water excess or uneven watering

What you’re seeing

Droopy, yellowing lower leaves, soggy soil, fungus gnat activity, or edema blisters. Pot feels heavy for days; growth slows. Intermittent cycles of very wet then very dry also show up as leaf drop or brown tips.

What it is

Roots are stressed by too much water or inconsistent extremes. Low oxygen in a persistently wet mix damages roots; then even normal watering can’t be absorbed well.

Is action needed?

Yes. Protect roots, restore drainage, and adopt a steady rhythm.

How to confirm

Finger/meter: The mix stays wet at depth for > 5–7 days (for most indoor mixes) in moderate conditions.
Roots: Brown, mushy, or foul-smelling roots = damage.
Pot/mix: No drainage holes, compacted/peaty mix, or an oversized pot relative to the plant.

What to do

Hold watering until the top 1–2 in / 2–5 cm dries (species-dependent).
Improve drainage: Ensure drainage holes; consider repotting into a chunkier mix and an appropriate pot size.
Trim rot: With sterile tools, remove mushy roots and repot in fresh mix; water once, drain, then let partially dry before next watering.
Airflow & light: Brighten light (indirect) and provide gentle airflow to help the mix dry evenly.
Consistency: Water smaller amounts more regularly rather than flooding and drought cycling.
Gnat control: Allow surface to dry, use yellow sticky traps, and consider a biological control (Bti) for larvae if needed.

Prevention tips

Right-size pots and avoid “potting up” too far. If the pot is too large for the root mass, it dries very slowly—downsize at next repot.
Refresh old, collapsed media yearly.
In cool/dim seasons, reduce frequency rather than quantity—roots drink less.

Nutrient deficiency can yellow leaves too—check root health first; damaged roots can’t uptake nutrients properly.
Lack of light slows use of water—improve light along with watering changes.