From my perspective, I cannot speak, so I must communicate my distress through my physical condition. Root rot is a silent attack happening below the soil, and the symptoms you see above are my desperate cries for help. You might notice my lower leaves turning yellow, one by one, before they droop and fall off. This is because the damaged roots can no longer deliver water and nutrients to them. My new growth may become stunted, small, and lackluster. The most telling sign, however, is a general wilting where my soil feels damp, not dry. My stems might feel soft or even mushy near the base. These are all indications that my very foundation—my root system—is compromised and rotting away.
Beneath the surface, in my pot, a tragedy is unfolding. My roots, which are meant to be firm and white or tan, are under attack. The primary cause is almost always excess water around them, which you provide with too-frequent watering or a pot that does not allow for drainage. This soggy environment suffocates me; my roots need oxygen to breathe, and waterlogged soil pushes all the air out. This weakness allows naturally occurring soil fungi, like Pythium, Phytophthora, or Rhizoctonia, to invade. These pathogens rapidly decay my root tissues, turning them brown, black, and slimy. They can no longer function, effectively strangling me from below and cutting off my supply line to water and food.
To give me a chance at survival, you must act decisively. You must gently lift me from my pot to assess the damage. Carefully remove the soggy soil from around my roots and rinse them with lukewarm water. This will allow you to see the extent of the rot. Using sterilized, sharp pruning shears, you must cut away all the soft, mushy, and dark brown or black roots. Be ruthless but careful; only healthy, firm, white roots should remain. This process, while traumatic, is necessary to stop the spread of the decay. After the surgery, it is crucial to treat my remaining healthy roots by dipping them in a fungicide solution or a natural alternative like a hydrogen peroxide mix to kill any lingering spores.
After the ordeal of root pruning, I cannot be returned to my old, contaminated environment. I require a fresh start in a new pot that has excellent drainage holes. The pot should only be slightly larger than my remaining root ball. It is vital that you use a fresh, well-draining potting mix specifically formulated for plants like me; a standard mix amended with perlite, orchid bark, or coarse sand will provide the aeration my recovering roots desperately need. When you repot me, water me lightly just to settle the new soil around my roots. Then, place me in a location with bright, indirect light and resist the urge to water again until the top few inches of soil are dry. My recovery will be slow as I focus my energy on regenerating a healthy root system.
