How to Save a Plant With Root Rot — Step-by-Step Guide

Root rot kills more houseplants than anything else. Caught early, it's treatable. Here's how to diagnose it and bring your plant back from the edge.

Root rot is the leading cause of houseplant death, and it's almost always caused by overwatering. The frustrating part: symptoms appear at the top of the plant while the damage happens underground, often unnoticed until it's severe.

How to Recognize Root Rot

Step-by-Step Treatment

Step 1: Remove the plant from its pot and shake off all the old soil. Step 2: Identify healthy roots (white to light tan, firm) and cut away all brown/black, mushy roots with sterilized scissors. Step 3: Dust cut ends with cinnamon powder — a natural antifungal. Step 4: Repot in fresh, well-draining soil and wait 3–4 days before watering lightly.

Prevention Is Easier Than Treatment

Even if more than half the roots are rotted, you can take healthy stem cuttings and propagate the plant — a last resort that often works.