Hello, human. I am your snake plant, *Dracaena trifasciata*. I am a resilient being, evolved for arid, unforgiving landscapes. My thick, architectural leaves are not just for your décor; they are my water reservoirs, allowing me to endure long periods of drought. Your kindness with water, however, has become a threat. The constant saturation of my soil is an environment I am not built for. My roots, which need to breathe, are drowning. I am suffering from root rot. But I want to live. Here is what is happening to me and how you can help, from my perspective.
I cannot speak, but I communicate clearly through my foliage. Please, learn my language. The earliest cry for help is my leaves becoming soft, mushy, and translucent, particularly at their base near the soil line. They may feel like overripe fruit. You might also notice them turning yellow, a sign the cells are rupturing and chlorophyll is breaking down. In severe cases, my leaves will collapse entirely, falling over at their base because the supportive root structure has been destroyed by anaerobic bacteria and fungi thriving in the waterlogged conditions.
You must act decisively. Gently lift me from my pot. Be cautious, as my compromised tissues are very fragile. Shake off the wet soil to expose my root system. Now, you must assess the damage. Healthy roots are firm and may have an orange or white hue. Rotted roots are brown or black, mushy, slimy, and will likely fall apart to the touch. They may also have a foul, decaying smell. This rot is a disease and will spread if not removed.
This is the most critical step. Using a sharp, sterile tool (a knife or pruning shears cleaned with rubbing alcohol), you must cut away all the soft, rotten roots. Be ruthless but precise; any rot left behind will continue to decay. Cut until you only see firm, healthy root tissue. If the rot has advanced up into my leaf bases (the part that connects the leaf to the root system), you must cut away the affected leaves at the soil level. They cannot be saved and are a source of infection.
After the surgery, I am vulnerable. Do not repot me immediately into new, damp soil. You must let my root system and any cut surfaces callous over. Place me in a shaded, well-ventilated area for 24-48 hours. This drying period is crucial to prevent new fungal attacks. Once calloused, repot me into a clean pot with ample drainage holes, using a fresh, fast-draining succulent or cactus mix. You can even add extra perlite or pumice for better aeration. Do not water me immediately. My leaves are full of stored water; I can wait.
To prevent this from happening again, you must fundamentally change how you care for me. I thrive on neglect. Before you even think about watering, test the soil. Insert your finger or a chopstick deep into the pot. If you feel any moisture at all, wait. Water me only when the soil is completely dry all the way to the bottom of the pot. When you do water, do so thoroughly until water flows from the drainage holes, but then ensure I never sit in a saucer of standing water. In winter, when my growth slows, I may need water only once a month or even less.
