Drying Out Over-Watered Pot Plants

What do you do if you come home to find those pots you left outside in the sun a sodden mess? Simple: Dry them out P.D.Q. But how?

Method 1

Place pot on top of folded kitchen towel, or similar. This will wick out that surplus which stubbornly refuses to drain away (it is held in the lower layer of compost by surface tension, irrespective of the depth of the pot).

Although we gave a general method of watering earlier, some plants, such as fuchsias, are rather sensitive and do not like the tips of their roots being immersed in soggy (especially cold soggy) compost for too long. If you use the immersion method (or absolutely drench them) as recommended, then it is a good finishing touch just to remove the excess water in this way. This will keep them growing, instead of taking a day or two to recover.


Method 2

Don't be afraid to remove your plants from their pots and examine the roots. You can do this as soon as you see them at the bottom of the pot, provided you are careful. White roots, with their delicate root hairs, will confirm that you are watering correctly.

Root distribution throughout the pot might also indicate watering preferences. For example, if the roots look much healthier at the top of the pot, this is a sure sign that you are over-watering.

Standing the de-potted plant in dry warm air will help it dry out much quicker, especially if outside (keep out of the sun). If the roots are actually brown, then these can be removed and replaced with fresh compost. In this case, you would have already noticed something wrong with the plant; it would have lost its bloom, and might already have started to wilt.

Pick up your pots regularly. You will soon get a feel for how wet the compost is in the pot. I find this the most reliable method, even for larger pots.