Why Does a Pothos Get Root Rot? Cause Analysis and Rescue Methods

Pothos is one of the more favored varieties among potted plants. Although it is relatively easy to grow, there can still be some small problems during cultivation, such as yellowing leaves, root rot, and wilting. Below, we analyze the causes of pothos root rot and how to deal with it.

Pothos is a heat-loving plant. Its most suitable growing temperature is 15-25°C, and in winter it cannot go below 10°C if it is to survive the winter safely. When the temperature is too low, root growth is inhibited, making root rot likely.

Pothos likes water, but that does not mean it should be watered heavily. Soil culture and water culture are different. In water culture, the water is changed frequently, and it is enough to ensure there is sufficient oxygen in the water. In soil culture, watering simply provides water for the plant's growth. When watered too much, the soil becomes oxygen-deficient, the roots cannot get oxygen, and rotting occurs.

Bacterial infection is unavoidable. In a hot and humid environment, plants are very susceptible to fungal attack.

Another important cause of root rot is dirty water. When there are large amounts of bacteria in the water and the plant remains in such an environment for a long time, the roots cannot get enough nutrients and root rot easily occurs.

When watering indoor potted plants, clean water must be used. If the water is not clean and introduces pathogenic bacteria, then root rot will be the least of the problems. Many gardening friends also choose to water with rice-washing water, which has relatively high nutritional value. I suggest not pouring rice-washing water directly into the flowerpot; it must be fully composted before use.

When pothos roots rot, the rotten stems turn black and decay. Take the pothos out of the pot, wash the soil off cleanly, then cut away all the rotten roots and rotten stems. Remember, you must cut them away completely. It is better to cut more than to leave future trouble.

For plants with root rot, the roots must be disinfected. You can soak them in potassium permanganate solution or carbendazim solution for 20 minutes to achieve the effect of disinfection and sterilization. The cultivation pot must also be disinfected.

After disinfection and treatment, replant with new soil, then place it in a bright, ventilated spot, keep the soil moist, and wait for new roots to grow.

Causes of Pothos Root Rot and How to Treat Pothos Root Rot

Growing some plants at home helps beautify the environment and improve the air. But in the process of growing plants, all kinds of problems come up; for example, root rot is a common one. If your soil-cultured pothos shows signs of disease during cultivation, how should we handle it? Below, let's look at how to treat root rot in soil-cultured pothos.Causes of pothos root rot

Temperature too low

Pothos is a heat-loving plant. Its most suitable growing temperature is 15-25°C, and in winter it cannot go below 10°C if it is to survive the winter safely. When the temperature is too low, root growth is inhibited, making root rot likely. Overwatering

Pothos likes water, but that does not mean it should be watered heavily. Soil culture and water culture are different. In water culture, the water is changed frequently, and it is enough to ensure there is sufficient oxygen in the water. In soil culture, watering simply provides water for the plant's growth. When watered too much, the soil becomes oxygen-deficient, the roots cannot get oxygen, and rotting occurs. Fungal and pathogen infection

Bacterial infection is unavoidable. In a hot and humid environment, plants are very susceptible to fungal attack. Poor water quality

Another important cause of root rot is dirty water. When there are large amounts of bacteria in the water and the plant remains in such an environment for a long time, the roots cannot get enough nutrients and root rot easily occurs.

How to treat pothos root rot

Looking at the causes of root rot above, most of them come down to poor care on your part. In future care, pay more attention: ensure suitable temperature, moderate watering, clean water quality, and spray disinfectant at the right time. Basically there won't be any major problems. But if the root rot is relatively serious, you need to do the following: Soil-grown pothos

Root rot in soil-cultured pothos is generally caused by water accumulation. What you need to do is give the pothos a new home. Prepare new soil with more large-particle ingredients such as peat, cut off the rotten roots of the pothos, wash them clean, and replant. If the original plant is truly beyond saving, you can only cut off branches and leaves and re-propagate by cuttings. (Tips for propagating pothos by cuttings) Water-cultured pothos

If a water-cultured pothos has root rot so bad it is beyond help, the owner must have been very lazy and not changed the water. When the roots gradually turn to mush and give off a bad smell, a perfectly good potted plant is ruined. But it is not a big deal. Take the pothos out and cut off the rotten parts. In addition, be sure to wash the bottle clean and disinfect it while you are at it. Change the water and re-culture it in water.

What Is Going On With Pothos Root Rot? What to Do About Pothos Root Rot

When people talk about hydroponic flowers, the first thing that may come to mind is pothos, because pothos can be grown not only in soil but also in water. Pothos has always been called the easiest plant to grow by gardening enthusiasts, but some also run into root rot with pothos. So what should be done about pothos root rot? The treatment methods are basically all the same. Simply put, it means re-propagating by cuttings. Let's look at the details below.

Whether soil-grown or water-cultured, pothos can develop root rot, because pothos is a herbaceous plant, so once the roots rot, it cannot recover on its own. However, because pothos has the advantage of being easy to propagate, the method mostly adopted is re-propagating by cuttings.

1. Soil-grown pothos

Compared with water-cultured pothos, soil-grown pothos is less prone to root rot, but because some pots have poor drainage and some gardening friends water without restraint, the potting soil ends up waterlogged for a long time, and eventually the pothos roots rot. You should prepare a new growing medium (peat or nutrient soil will do), pull out the original pothos, cut off the rotten roots, wash them clean, then coat them with a layer of charcoal powder to disinfect and prevent infection, and after drying, replant them as cuttings.

2. Water-cultured pothos

Root rot in water-cultured pothos is 80% caused by not changing the water in time. However, blackened roots are not necessarily root rot. Root rot means the roots turn to mush and give off a bad smell. Once root rot occurs, cut off the rotten parts, then change to fresh water, wash the bottle clean, and re-culture in water.

Key points for pothos care:

1. Change the water frequently.If you are water-culturing pothos, changing the water frequently is very necessary, generally once every two to three days. The reason is that pothos has extremely high requirements for water quality. Adding nutrient solution is also necessary to keep pothos looking vibrant.

2. Suitable temperature.The temperature for pothos to survive the winter safely is above 10°C. At a room temperature above 20°C, pothos can grow normally. Too large a temperature difference will affect the growth of pothos. At the same time, be careful not to let the leaves get close to heating equipment.

3. Choosing the water quality.Use clean tap water or purified water to grow pothos. Choosing the right water quality is important because it contains large amounts of minerals.

Summary: The above is an introduction to how to treat pothos root rot. I hope everyone will share their pothos care experience more.