From our roots to our fragrant flower spikes, we lavender plants are perfectly adapted to thrive in sunny, arid conditions. Our very essence is the dry, rocky hills of the Mediterranean. Therefore, understanding water from our perspective is not about how much we can get, but how little we truly need. Excessive moisture is one of the greatest threats to our well-being. Here is how we communicate our distress when we are drowning.
Our leaves are the first to sound the alarm. Healthy lavender foliage is firm, silvery-green, and upright. When our roots are suffocating in waterlogged soil, the first sign you will see is a change in our leaves. They will become soft, limp, and may appear dull or pale green, losing their characteristic silvery hue. In severe cases, the leaves will begin to yellow, starting with the older, lower leaves. This yellowing is a clear signal that we are unable to access the nutrients we need due to root damage.
While you cannot see it immediately, the real tragedy unfolds underground. Our root systems are designed to seek out deep water reserves, making them extensive but susceptible to rot in constantly wet, poorly drained soil. When overwatered, the soil pores fill with water, pushing out the oxygen our roots need to breathe. Without oxygen, our roots begin to die and decay, turning brown, black, and mushy. This root rot is a silent killer; by the time it manifests in the foliage above, the damage is often extensive and sometimes irreversible.
Damp conditions on our foliage and at our base create an ideal environment for fungal pathogens. You may notice a fuzzy gray growth (Botrytis) on our leaves and flower buds, or the base of our stems may become soft, dark, and rotten (Phytophthora root rot or other fungal infections). These diseases thrive in the humidity and lack of air circulation that often accompanies overwatering. They quickly compound the problem, attacking already weakened tissues and accelerating our decline.
Beyond specific symptoms, our entire being reflects the stress of overwatering. Our growth will become stunted. New shoots will be weak and spindly as we lack the healthy root system to support vigorous growth. We will fail to produce our signature fragrant blooms, or the flower production will be severely diminished. Most tellingly, we will exhibit signs of wilting that mimic underwatering—our leaves droop and we look sad. This is a critical paradox: we wilt because our rotten roots can no longer absorb any water, even if it is present in the soil.
The most reliable way to understand our needs is to check our environment. Do not water us on a schedule. Instead, feel the soil around our base. It must be allowed to dry out completely, not just on the surface but several inches down, before even considering more water. A consistently damp or cold soil, especially if it feels clumpy and compacted, confirms that we are sitting in conditions that are utterly contrary to our nature and survival instincts.
