Jan 12, 2024 3 min read

Why do plants die from over watering, but can live in water?

"How do plants survive in just water but not in waterlogged soil?"

This blog is the interstellar of the plant blogs. Suppose in a month of January you bought yourself a Haworthia (a succulent plant) and then you notice it being pale and mushy. Obviously you'll panic and you'll contact us and then we tell you that the plant is overwatered. You'll be sad and you will probably lose all your hopes of being a good plant parent. But you'll be bamboozled after seeing this picture⬇️

Haworthia's can survive in water only?

Yes, they can.

But if the plant is not problematic, the water is not problematic. Then what is problematic, the soil media? NO, your overwatering is the real problem. But how? cz here you just saw a picture of haworthia like a an actual haworthia standing nicely and thriving in water. Like if you search haworthia on google it shows "root rot of haworthia" as the relevant search, Ironical right?

What exactly is overwatering?

Hold on. I'll tell you.

As I have explained earlier in this blog watering deeply will not kill your plant but watering your plant lightly and frequently will. Let me grab a pen and paper and show you. See

Sketch of a plant — Okay we are trying infographics for this concept.

suppose this is your plant and we continue to water it lightly but frequently. What will happen now is that the soil will be waterlogged and the oxygen availability in the soil will start to deplete cz the soil is suffocating the plant also most of the oxygen will be consumed by the microbes present in the soil. Now the competition of oxygen is between microbes and plant. Once the oxygen is below the danger mark the microbes will die and anaerobic bacteria's will take their place. Now careful, cz these are the microbes which cause root-rot in plants!

whereas if you toss a plant in a glass it'll survive. Why?

sketch of a smiling plant. — Yes the plant is smiling.

Now here you can see the plant is smiling as here are no problematic microbes. If you are wandering how the plant will get oxygen from water. We know that water is H2O, so it will fulfill its oxygen requirements from that O of H2O. I bet you are feeling so wise. Go now and never kill a plant again in your life!

Trust me you can grow plants in water.

It is tidier.
It is less drama.
It is inexpensive.
It is fast growing.
It is easy to water.
It is more aesthetic.
It is easy to fertilise.
It is easy to propogate.
It is demands less space.

If you missed our last blog where we explained 9 Plants that are safe for kids, then go check it out by clicking the button below.

On this feeling of accomplishment. I'll take leave now. Stay strong Adopt plants. Do engage in the engagement tab below and for queries reach us at queriesanmolrajput@gmail.com. Signing out- Anmol Rajput.