The Best Way To Save An Over-Watered Tomato Plant Before It's Too Late

Noticing wilted leaves on your precious tomato plants? The culprit may be something you wouldn't expect: Overwatering. You've spent hours working on your precious tomato plants, keeping them moist, protecting them from pests, and making sure they get enough sun. You've probably been trying to make sure that your plants don't get too dry—no good deed goes unpunished, right? Luckily, if you're noticing signs of an over-watered tomato plant, like those wilting leaves, there is a simple fix. All you have to do is step away from the garden hose. That's right—just stop watering. Having other tomato issues? Here are the 18 handiest hacks to remember when growing tomatoes.

The most important step in treating an overwatered tomato plant is recognizing the signs to prevent root rot, an affliction caused by one or more types of fungi. In more severe cases of root rot, you may have to resort to cutting off damaged roots or even starting fresh with a new plant. But before you reach that point, it's not a bad idea to try to save the plant using the simplest methods first — the most urgent of which is to dry it out. With the right approach, you can save your waterlogged tomatoes and get back on track to a beautiful harvest.

Sometimes it's hard to know what your plants are trying to tell you, and overwatered tomato plants can be tricky to recognize. The first tell-tale sign, as mentioned, is wilting leaves. This one is tough—most gardeners would think that wilting leaves signify that the plant is too dry. The thing is, when tomato roots are overwatered, they simply can't breathe—leading to those droopy leaves. 

Another sign of overwatering is yellowing or brown leaves. Soaking your plants too frequently can lead to an imbalance of nutrients, like nitrogen, in the soil, leading to a change in color. Blistered or cracked fruit is another indicator of over-watering; the tomato fruit is literally bursting with too much water. And moldy or smelly soil can also mean you've been a little overzealous with the hose. If you're a chronic over-waterer, the toothpick method is an affordable, eco-friendly hack to never over-water your garden plants again. Over-watering doesn't always result from your watering habits, though. Excess rainfall, planting the tomato plant too deep into the ground, and poor drainage can also lead to a waterlogged plant.

If you catch it in time, an over-watered plant isn't necessarily a dead plant. There are several steps you can take to remedy the soggy situation. Once you've identified that your plant is indeed being overwatered, it's important to stop watering it. If you're getting a lot of rain and your plant is in a pot, temporarily move it inside or under shelter while it rains. You should water your plant only when the soil is very dry to the touch. Additionally, make sure that your potted tomato plant isn't sitting in a saucer full of water.

Once the plant has dried out, it's time to tackle the soil. You can treat the soil around the base of the plant with a fungicide to discourage growth of moisture-related fungus, and you can also spray the leaves of the plant with an anti-fungal foliar spray. If your tomato plant is in a pot and isn't too large, consider replanting it with better-draining soil. The best DIY soil mix for container vegetable gardens includes amendments like volcanic rock perlite to help with drainage. It's at this point that you can examine the roots for signs of root rot — rotting roots will have a slimy and gray or dark brown appearance. If your tomato plant is in a planter with other plants, you may want to examine their respective roots for signs of rot as well. 

Finally, once you've brought your tomato plant back from the brink of an overwatered death, you can resume watering in a conservative fashion. Don't water every day; rather, wait a few days in between soaking your plants to allow the soil to dry out a bit. It's also important to avoid wetting the leaves of the plant when you water — try to water the plant closely to its base instead of showering the whole thing.