How to Revive Wilted Potted Plants

A plant that has wilted has lost the moisture from its inner cell structure. The roots need to be rehydrated so that they can deliver water to the foliage. Potted plants present a challenge because when they dry out, the soil pulls away from the sides of the pot. Water runs around the outside of the root ball and out the drainage hole, never reaching the water-starved roots. Here's what to do:

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Washtubs
• Watering Cans
• Plastic Bucket

1. Fill a bucket, sink or basin halfway with water. (With the container only half full, you won't need to worry about overflow.) Make sure the container is large enough to accommodate the entire pot, all the way to the rim.

2. Plunge the plant (in the pot) into the water-filled container. If the rim of the pot is not covered by water, add more. It's all right if water covers some of the foliage. You may need to weigh down the pot with a brick or a stone to keep it from floating to the surface.

3. Keep the plant in the container until bubbles stop rising from the soil. Bubbles indicate air pockets in the root ball.

4. Keep the plant in the water for at least a half hour after the bubbles stop, to assure that the soil is completely saturated.

5. Remove the pot from the container and allow the plant to drain.

6. Place the potted plant inside a large plastic bag and close it tightly. This step will provide much-needed humidity to the foliage while the roots go back into action. Keep the bagged plant in a shady area.

7. Remove the plant from the bag and move it back to its original location once it has revived (this could take as little as a few hours, or several days).

Tips & Warnings

• Plants that have dried out may develop brown tips on the leaf edges. Cut them off with scissors.

• Keep the plant out of full sunlight until it has recovered fully. The more light a plant receives, the more water it uses.

• If the plant refuses to revive, take stem cuttings to propagate a new plant.

• Plants in the ground can be revived by running water slowly around the roots.

• This is a messy process, best done outside.