If you watered the plant a week or two ago, and the soil still hasn’t dried out, this is an alarming sign, according to an expert from the Zen channel “Exotica – an encyclopedia of house plants.” When the soil is constantly wet, the roots begin to suffocate. Subsequently, the leaves become limp and yellow, covered with brown spots. The plant stops growing, it develops root rot – and this is due to 3 common mistakes of gardeners.
Mistake #1: Spacious pot
If the roots take up little space, but the plant lives in a large pot, then the “unclaimed” soil will be wet for a long time. For this reason, do not plant zamioculcas, succulents and cacti in growing pots.
Don't forget that each pot should have drainage holes. If the plants are in a pot, the container will quickly turn into a swamp.
Mistake #2: Soil without loosening agents
If there is too much peat in the purchased substrate, then when wet it turns into a kind of “sponge”. The soil is dry outside, but the inside does not dry out. Therefore, be sure to add disintegrants to the soil – for example, bark, perlite or zeolite.
Mistake #3: Dark, Cold Place
When the plant is in the shade, moisture consumption is sharply reduced. Place the pot on the sunny side and the soil will dry out faster.
By the way, roots also work slowly in cool weather, so in winter make sure that the plants are not standing on a cold windowsill.
