Overwatering causes plants to drown from lack of oxygen, or suffer from root rot and fungus because they can’t dry out properly. Underwatering is equally detrimental to your plants’ health.

If there was no photosynthesis, plants and animals likely could not exist. In addition the atmosphere would have very little oxygen because photosynthesis releases a large amount of oxygen into the air. Otherwise, the Earth would be a pretty barren lifeless place without photosynthesis.

No, plants cannot grow without photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is needed to make chemical products to make energy for the plant. The energy is then used to grow the plant. If a plant doesn’t have photosynthesis, it doesn’t grow, and will die.

When plants are not watered properly they wilt. When a plant is properly hydrated, there is enough water pressure to make the leaves strong and sturdy; when a plant doesn’t get enough water, the pressure inside the stems and leaves drops and they wilt. Plants also need water for photosynthesis.

4 Signs You are Overwatering Your Plants

1. The tip of this plant’s leaf is brown, but it feels soft and limp due to overwatering. Roots are Critical to Plant Life.
2. Leaves Turn Brown and Wilt. When plants have too little water, leaves turn brown and wilt.
3. Water Pressure Begins to Build.
4. Stunted Slow Growth.

The signs for an overwatered plant are:

• Lower leaves are yellow.
• Plant looks wilted.
• Roots will be rotting or stunted.
• No new growth.
• Young leaves will turn brown.
• Soil will appear green (which is algae)

Water newly planted tomatoes well to make sure soil is moist and ideal for growing. Early in the growing season, watering plants daily in the morning. As temperatures increase, you might need to water tomato plants twice a day. Garden tomatoes typically require 1-2 inches of water a week.

Too Much Water Watering your tomato plants properly is the key to tomato success. Too much water and the plants drown—too little could cause blossom end rot,. Inconsistent watering can also cause blossom end rot, split tomatoes, and stressed plants.

A general baseline is considered to be 2 inches (5 cm.) of water a week for a plant in the ground (more often for container plants). Due to all of the factors above, this amount may be too much or too little for your tomato plant.

Once root rot is identified, you must determine if the plant can be saved. If the entire root system has already become mushy, it is too late to save the plant. However, if some healthy, white, firm roots exist, try to bring the plant back to good health by replanting in fresh soil with good drainage.

Root Rot Diseases The mature leaves are generally the first to display symptoms. Tomato plants infected with phytophthora develop brown, necrotic lesions on the foliage that coalesce into larger lesions while the entire plant wilts.

The most distinctive symptoms of Phytophthora root rot are the brown lesions on roots of all sizes. The xylem of the roots above the lesions often turns yellowish or brown. In severe cases, nearly all roots may be girdled or rotted off. Aboveground, infected plants are slow growing and may wilt or die in hot weather.

Prolonged root rot may lead to death of the plant. In extreme cases, plants affected by root rot may die within 10 days. Root rot is usually lethal although it is treatable. An affected plant will not normally survive, but may potentially be propagated.

The soil that contaminated with root rot fungus can be sterilized first then it can be reused. Potting soil can be sterilized by mixing it with water then expose it to boiling temperature.