From my perspective as an oregano plant, root rot is a silent, suffocating terror. It begins not in my leaves, which you see, but in my hidden foundation—my root system. The primary assailants are pathogens from the genera *Pythium*, *Phytophthora*, and *Rhizoctonia*. These fungal-like organisms thrive in waterlogged, oxygen-starved soil, a condition that is fatal for my roots. We roots need to breathe; when water fills all the air pockets in the soil, we begin to drown and weaken, becoming easy targets for these opportunistic pathogens. They invade our tissues, consuming us from the inside and blocking our ability to uptake water and essential nutrients, no matter how moist the soil is.
To keep me healthy and resilient, you must replicate my preferred Mediterranean home. I crave sharp drainage above all else. Plant me in a loose, well-aerated potting mix, amended with perlite, coarse sand, or gravel. My pot must have unobstructed drainage holes. I am a drought-tolerant plant; my roots are designed to seek moisture and prefer to dry out substantially between waterings. Please only water me when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel completely dry to your touch. Furthermore, I enjoy basking in full sun with good air circulation around my foliage, which helps keep the soil surface dry and discourages pathogen growth.
I will try to communicate my distress. The first signs of trouble are often visible above the soil. You may notice my vigorous growth has stalled. My leaves, normally firm and aromatic, will begin to wilt, turn yellow, or become soft and mushy, despite the soil being wet. This is the cruel irony of root rot—I am dying of thirst while my roots are drowning. The most definitive sign is found below the surface. If you gently lift me from my pot, the healthy white or tan roots will have turned brown or black, will feel slimy to the touch, and may fall apart easily. A foul, decaying smell from the soil is a clear indicator of advanced infection.
If caught early, I may be saved. You must act quickly. First, carefully remove me from the contaminated, soggy soil. Gently wash my roots under lukewarm running water to remove the old soil and clearly assess the damage. With sterilized shears, meticulously prune away all dark, mushy, and rotten roots. Be ruthless; only healthy, firm roots should remain. Soak my remaining root system in a fungicide solution approved for edible plants or a natural antifungal like diluted hydrogen peroxide. Finally, repot me into a clean, disinfected pot with entirely fresh, dry, well-draining potting mix. Water me sparingly at first to avoid shocking my damaged roots and allow me to recover in a bright, warm, but not scorching, location.
