Plant guide:🍅 Tomato
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Root Rot in Container-Grown Tomatoes ïŋ― tomato plant care
⚠ Critical

Wilting despite moist soil ïŋ― a telltale sign of root rot from waterlogged, poorly-draining potting mix.

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Roots

Root Rot in Container-Grown Tomatoes

Commonly affects: Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato)

The plant wilts despite moist soil, with lower leaves yellowing and dropping. Roots, when checked, are brown, soft, and mushy rather than firm and white, sometimes with a sour smell from the soil.

Potential Causes

  1. 1Overwatering or poor drainage keeping the root zone waterlogged
  2. 2Pots without adequate drainage holes
  3. 3Dense, water-retentive potting mix without enough aeration
  4. 4Fungal pathogens such as Pythium or Fusarium thriving in saturated soil

Solution Steps

  1. 1Remove the plant from its pot and trim away any brown, mushy roots with sterilised scissors.
  2. 2Repot into fresh, well-draining potting mix with added perlite.
  3. 3Ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes and never sits in standing water.
  4. 4Reduce watering frequency, letting the top few centimetres of soil dry between waterings.

Prevention Tip

Use a well-draining potting mix with at least 20ïŋ―30% perlite, and always empty saucers of standing water after watering container-grown tomatoes.

More Root Problems Problems

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Root Rot — Pythium & Phytophthora Infection

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Root-Knot Nematodes — Meloidogyne Galls

Compacted, Anaerobic Substrate — monstera plant care

Compacted, Anaerobic Substrate

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