Can I save a plant with root rot?

If you catch it early, you can trim away the black, mushy roots and repot the plant in fresh soil. If the majority of the roots are mushy, it is usually best to start over.

How often should I check for root rot?

Check your plant every time you water. If the soil is still wet after 3 days, you are watering too often.

Why is my basil plant dying at the roots? Causes and fixes

Check these first

Check the drainage holes to ensure they are not clogged.
Smell the soil for a musty or rotten odor.
Gently pull the plant to see if the roots feel mushy.

Likely causes

Overwatering
Most likely
How to tell: The leaves turn yellow and the stems become mushy or black at the base. The soil will smell sour or swampy.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top 2 inches of soil dry out completely. If the pot has no drainage, repot the plant into a container with holes.
Poor Drainage
Possible
How to tell: This is less common for this plant, as basil usually grows in well draining soil, but heavy potting mixes can trap too much moisture. The soil stays wet for days even without extra water.
What to do: Repot the basil into a fresh, well draining potting mix designed for herbs. Add perlite to the mix to improve aeration around the roots.

Find out what's wrong with your basil

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 base of the stem is black and slimy, the rot has likely reached the main structure of the plant and it may not survive. It is normal for a few lower leaves to yellow as the plant grows taller.

Stopping it coming back

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

Keep your basil 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.

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Questions people ask

Can I save a plant with root rot?: If you catch it early, you can trim away the black, mushy roots and repot the plant in fresh soil. If the majority of the roots are mushy, it is usually best to start over.
How often should I check for root rot?: Check your plant every time you water. If the soil is still wet after 3 days, you are watering too often.

Why is my basil plant dying at the roots?