How long does root rot take to kill a plant?
Written by
Tina Carter
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Root rot can kill a plant in 7-14 days without treatment. My client's monstera collapsed on day nine after she ignored early yellowing leaves and said, "So much space for growth." Time is everything when it comes to survival, healthy roots turn to mush faster than most are aware. If you are going to save a plant, it will almost always come down to how early you act, usually, it comes down to whether you act in the first 48 hours.
Stage 1: Early Infection (Days 1-3)
- Symptoms: Slight leaf yellowing, damp soil smell
- Action: Remove plant, inspect roots, prune affected areas
- Survival rate: 90% if treated
Stage 2: Advanced Decay (Days 4-7)
- Symptoms: Mushy stems, blackened roots, foul odor
- Action: Aggressive root pruning, hydrogen peroxide soak
- Survival rate: 40-60%
Stage 3: Terminal Phase (Days 8-14)
- Symptoms: Total root collapse, leaf drop
- Action: Propagate healthy cuttings, discard plant
- Survival rate: <10%
In just 10 days, I lost a fiddle leaf fig due to root rot. WHAT I LEARNED: Sniff the soil every 7 days. If you smell something sour, there is likely a problem. A plant with half its roots healthy can recover if treated with peroxide and potted. Beyond that, your focus shifts to trying to save the cuttings.
Avoid a fast decline by checking the roots at the first drop. I saved my peace lily when there was one yellow leaf on a stem. I cut through the root ball, and as long as more than half of it felt firm I would fight on. Otherwise, you would get scissors to propagate the plant.
Read the full article: How to Treat Root Rot: 7 Essential Steps to Save Your Plants
