Mushy stems and root rot on houseplants

Mushy stem at soil level

Likely cause
Overwatering, especially during the summer rest.

What to do
Gritty mix, thorough but infrequent watering, and almost none while dormant.

Soft, yellowing base

Likely cause
Overwatering — the fastest way to lose one.

What to do
Let the soil dry out completely, use cactus mix, and water sparingly, especially in winter.

Mushy crown and collapsing leaves

Likely cause
Water sitting in the crown, or soil kept too wet.

What to do
Always water from below and let the top of the soil dry slightly between drinks.

Base turning brown and leaves pulling away

Likely cause
Rot from water trapped at the center after soaking.

What to do
Always shake it out and dry it upside down after a soak. Never leave it sitting wet.

Mushy, translucent, or brown leaves

Likely cause
Overwatering and rot — the number-one way to kill an aloe.

What to do
Let the soil dry out completely, use a gritty cactus mix, and water only when bone-dry.

Mushy stems at soil level

Likely cause
Overwatering.

What to do
Let the top inch dry between waterings and make sure the pot drains.

Mushy brown center

Likely cause
Water poured into the middle of the nest, where it sits and rots the crown.

What to do
Always water the soil around the rosette, never into the center.

Soft, blackening rhizomes

Likely cause
Overwatering, or a dense mix that stays wet around the surface rhizomes.

What to do
Use a chunky, airy mix and let the top inch dry. Never bury the furry rhizomes.

Rot at the base

Likely cause
Soil kept wet. Bromeliads drink from the cup, not the roots.

What to do
Water into the central cup and keep the potting mix only barely moist.

Soft, dark, collapsing pads

Likely cause
Overwatering.

What to do
Let it dry out completely, use gritty mix, and water rarely — almost never in winter.

Mushy stems near the soil

Likely cause
Overwatering.

What to do
Gritty mix, and water only when the beads start to look slightly soft.

Limp, mushy segments

Likely cause
Overwatering — it is a jungle cactus, not a desert one, but it still rots.

What to do
Let the top inch dry between waterings and make sure the pot drains.

Soft, blackening stem base

Likely cause
Overwatering.

What to do
Gritty mix, thorough drying between waterings. The milky sap is an irritant — wear gloves when pruning.

Mushy stems collapsing at the base

Likely cause
Water sitting in the crown around the tuber.

What to do
Water from below, or at the soil edge — never over the top of the tuber.

Soft, squishy caudex

Likely cause
Overwatering. The fat trunk is a water store and rots from the inside.

What to do
Very gritty mix, water only when bone-dry, and nearly stop entirely in winter.

Mushy, translucent lower leaves

Likely cause
Overwatering. Echeverias rot quickly.

What to do
Let the soil dry out completely, use gritty mix, and water at the soil, never into the rosette.

Mushy stems

Likely cause
Too much water in too dense a mix.

What to do
Gritty cactus mix, water only when the leaves start to soften.

Mushy, yellowing stems

Likely cause
Overwatering. It is a jungle cactus, but it still rots.

What to do
Let the top inch dry and use an airy, orchid-bark-heavy mix.

Soft, brown, collapsing base

Likely cause
Overwatering, particularly in winter.

What to do
Water deeply but only when bone-dry, and keep it nearly dry from fall to spring.

Mushy stems at the base

Likely cause
Soil kept too wet.

What to do
Let the top inch dry between waterings and use a light, airy mix.

Mushy, translucent lower leaves

Likely cause
Overwatering.

What to do
Let the soil dry completely, use gritty mix, and water at the soil rather than into the rosette.

Mushy center and collapsing rosette

Likely cause
Too much water and too little air — sempervivums hate warm, humid, still indoor conditions.

What to do
Gritty mix, full sun, excellent airflow, and very sparing water. They are happiest outdoors.

Mushy stems and collapsing leaves

Likely cause
Overwatering. It is a succulent and stores its own water.

What to do
Let the soil dry out fully between waterings and use a gritty mix.

Mushy stems

Likely cause
Overwatering in a dense mix.

What to do
Use an airy, epiphyte-friendly mix and let the top inch dry.

Mushy stems near the soil

Likely cause
Overwatering in a dense mix.

What to do
Use an airy, bark-heavy mix and let the top inch dry.

Mushy roots and limp leaves

Likely cause
Overwatering, or being potted in soil instead of bark.

What to do
Repot into orchid bark, trim any brown mushy roots, and water once a week at most.

Soft, mushy lower leaves

Likely cause
Overwatering.

What to do
Let the soil dry out fully and water at the base, never into the rosette.

Mushy stem and dropping leaves

Likely cause
Overwatering.

What to do
Gritty mix, and water only when the soil is completely dry.

Yellowing, soft stems near the base

Likely cause
Overwatering.

What to do
Let it dry out completely between waterings and use gritty mix. Wear gloves and eye protection when pruning — the white sap is a serious irritant.

Mushy stems collapsing at soil level

Likely cause
Overwatering. Peperomias have thick leaves and shallow roots that rot fast.

What to do
Let the top half of the pot dry out, and use a light, airy mix.

Soft, rotting base

Likely cause
Soil kept wet — like a bromeliad it drinks mostly from the central cup.

What to do
Keep the cup topped up and let the potting mix stay only barely moist.

Rotting at the base

Likely cause
Standing water plus poor airflow, or ordinary potting compost.

What to do
Grow it in a peat and perlite carnivorous mix, damp but never waterlogged, with air moving around it.

Soft, squishy trunk base

Likely cause
Overwatering. The swollen caudex is a water tank and rots if the soil stays damp.

What to do
Let the soil dry out completely, use gritty cactus mix, and water only every few weeks.

Mushy base and collapsing stems

Likely cause
Overwatering the bulbs.

What to do
Let the top inch dry between waterings, and water much less while it is dormant.

The furry rhizomes going soft

Likely cause
They were buried in soil, or the mix stays soggy.

What to do
Let the fuzzy "feet" sit on top of the soil, never under it, and use an airy mix.

Mushy rhizome and collapsing stems

Likely cause
Overwatering. The rhizome rots fast.

What to do
Water only when the top inch is dry, and use a light, airy mix in a shallow pot.

Soft base and collapsing crown

Likely cause
Overwatering. Sagos are cycads and store water in the trunk.

What to do
Let the soil dry well between waterings and use a gritty, free-draining mix.

Mushy, soft, or foul-smelling base

Likely cause
Root rot from overwatering. This is the one thing that kills snake plants.

What to do
Unpot, cut away any mushy roots or leaves, let it dry, and repot in fresh dry mix. Water far less.

Soft, spongy trunk

Likely cause
Overwatering — by far the most common way a yucca dies indoors.

What to do
Let the soil dry out completely, water sparingly, and cut back hard in winter.

Mushy stems and shrivelling dolphins

Likely cause
Overwatering — the usual end for this plant.

What to do
Water only when the leaves start to flatten, in a gritty mix that never stays wet.

Mushy stems at the soil

Likely cause
Overwatering — it stores water in its tubers and needs little.

What to do
Gritty mix, and water only when the leaves start to feel soft.

Mushy stems and shrivelling pearls

Likely cause
Overwatering. This is by far the most common way it dies.

What to do
Water only when the pearls start to flatten, use gritty mix, and never let it sit wet.

Mushy stems and shrivelling leaves

Likely cause
Overwatering. The fine roots rot quickly.

What to do
Let the top half of the pot dry out, and use a light, airy mix.

Mushy stems at the base

Likely cause
Overwatering.

What to do
Let the top inch dry between waterings.

Mushy stems collapsing at soil level

Likely cause
Overwatering. The soft stems rot readily.

What to do
Let the top inch dry between waterings and make sure the pot drains.

Stems going mushy at the base

Likely cause
Overwatering. Thick leaves store water, and the shallow roots rot fast.

What to do
Let the top half of the pot dry out, and use a light, airy mix.