Finding that watering sweet spot is important, as overwatering and underwatering can lead to one unhappy plant pal. Here are five signs that you’ve gone too far in the watering department and should cut back. Make sure to invest in planters with drainage holes to prevent excess moisture from pooling in the soil. Stick your fingers in the soil to check its moisture levels to figure out what the culprit is in your case. Here’s a helpful rule of thumb from Rebecca Bullene, the founder of Brooklyn-based plant shop Greenery Unlimited: Browning along a leaf’s edges usually points to underwatering, while splotches in the middle of the leaves often signal overwatering. You can confirm any suspected diagnosis by gently shaking your plant out of its container and checking out its root system. If overwatering is the issue, the roots will look dark and feel mushy to the touch. The plant’s soil may also give off a sour, funky smell, due to water-loving bacteria forming around those roots. Wilson advises removing soggy, damaged roots and repotting your plant in new soil. Then, place it in “a sunny position with good airflow,” and hold off on watering until the soil feels thoroughly dry to the touch in the future. Your plant should begin to show signs of improvement within a week or so. “This is a general rule,” he adds, “but I’d always advise researching each plant’s individual needs.” Do your research and find out which of your plants appreciate breaks between waterings—and which don’t. (And be sure to check out our full guide on how often to water your plants!) And when all else fails, one of the easiest ways to mitigate overwatering is, again, to get planters with drainage holes. Without them, excess water has no means of escaping, and could jeopardize your plant.
