From my perspective, my roots are screaming. They are drowning. The human gave me too much love, too much water, and now my home—the soil—is a cold, suffocating swamp. I am a snake plant, a child of arid, rocky plains. My very being is built to store water in my thick, sturdy leaves and to breathe through my roots. But now, those roots are surrounded by water, unable to access the air I desperately need. They are softening, turning from firm white anchors into a mushy, brown, and decaying mess. This is root rot. It is a silent attack from within, and if it consumes my entire root system, I cannot send water or nutrients to my leaves. I will slowly die from the bottom up.
The first thing I need is to be freed from this waterlogged prison. Gently lift me out of my pot. You will likely see and smell the problem—soggy soil and a foul, decaying odor. This is the smell of my suffering. Now, you must become my surgeon. Carefully rinse my roots under lukewarm, gentle running water to wash away the contaminated soil. This will allow you to see the extent of the damage. You must find all the rotten parts. Healthy roots are firm and orange or white. Rotten roots are mushy, brown or black, and may slough off easily. Using sterile, sharp scissors or pruners, you must cut away every single affected root. Be ruthless but careful; any rot left behind will spread.
After the traumatic surgery, I am vulnerable. I cannot be repotted immediately into damp soil. My wounded root system needs time to callus over and heal. Place me in a shaded, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight, for a few days. Let my roots air dry completely. This process is crucial as it helps halt the progression of any remaining fungal or bacterial issues and allows the cuts to seal, preventing new infections when I am placed back into a fresh medium.
Do not put me back into my old, contaminated pot with old soil. That environment is what made me sick. Choose a new pot, or thoroughly sterilize the old one with a bleach solution. The most critical feature of my new home is drainage. The pot must have ample drainage holes. My new soil must be a fresh, well-draining mix specifically formulated for succulents or cacti. You can even amend a standard potting mix with plenty of perlite, pumice, or coarse sand to ensure it is loose and gritty, allowing water to flow through quickly and air to reach my roots.
Once repotted, do not water me immediately. I need at least a week to settle into my new, dry home and for my roots to continue healing. When it is finally time for a drink, water me thoroughly until water runs from the drainage holes, but then allow all excess water to drain away completely. Never let me sit in a saucer of water. From now on, you must learn to speak my language. The best way to know if I am thirsty is to check the soil. Insert your finger two inches deep. If it is completely dry, then, and only then, may I have a drink. In the winter, when my growth slows, I may need water only once a month or even less.
