Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Feel the soil 2 inches deep to see if it is soggy.
- Inspect the drainage holes to ensure they are not blocked.
- Smell the soil for a sour or rotten odor.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves turn yellow or mushy, and the base of the stem feels soft to the touch.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top 2 inches of soil dry out. If the soil is waterlogged, repot the plant into fresh, well draining potting mix.
Poor Drainage
Most likelyHow to tell: Water pools on the surface of the soil or stays in the saucer for hours after watering.
What to do: Ensure your pot has large drainage holes at the bottom. Never leave the plant sitting in a saucer full of water for more than 30 minutes.
Find out what's wrong with your wild geranium
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 stems are turning black or mushy at the base, the rot is advanced and may be fatal. A few yellowing leaves are normal as the plant ages.
Stopping it coming back
Only water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Use a potting mix amended with perlite to improve aeration.
Keep your wild geranium healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Can I save a plant with root rot?
- Yes, if you catch it early. Trim away any black or mushy roots with clean scissors and repot in fresh, dry soil.
- How often should I water?
- Check the soil every 5 to 10 days. Only water when the top layer of soil is dry.
More problems with Wild Geranium
- Why are my Wild Geranium leaves turning yellow?
- Why are there spots on my Wild Geranium leaves?
- Why is my Wild Geranium drooping?
- Why is my wild geranium growing tall and thin?
- Why are my wild geranium's leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Wild Geranium losing its leaves?
- Why is my Wild Geranium not blooming?
- What are these bugs on my Wild Geranium?
- Why are my wild geranium leaves curling?
Back to the Wild Geranium guide
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.