Often the leaves will be droopy, despite wet soil. Many houseplants are capable of catching a disease. Damaged, sick, or rotting roots = a sickly or dead houseplant. If the houseplant does have new growth, it … The houseplant pictured above has an extreme case of root rot. What Does Root Rot Look Like? If you can, inspect your plants daily to keep an eye on moisture levels and early signs of root rot. Root Rot Treatment. Because the first symptoms of root rot occur beneath the soil, gardeners are often not aware of the problem until it is advanced. Healthy roots = a healthy houseplant. Common houseplants occasionally succumb to disease. Be forewarned that a severe case of root rot cannot be fixed. Signs of root rot include a plant that is slowly wilting and leaves that are turning yellow and falling off. Detecting Root Rot Early Signs. Roots giving off a foul and musty odor is also a sign of root rot. When plants start showing symptoms of root rot, such as yellow leaves or stunted growth 1, take action immediately to resolve the problem. Take extra care with the watering of your plants, and hopefully that will be enough for you. The root rot fungus attacks the roots and causes them to die and rot away. Signs of Root Rot in Plants . Root rot is a condition that, if left untreated, will kill plants. Use our house plant identification list to determine if you have yellow spots on plant leaves or another type of disease. To save a plant from root rot, try removing it from the soil and washing the roots clean. Make sure to be on a lookout for these “Signs of Overwatering” so that you can save the plant before it’s too late! Once the fungus is established and the damage done, you won’t be able to save the plant. Look for early signs of root rot for the best chances of saving your plant. Prolonged exposure to soggy soil causes root rot which you can see if you work through the soil, a bit exposing the roots. Inspect your plant every time you water. The foliage will often have a dull appearance. Dilute about 1-1/2 teaspoons of 3% solution in a cup of water and spritz the affected leaves and stems. In general, a houseplant with root rot won’t look healthy. Prevention is the best option because root rot is hard to treat. Overwatering is the number one cause of root rot in houseplants and sadly, root rot is a condition that, if left untreated, will kill your houseplants. Hydrogen Peroxide is commonly used to combat root rot in hydroponic setups and may be effective for regular houseplants, too. Some symptoms include waterlogged soil, yellow spots on plant, growth slows, and stunts that leads to different type of diseases.