Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Check if the pot has drainage holes at the bottom.
- Feel the soil 2 inches deep to see if it is muddy.
- Smell the soil for a musty or rotten odor.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The base of the grass feels mushy and the soil smells sour or swampy. You might see the foliage turning yellow or brown at the very bottom near the soil line.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top 2 inches of soil dry out completely. If the plant is in a pot without drainage, move it to a container with holes right away. Trim away any black or slimy roots with clean scissors before repotting into fresh, well draining soil.
Poor Drainage
PossibleHow to tell: Water sits on the surface of the soil for a long time after you water. The plant looks wilted even though the soil is wet.
What to do: Mix perlite or coarse sand into your potting mix to improve airflow. Ensure your pot has at least one large hole at the bottom. Elevate the pot on a saucer with pebbles so it never sits in a pool of runoff.
Find out what's wrong with your wavy hair-grass
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
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When to worry
If the base of the grass is soft and the stems pull away from the soil with no resistance, the rot has likely reached the crown. It is time to replace the plant if more than half the root system is mushy.
Stopping it coming back
Always wait until the top inch of soil is dry before adding more water. Use a gritty, fast draining soil mix to keep the roots happy.
Wavy hair-grass: root rot? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your wavy hair-grass 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 grass with root rot?
- Yes, if you catch it early. Trim the dead roots, repot in fresh soil, and keep it in a spot with good air circulation.
- How often should I water my wavy hair grass?
- Water every 3 to 7 days, but only when the top inch of soil feels dry. Adjust this based on how hot and sunny your location is.
More problems with Wavy hair-grass
Back to the Wavy hair-grass 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.