From our perspective beneath the soil, the difference is a matter of life and death. When you overwater us, you are essentially drowning our root system. The soil becomes perpetually saturated, filling all the air pockets with water. We roots need to breathe, and this constant suffocation causes us to rot. We become soft, mushy, and brown, losing our ability to absorb nutrients and water at all, which is a cruel irony. Conversely, underwatering forces us into a state of desperation. We search frantically through the dry, shrinking soil for any hint of moisture. We may become brittle, thin, and shriveled as we dehydrate. While we are built to endure this search for a long time, our growth and vitality are put on hold as we simply try to survive.
The condition of our leaves is the most telling sign for you. When overwatered, the damage starts with you unknowingly rotting our roots. With a compromised root system, we can no longer draw water up to our leaves, even though the soil is wet. This causes a confusing paradox where our leaves become soft, soggy, and yellow, often starting at the base. They may feel mushy and fall over with a gentle touch. In severe cases, they will literally rot from the bottom up. When underwatered, the problem is far more direct. Without water arriving from the roots, our leaves lose their internal water pressure (turgor). They respond by becoming dry, brittle, and wrinkled. You might feel sharp, crispy edges or see the leaves begin to fold or crease lengthwise as they desperately try to conserve the little moisture they have left.
Our pot is our entire world, and its condition is a direct report on our well-being. An overwatered world is a cold, heavy, and swampy one. The soil will feel wet and clumpy to the touch many days after you last watered. There may be mold or algae growing on the surface, and the pot itself will feel much heavier than it should. A musty, unpleasant odor is a sure sign that our roots are decaying in their waterlogged environment. An underwatered world is the complete opposite. The soil becomes dry, hard, and compacted. It will pull away from the edges of the pot, and when you water, you may see the water rush down the sides without actually moistening the root ball. The pot will feel exceptionally light, as if it's empty, confirming our prolonged thirst.
Our growth, or lack thereof, tells the final chapter of the story. An overwatered snake plant is a plant in severe distress. You will see a complete halt in growth, as all our energy is diverted to a futile fight against root rot. Any new pups or shoots will likely fail to develop or will quickly become soft and yellow. Our overall stance is slumped and collapsing. An underwatered snake plant, while stressed, is often still trying to live. Our growth will be extremely slow or stunted, but we are not immediately dying. We are in a state of dormancy, waiting patiently for the water we need to resume life. We might look wilted and wrinkled, but we haven't given up the will to live.
