Can I save a plant with root rot?

If you catch it early and remove the damaged roots, the plant can recover. It will need time to grow new roots.

Do I need to wash the roots?

Gently rinsing the roots with lukewarm water helps you see which parts are healthy and which need to be trimmed.

How do I fix root rot on my Swiss cheese plant?

Check these first

Smell the soil for a foul or rotten odor.
Gently pull the plant from the pot to see the roots.
Check if the roots are firm and white or mushy and brown.

Likely causes

Poor Drainage
Most likely
How to tell: The soil smells sour or swampy and the plant looks wilted despite wet soil.
What to do: Repot the plant into a container with drainage holes. Use a chunky, well draining potting mix with perlite or orchid bark.
Excessive Watering
Most likely
How to tell: The roots appear brown, slimy, and fall apart when touched.
What to do: Gently remove the plant from the pot and trim away all mushy, black roots with sterilized shears. Repot in fresh, dry soil and wait a few days before watering.

When to worry

If the majority of the root system is mushy and black, the plant may be too far gone to save. If you see healthy white roots remaining, there is a good chance for recovery.

Stopping it coming back

Only water when the top few centimeters of soil are dry and never let the pot sit in a saucer of standing water.

Not sure which one it is? Photograph your monstera adansonii.

This page lists the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at your actual leaf 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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Questions people ask

Can I save a plant with root rot?: If you catch it early and remove the damaged roots, the plant can recover. It will need time to grow new roots.
Do I need to wash the roots?: Gently rinsing the roots with lukewarm water helps you see which parts are healthy and which need to be trimmed.