Steps . How to combat root rot. Check all plants for root rot before making a purchase. After treating root rot in the plant, repot the plant … The leaves may look dull first. It is recommended that gardeners follow all of these suggestions to avoid the likelihood of a plant becoming contaminated with root rot. Continue treating root rot by disposing of the soil in the pot that the plant was in. 1. Method 1 of 4: Watching for Root Rot. In the case of extreme root rot, propagate pothos to get a new plant. Then re-pot the plant in new, slightly damp ground. While the above measures may prevent the onset and progression of the disease, severe infections can only be addressed by discarding the crop entirely, starting from scratch with new, healthy plants. Many factors can trigger root rot but they are mostly preventable. One of the first signs of root rot is when the leaves begin to turn yellow or brown. If possible, dip the remaining healthy roots in a fungicide solution to kill off any possible root rot fungus. By then, unfortunately, the damage has already been done. Look for yellow leaves. Let the solution act in the pot for 30 minutes before rinsing. Despite the name, "root rot," gardeners usually spot signs of the disease in the plant's leaves, not its roots. To save pothos from root rot trim off the infected roots. How to Identify Root Rot . Then repot the plant in a sterile pot with fresh, well-draining soil and avoid overwatering. Be careful that the pot where you re-pot the plant is well drained. However, the best way to deal with root rot is to prevent it in the first place. Once wilting occurs, the disease has advanced to the point it is no longer possible to save the plant. Root rot prevents the plant from getting water and nutrients, and can be fatal if it progresses too far. Prevention is always a better course of action than mitigation. All root rot diseases will ultimately result in root death and wilting of the poinsettia crop. The specifics of treatment depends upon the severity of the condition. Ten Ways to Prevent Root Rot in Potted Plants. Buy plants that come from a source of high reputation. Treat root rot by removing your plant from its pot and washing the old soil from the roots. Then repot the plant to a new pot using fresh soil mix. Depending on how far the root rot has progressed, you may still be able to save it. In order to save your Money Tree, you’ll need to clear away the infected roots, drain out the excess water and transfer your plant to new soil. Wash the pot thoroughly with a bleach solution. Unfortunately, the diseases causing root rot are hard to eradicate completely. Then soften the plant’s roots in a fungicidal solution that is as far as possible made from non-toxic chemicals. To monitor for root diseases, a grower should regularly gently remove a poinsettia from its container and examine the roots. Cut all the diseased roots from the plant with sterile pruners, leaving only healthy roots. That means they're not getting enough water and nutrients, which in turn is due to dying or damaged root systems. The reason that root rot is so hard to detect in a timely manner is that it is developing underground, out of sight. Clean the remaining root system and then treat it with a fungicide to disinfect.