What to do if your Cuban oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus) has root rot? Here's the correct way to handle it

1. Saving it

Because of overwatering, improper fertilizing and other reasons, it easily develops root rot. In mild cases its growth will be stunted; in severe cases the whole plant will die. You can first try to save it:

Dig it out of the pot, clear away the soil around the roots, find the rotten roots, cut them off with a sharp tool, then use 0.1 percent potassium permanganate to disinfect the cuts. You can also wrap the cuts with ash from burned grass, then repot it in clean, unfertilized soil, which will help it grow new roots.

2. Re-rooting cuttings

If the situation is rather severe and most of the root system has already rotted, then we can only re-root it from cuttings.

First cut off a section of its stem; no matter how long it is, it can survive even if it is very short. Remove the leaves from the part of the stem you plan to insert into the soil, keeping just a few at the top; it does not matter how many, as it makes little difference. First leave it in a windy, airy spot to dry for 2 days. This is a step you must not skip, otherwise it will easily rot.

Then insert it into prepared clean potting soil. You can leave it in a cool spot for two days before exposing it to sunlight, or simply care for it like a normal Cuban oregano. After a few days you will see its leaves recover, which means it has taken root. Remember to give it plenty of sunlight often, and do not water it all the time.

3. Points to note

What it tolerates least is soil that is too wet, which easily causes root rot and, in severe cases, death, so you must be careful when watering. If it is the rainy season, check the weather forecast more often; if rain is likely, you can hold off on watering, and wait until it rains before skipping a watering, which will help it grow stronger.