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Houseplant Wet Soil Troubleshooter โ€” Why Potting Mix Is Not Drying

Select symptoms, drainage, standing water, mix, pot size and environment to build a prioritized check plan you can copy or print.

Does the pot have an open drainage hole?
Is water standing in the saucer or cachepot?
Is the mix compacted or very slow to drain?
Was it recently moved to a pot much larger than the rootball?
Is the light low or the room cool?

Priority check order

  1. 1Do not water again by the calendar alone; check moisture below the surface with a finger or wooden stick
  2. 2Record pot weight, mix moisture and leaf changes with dates to compare the drying pattern

Symptoms alone cannot confirm overwatering or root rot. Check the needs of the exact plant, and seek local horticultural advice if softening, odour or decline progresses quickly.

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