---
title: "Update: I removed the plant from the soil and sure enough I had root…"
description: "Update: I removed the plant from the soil and sure enough I had root rot and the soil was super soggy. The soil is dense, so I switched out the soil with a…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/6559795a34d2f75b377bad1d"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Brianna"
published: "2023-11-19T02:56:26.968Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/v-ckL1C4NNUXU7iOh5iGWLRfrVV6MN7y7YPZ4vAOvog/09a0a0bebad341708e2fcd07e6d44d53.webp?size=large"
---

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# Update: I removed the plant from the soil and sure enough I had root…

_Posted by Brianna on 2023-11-19_

Update: I removed the plant from the soil and sure enough I had root rot and the soil was super soggy. The soil is dense, so I switched out the soil with a less dense and lighter organic soil with moisture control. I soaked the roots in hydrogen peroxide and now the plant seems to be revived. Leaves that were once brown have returned to their original color.

I checked out my other plants and 3 of them had the same issue. I went ahead and repotted all of them and soaked their roots in hydrogen peroxide as well.

Thank you to everyone for the help :)

Original post: New plant mom here! I bought this pink polka dot plant a few weeks ago and it seems like its life will be cut short very soon. The leaves are turning brown and falling off and I'm not sure why.

I live in a north facing apartment, so I have a grow light to compensate. I've been following the watering schedule provided by the planta app.

Any suggestions of what I can do to bring it back to life?

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/v-ckL1C4NNUXU7iOh5iGWLRfrVV6MN7y7YPZ4vAOvog/09a0a0bebad341708e2fcd07e6d44d53.webp?size=large)

## 9 comments

### Dana commented on 2023-11-19

Did tou check her roots?

#### Brianna replied on 2023-11-19

No I haven't. What should I be looking for?

#### Dana replied on 2023-11-19

anything that is either mushy, dry or looks like its way too thin to be a root

#### Brianna replied on 2023-11-19

I added an update! Thanks for the help :)

### FriendofVeg commented on 2023-11-19

These ones also regularly shed their leaves even when happy.

### mini commented on 2023-11-19

i water mine one the top 2 inches of soil are dry , you can check this by doing the cake stick method. ( stick a chop stick or something like that and see if any soil sticks to the stick. ) and i have mine in a window that gets some light but not much.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/8TBxMwkM3I9pD5gscrD1UNEUNW2bG9FUz19Tn65jpDA/e40fa41061c340f7945e45fc30f31b77.webp?size=large)

#### Brianna replied on 2023-11-19

Thank you! I'll definitely try the cake stick method

### Lindsay in PA commented on 2023-11-19

Don’t follow the water schedule. Only use that as a suggestion. Check the soil first.

#### Brianna replied on 2023-11-19

Noted. I put too much faith in the watering schedule they gave me haha. Thank you!

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