilize a stressed plant. Wait until you see new, healthy growth before resuming any feeding schedule.
More problems with Soursop
- Why are my soursop leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my soursop tree drooping?
- Why is my soursop losing its leaves?
- Why are there spots on my soursop leaves?
- Why are there bugs on my Soursop tree?
- Why are my soursop leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Soursop tree not producing flowers?
- Why is my Soursop tree growing tall and thin?
- Why are my soursop leaves curling?
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.