From our vantage point underground, the difference between too much and too little water is a matter of life and breath. When overwatered, the soil becomes a waterlogged prison. The air pockets between soil particles, which we rely on for oxygen, are completely filled with water. Our root hairs, the delicate structures that absorb water and nutrients, begin to suffocate and rot. This rot turns us soft, brown, and mushy, and we can no longer function. In contrast, underwatering leaves us desperately searching. The soil becomes hard, dry, and pulls away from the edges of the container or ground. Our root tips desiccate and die back, becoming brittle. We are unable to uptake what little moisture might be present, and our entire system begins to shut down from thirst.
We transport the water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves and flowers. The condition of our stems is a clear indicator of the plant's water status. Underwatering causes us to become weak, limp, and unable to hold the plant upright. You will observe wilting and a general lack of turgor pressure—we simply don't have the water volume to stay firm. Overwatering has a more sinister effect. Initially, we might appear unusually plump and soft. However, as the root rot progresses and ceases to send water upwards, we too will wilt. Crucially, an overwatered stem often feels soft and mushy to the touch, and may even appear darker in color or split, a sign of the cellular breakdown occurring within.
We leaves are the most visible billboards of the plant's health. When thirsty from underwatering, our response is dramatic. We become limp, droopy, and may curl at the edges to reduce surface area and minimize water loss. Our texture turns crisp, dry, and papery. We begin to yellow, often starting at the tips and edges, and then we turn brown and brittle before falling off. The entire plant takes on a dry, crispy appearance. The overwatering story we tell is different. Our yellowing is more uniform across the leaf or appears in patches between the veins. We become soft, limp, and bloated, feeling fleshy rather than dry. In severe cases, blisters or water-soaked spots (oedema) may form on our undersides. Eventually, we will also drop, but we will do so while still feeling soft and pulpy.
Our primary purpose is to attract pollinators and ensure the next generation. Both water extremes prevent us from fulfilling this role. Underwatering causes significant stress, directing the plant's last reserves to survival, not reproduction. Therefore, we may fail to develop at all, be significantly smaller than usual, or drop our buds prematurely before they ever open. Overwatering leads to the same outcome but through a different path. The compromised root system cannot supply the energy required to form us. If we do manage to bloom, our vibrancy will be dulled, our petals may be misshapen, and our overall display will be lackluster and weak, mirroring the sickness in the roots below.
