What are signs of unhealthy plant roots?

Unhealthy plant roots usually hide out of sight until their leaves start screaming for help. I have dug root balls that stink of rot, and what was once white root tendrils are now dark and slimy. The roots could then reset their process of taking up water, resulting in brown leaf edges that look burned, like parchment. If you check the roots for repotting, you will mostly save the plant.

Typically, root-related problems develop underground. The brown edges of my aloe vera leaves caused me confusion for a long time until I discovered root rot due to sitting in a pot that drained poorly. I repotted the aloe vera in terracotta and added 30% perlite, giving it new life! Now, I check the roots every year! I've learned that prevention is better than being forced to be proactive and assess root health.

It's not just the watering that is at fault. Compacting soil robs the roots of the oxygen they so desperately need, and gets mistaken for rot symptoms. The easiest fix is to aerate these dense mixes using either orchid bark or pumice. I saved a parlor palm by loosening the root ball of the plant, then gently shaking it to release the trapped roots and allow them to breathe and drink properly.

Read the full article: Understanding and Fixing Brown Leaf Edges on Plants