Gardener's Yards All About Gardening Taking care of a plant isn’t always an easy task. Most amateurs could easily overwater their green friends which would result in drooping.
Many people fail to recognize the reason behind plant drooping after watering.
The most prevalent reason might be that plants have been stressed due to overwatering.
Yes, droopy and yellow leaves might signify that you must put down the watering can.
Did you know that too much watering leads to the accumulation of excess water in the soil, which damages the roots?
Also, the environmental conditions (amount of oxygen in the soil) and soil’s physical/chemical structure become non-ideal for healthy plant growth.
There are many ways to save overwatered plants (fortunately), but it varies according to plant species and conditions.
Reviving overwatered plants could get tricky. Therefore, it is ideal to educate yourself about your plants’ water requirements.
Here we’ll discuss some of the most practical methods to control plants drooping after watering.
1. Inspect the Soil for Over-Saturation
An oversaturated soil is not a happy place for plants to grow.
Adding too much water makes the soil compact leading to unfavorable growth conditions.
These anaerobic conditions (limited or no oxygen supply) cause root rot and plant drooping after watering.
The two most ideal ways of detecting whether the soil is logged with water or is dry are as follows:
The Finger Method
Leave your plants unwatered for a few days to let the topsoil layer dry. Dig about an inch of the soil using your fingers.
Suppose the ground underneath is still wet from the last watering session.
In that case, it means you’re dealing with the problem of over-watering (the level of dryness and moisture varies between different plant species).
Keep on reading to learn about multiple ways to save the soil.
Use Moisture Meter
The finger method is not ideal for plants potted in larger pots as you cannot reach the bottom.
The topsoil dries faster than the bottom hence the roots in depth might get root rot if moisture in that part is neglected.
The moisture meter is readily available and is simple to use.
How to Use the Moisture Meter
Put the moisture meter as far below as possible in the pot.
Take readings from different spots, as the soil in some parts of the pot might take more time to dry.
Each plant has its requirements. For instance, rubber plants tend to drink only a little water.
So, water these plants when the moisture meter shows dry levels.
Let the soil dry out evenly for overwatered plants while using this device to check the soil water status.
2. Aerate the Saturated Soil
Soil aeration helps improve soil’s water drainage status and prevent water logging.
There are multiple aeration ways depending on the pot or field size.
Both indoor and outdoor plants should be aerated regularly, especially if you detect symptoms of drooping after watering.
Tilling Aeration
One method is tilling or digging, in which soil is excavated and turned over to loosen the compact soil masses, which increases the air space.
Excess digging could also damage the plant, so be gentle, especially when dealing with potted plants.
There are a variety of garden tools available for this purpose.
Spike Aeration
Another efficient solution is spike aeration, in which wooden objects like toothpicks or chopsticks are used to poke holes in the soil.
It also loosened the compacted soil increasing the air spaces and oxygen supply to plant roots.
3. Let the Soil Dry
In case of drooping after watering, leave your plant for a few days unwatered.
Use the moisture meter to check whether the plant is ready for another water session.
The soil of most overwatered plants should be left alone until dried completely.
4. Repotting the Plant
Replace the Soil
The oversaturated soil could take days to dry out completely.
But some plants might not be able to survive these days; therefore, a viable solution, in this case, would be replacing the soil.
Replacing the soil sounds like an easy task, but it needs attention.
Getting rid of the wet soil attached to the roots is crucial before repotting.
Check the roots for root rot and cut the damaged roots to let the healthy ones grow.
Now put your plant in the dry soil and do not water for at least two days. Congratulations! You might have just saved your overwatered plant.
Repot Your Plants in Leca
Leca stands for ‘lightweight expanded clay aggregate,’ a growing medium like soil.
It comprises baked clay balls that expand upon soaking in the water.
This medium, unlike soil, isn’t naturally enriched with nutrients; therefore, adds the necessary nutrients to the water.
Why Choose Leca Over the Soil?
You might wonder why to use leca when it can’t even feed plants.
- Well! Although this growing medium isn’t rich in nutrients, plant owners of any skill level could efficiently deal with it.
- A wide variety of plants thrive well in leca medium.
- It’s easier to water the plants.
- Mitigates the risk of root rot.
- The visibility is increased, which helps in checking on the plants for root rot.
Dig Holes in Your Container
New gardeners often need to pay more attention to the importance of digging holes in the pot/container.
The holes at the bottom or sides help excess water from the soil seep out and improve the soil’s water retention capacity.
The size of the holes varies according to the container’s size and the plant’s height.
You can trust your sense of judgment regarding the size of the holes.
5. Reposition Your Pot
Some plants need more sunlight; putting them in the shade affects photosynthesis and negatively impacts soil’s water retention.
If you’ve set your plant under shade and find signs of overwatering, do not put it directly into the sunlight.
Such sudden changes in light and temperature would shock the plant. Instead, move it closer to a window where it can get indirect sunlight.
Use the moisture meter to check the water levels and water only when necessary.
6. Add Organic Material
The use of organic nutrients like compost and manure helps to improve the structure of the soil.
This action creates more pores and pore spaces. It has been proven to be very useful in enhancing drainage, especially in heavy clay soils.
7. Build Raised Beds
The raised beds in the garden come in handy in areas with poor soil drainage.
However, during summer or hot days, these beds require more water.
The plants in your garden that are overwatered easily could be saved using Hugelkultur beds composed of piles of composting materials.
This garden bed only requires little watering and shows excellent drainage.
Conclusion
Water is essential for plants, but overwatering could easily cause water stress.
Always check the water requirements of the plant before showering.
In case of an unfortunate event, i.e., drooping after watering, look for ways to tackle the problem at the earliest possible.
Some overwatered plants could return to life quickly, while others might demand more effort.
Remember that adequate knowledge about the watering routine could help avoid the problem beforehand.
