Tomato plants need water, but they cannot handle too much water. Once they get too much water, issues will start appearing. However, most of the tomato plants will not be able to recover completely after the incidents. The most common problem is that the leaves will start to show signs of getting dull and then they will turn yellow. Soon, the whole plants are showing signs of dying until they finally die. Even when the gardener spotted the issue and tries to correct it, nothing seems to work. Why is that? Well, this may be caused by the rotton tomato rots.
The Root rot in tomatoes as well as other types of plants are ignited by two problems, the prolonged contact with too much water and also fungus in the soil. Among the two, the first one is the most common cause among the two. When the roots are overwatered, they will die back as the roots do not get enough oxygen. When the root dies, the plant dies eventually because the rot will then spread from the infected areas to the healthy areas and kill all of them in the process.
This process will still continue, even when the overwatered situation is fixed. As for the second cause, the fungus in the soil, it is quite unpredictable. They may lay dormant in the soil for some times, but they can suddenly flourish. When they flourish, there is usually a trigger. The most common trigger is also the overwater. One or two times of overwatered condition is enough to trigger the problem.
When you find that your tomato plant is withering for no obvious reason, then maybe you can try to check the roots. Just take out plants from the soil and see the roots. If you see that the roots are black and when you feel with your hands, they are mushy, then the roots are rotten. Roots which are healthy may be pale or black, but they are not mushy. They are firm and they are pliable.
When you think that you overwater a plant, at quickly as problems may arise in only after one time of overwatering. Treat the roots to give the chance for the plants to survive. First thing to do is to pull out the plant and wash the roots with running water gently. Then trim the affected roots by using shears or scissors. Do not be afraid even when you have to cut a significant amount of root.
