Can I save a plant with root rot?

If you catch it early and remove the damaged roots, yes. Repotting into fresh soil and reducing water frequency usually helps it recover.

How do I know if the soil is too wet?

If you press your finger into the soil and it feels like a saturated sponge, it is too wet. The soil should feel like a wrung out cloth.

Green-ribbed sedge: root rot, causes and fixes

Check these first

Smell the soil for a foul or rotten odor.
Gently pull the plant to see if it comes out of the soil easily.
Examine the roots for a slimy or dark appearance.

Likely causes

Poor drainage
Most likely
How to tell: The plant wilts even when the soil is wet and the base of the stems turns brown or black. The soil may have a sour or swampy smell.
What to do: Remove the plant from its pot and trim away any dark, mushy roots. Repot into a container with plenty of drainage holes using fresh, well draining soil.
Overwatering
Possible
How to tell: The leaves turn yellow and collapse at the base. The soil remains saturated for more than a week after watering.
What to do: Adjust your watering to every 3 to 7 days, ensuring the soil is damp but not muddy. Always empty the saucer under the pot after watering so the plant does not sit in water.

Root rot in other plants

Find out what's wrong with your green-ribbed sedge

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.

When to worry

If the roots are black and mushy, the plant is in serious trouble. If the roots are still firm and white, you can save it by adjusting your care.

Stopping it coming back

Use a pot with drainage holes and avoid letting the plant sit in standing water.

Green-ribbed sedge: root rot? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your green-ribbed sedge 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.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Can I save a plant with root rot?: If you catch it early and remove the damaged roots, yes. Repotting into fresh soil and reducing water frequency usually helps it recover.
How do I know if the soil is too wet?: If you press your finger into the soil and it feels like a saturated sponge, it is too wet. The soil should feel like a wrung out cloth.

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