What Happens When a Sage Plant is Overwatered?

Moisture Requirements

• The amount of moisture sage plants require depends on the specific variety of this herbaceous plant. According to Texas A&M University, purple sage needs about .065 gallons of water per day, while Mexican bush sage needs around .09 gallons and autumn sage requires about .14 gallons of water every day. Although this is an average daily amount, the correct time to water sage is when the soil feels slightly dry just below the surface. Depending on your cultivar and the amount of natural precipitation in your area, you may need to water your sage plants once every week or two. Watering too frequently can stress sage plants and lead to unhealthy plants.

Appearance

• Overwatering causes sage plants to drop their leaves, often making both the old and young leaves fall at the same time. Leaves that remain on the sage plants may develop soft areas of rot that appear as brown spots on the leaves. Overwatering during the blossoming stage can cause the flowers to develop mold, making them appear discolored and limp.

Root Conditions

• Overwatering tends to affect the roots of the sage plant by suffocating them. Healthy growing conditions allow the roots to absorb nutrients and oxygen. Excessive amounts of water deplete the amount of oxygen in the soil surrounding the underground roots. Root rot is a common result of waterlogged soil. Root rot causes the roots to soften and blacken. Suffocation from overwatering can eventually lead to the death of sage plants.

Disease

• Too much water encourages the growth of disease and fungus. While many viral and bacterial pathogens, as well as fungal spores, tend to lie dormant in the soil during dry conditions, moist conditions often provide the dampness necessary for the growth and reproduction of these disorders. Diseased sage vegetation may develop spots, limpness or wilting. Correcting the soil moisture and treating the underlying disease or fungus condition can help minimize damage to sage plants.