Skip to content
Pocket Botanist
Get the app

Slender St. John's Wort · Hypericum pulchrum

Is my Slender St. John's Wort suffering from root rot?

Root rot happens when the soil stays wet for too long, suffocating the roots. Check the soil moisture and the smell of the pot to see if this is the culprit.

Not sure it's this? Check a photo of your plant for free

root rot on a plant
Photo: Ninjatacoshell, CC BY-SA 3.0

Check these first

  1. Stick your finger one inch into the soil to check for moisture.
  2. Smell the soil for a sour or rotten odor.
  3. Check if the pot is sitting in a saucer of standing water.

Likely causes

  1. Overwatering

    Most likely

    How to tell: The leaves turn yellow and wilt, but the soil remains damp. The base of the stems may look mushy or discolored.

    What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top two inches of soil dry out. If the plant is in a pot, check that the drainage holes are not blocked. Repot into fresh, well draining soil if the roots are severely damaged.

  2. Poor drainage

    Possible

    How to tell: Water sits on the surface of the soil for a long time after watering. The plant looks sickly and fails to grow.

    What to do: Ensure your pot has adequate drainage holes at the bottom. Mix in perlite or coarse sand to improve soil aeration. Avoid using a decorative pot that traps water at the bottom.

Root rot in other plants

Find out what's wrong with your slender st. john's wort

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.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

When to worry

This is serious if the stems are turning black or mushy at the base. If the roots are brown and slimy, the plant is in critical condition.

Stopping it coming back

Only water when the top inch of soil is dry and never let the plant sit in standing water.

Slender St. John's Wort: root rot? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your slender st. john's wort 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.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

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, you can trim away the dead, mushy roots and repot it. If the rot has reached the stems, it is often too late.
How often should I water to prevent this?
Stick to a rhythm of every 5 to 10 days, but always check the soil first. If it is still damp, wait a few more days.

More problems with Slender St. John's Wort

Back to the Slender St. John's Wort 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.