First, you must correctly read the signs I am showing you. My leaves, once firm and perky, are now turning yellow, becoming soft, and drooping pathetically. They may even feel mushy to the touch. This is not a simple cry for water; it is a desperate signal that my roots are drowning and decaying in soil that has become a swamp. You might notice a foul, musty odor emanating from my pot—a sure sign of advanced root rot caused by anaerobic bacteria thriving in the oxygen-deprived environment.
You must act quickly. Gently remove me from my pot. Do not pull me by my stems, as I am very fragile in this state. Carefully tip the pot and ease me out, supporting the base of my main stem. Once I am out, gently remove the soggy soil from around my root ball to assess the damage. Healthy roots should be firm and white or light tan. Rotten roots will be dark brown or black, feel slimy and soft, and may fall apart easily. This is the source of my sickness.
This is the most critical step to save me. Using a pair of clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears (sterilized with rubbing alcohol to prevent spreading disease), you must carefully cut away all the rotted roots. Be ruthless but precise. Any remaining rot will spread. Cut back until you only see healthy, firm root tissue. It is better to remove too much than to leave any rot behind. After the pruning, you may wash my remaining healthy roots lightly with lukewarm water to help remove any leftover diseased material.
I cannot go back into the old, contaminated, soggy soil. You must repot me into a clean pot with adequate drainage holes. The pot can be the same size or even slightly smaller now that my root system is reduced. Choose a well-draining, airy potting mix specifically formulated for begonias or African Violets. You can also create your own mix using peat moss, perlite, and a little compost. This new environment will provide me with the oxygen and moisture balance I desperately need to recover.
After repotting, do not water me immediately! My roots are wounded and need time to callous over. Wait for a few days to a week before giving me a modest drink. Place me in a location with bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight will be too stressful for me in my weakened state. Hold off on fertilizing for at least a month, as my tender new roots can be burned by fertilizer salts. Be patient. Recovery is not instant. I will focus my energy on regenerating a healthy root system before I can put out new leaves.
