First, you must understand the signs I am showing you. My leaves, normally proud and upright, are becoming yellow, soft, and wilted. They may droop pathetically, and the vibrant green is fading. You might notice a general sogginess, and worst of all, a foul, musty odor could be emanating from my soil. This smell is the tell-tale sign of root rot, a deadly condition for me. The beautiful flowers I worked so hard to produce will likely wither and drop prematurely. I am essentially drowning, and my roots, which need oxygen to function, are suffocating and beginning to decay.
This is the most critical step to save my life. You must act quickly. Gently lift me out of my waterlogged pot. Be very careful with my delicate tuber (my swollen base, which is my storage organ). Carefully remove as much of the wet, clinging soil as possible from my root ball. Now, inspect my roots. Healthy roots are firm and white. Rotten roots are mushy, brown, or black, and they will likely fall apart easily. Using sterile, sharp scissors, you must trim away all the rotten roots. This is a surgery to stop the decay from spreading. It might feel drastic, but it is necessary.
I cannot go back into my old, soggy soil. You must prepare a new pot for me. Ensure it has excellent drainage holes. My new soil must be a fresh, well-draining mix. A blend designed for African Violets or a mixture of potting soil with added perlite or coarse sand is ideal. This new environment will allow water to flow through freely and provide vital air pockets for my remaining healthy roots. Repot me gently, placing my tuber so its top is slightly above the soil line. Do not water me immediately! My roots are wounded and need time to callous over.
After the trauma of repotting, I need a quiet, stable environment to recover. Place me in a location with bright, indirect light. Direct sun will scorch my stressed leaves. Most importantly, withhold water for at least a week, sometimes longer. Let my soil become almost completely dry before you even consider giving me a drink. You must learn my new watering language. Going forward, water me only when the soil feels dry to the touch an inch below the surface. When you do water, water thoroughly from the bottom by placing my pot in a saucer of water for about 15-20 minutes, allowing me to drink what I need, then discard any excess. Never let me sit in water.
To prevent this from happening again, you must understand my natural cycle. I am native to Mediterranean regions and prefer cooler temperatures. I enjoy being moist but never wet. My leaves can absorb humidity, so a cool, bright bathroom is often a perfect home for me. Please, learn to check my soil moisture with your finger before watering. Your care and attention to these details will allow me to reward you with many more seasons of my unique, butterfly-like blooms.
