See what root rot looks like in African violets. What to look for when identifying root rot. The signs include plants shrinking in the pot and browning and blackening leaves. If you suspect your plant has a problem, check this out to see if it is root rot.
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Today, I’m just going to show you really quickly here what root rot looks like in African violets and what it can pretty much mimic in a lot of other types of plants. I have this plant that was brought to me for fixing, for saving, and I thought, “Oh good, it’s a perfect example of root rot coming on.” This plant will, very after this video, be repotted into the correct sized pot.
You can see that this plant does not have the proper ratio that I always talk about, which is two-thirds plant to one-third pot. You can see here that the plant is pretty much one-quarter plant at this point and two-thirds pot. It started out when they bought it; it was bigger. But what ends up happening, I’ll show you here, is you can see that the leaves start to rot around the plants.
So see, they’re all droopy and rotty. When plants are in too big of a pot, and their roots are starting to rot, what will happen is they seem to shrink in their pot. You know, this happens all the time. People will put a plant that has been growing very well but seems to be outgrowing its pot into a much bigger pot, thinking, “Oh goody, I’m going to put it into a much bigger pot; I won’t have to repot for a long time.”
But what happens is you put it in too big of a pot; you have too much soil. The wet soil then leads to roots dying off and can eventually also lead to root rot itself. I’m not sure—I don’t know that root rot is set in exactly here yet. I think it’s more that there’s way too much wet soil and the roots are dying back because of that, but I will find out when I take the plant out and put it in the right size pot.
But as you can see, it’s all dying. So it seems counterintuitive: you planted in a bigger pot, you think, “Now the plant’s going to get really big,” and what it ends up doing is shrinking. Those are some signs of what root rot looks like, like I said; this is a perfect example. The dying, dead, droopy leaves around it—eventually, if I didn’t repot this, all the rest of them would die, and I’d end up with this little teeny thing that would eventually croak as well because it’s in way too much soil.
So there you go with what root rot looks like in African violets and many other types of plants. Crown rot can also look like that, except that when you feel the crown—which is another thing that I’m happy about with this plant—is that when I feel around the crown, which is the part that goes from the top of the plant into the soil, that’s the crown right in there where all the new growth comes from.
I’m very happy to say that it is not squishy, because if it was squishy, that would mean crown rot. Crown rot, a lot of times, is the end for the plant because the whole main stem and then down to the roots has been rotted and it’s dying. So this one doesn’t have crown rot, which is a good sign. I think it will survive when I pot it up into a smaller pot.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does root rot look like in African violets?
Root rot in African violets can be identified by droopy and rotting leaves. The plant may appear to be shrinking in its pot, despite being in a larger pot, which can be counterintuitive. If the plant is one-quarter plant and three-quarters pot, it’s likely not in the right pot size.
How does pot size affect root health?
When plants are placed in pots that are too large, the excess soil retains too much moisture, which can lead to root rot. Roots may die off due to overly wet conditions, causing the plant to appear smaller as it struggles to survive.
What is the ideal plant-to-pot ratio?
The ideal ratio for plants is typically two-thirds plant to one-third pot. This ratio helps ensure that plants have enough soil to support growth without becoming waterlogged.
What is crown rot, and how can it be identified?
Crown rot can appear similar to root rot, but it specifically affects the crown of the plant, which is where new growth emerges. If the crown feels squishy, it indicates crown rot, which can be fatal for the plant.
What should I do if my plant shows signs of root rot?
If your plant is showing signs of root rot, it is essential to repot it into a smaller pot with fresh soil. This will help improve drainage and provide a healthier environment for the roots.
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