Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Smell the soil for a sour or rotten odor.
- Check if the pot has drainage holes.
- Inspect the roots for mushy or dark sections.
Likely causes
Overwatering
PossibleHow to tell: The leaves turn yellow and wilt even though the soil is wet. If you pull the plant out, the roots will look mushy and dark brown instead of firm and white.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the soil dry out slightly. If the damage is severe, repot the plant into fresh, well draining soil after trimming away the dead roots.
Poor drainage
PossibleHow to tell: Water sits in the bottom of the pot or the saucer for days. This creates a suffocating environment where roots cannot breathe.
What to do: Ensure your pot has drainage holes at the bottom. Use a potting mix amended with perlite to improve airflow around the roots.
Find out what's wrong with your sensitive plant
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
This is a serious issue that can kill the plant quickly if left unaddressed. If the stem base feels soft or mushy, the rot may have already spread too far.
Stopping it coming back
Always empty the saucer after watering and never let the plant sit in standing water.
Keep your sensitive plant 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 the dead roots, use fresh soil, and be very careful with your watering habits moving forward.
- How often should I water to avoid rot?
- Check the soil every 3 to 7 days. Only water when the top inch of soil feels slightly dry, and never let it become waterlogged.
More problems with Sensitive plant
- Why is my sensitive plant drooping?
- Why are my sensitive plant leaves turning yellow?
- Are there pests on my sensitive plant?
- Why is my sensitive plant dropping its leaves?
- Why is my sensitive plant growing so tall and leggy?
- Why are my sensitive plant's leaf tips turning brown?
- Why does my sensitive plant have spots on its leaves?
- Why is my sensitive plant not blooming?
Back to the Sensitive plant 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.