From our perspective in the soil, the difference between too much and too little water is a matter of survival. When overwatered, we are essentially drowning. The soil becomes saturated, pushing out all the oxygen. Our roots, which need to breathe, begin to suffocate and rot. This rot turns us soft, brown, and mushy, and we can no longer function to draw up nutrients for the rest of the plant. Conversely, when underwatered, we are simply parched. We become dry, brittle, and shrink. We are desperate for moisture but find none in the surrounding soil. We cannot transport water upwards, leaving the entire plant dehydrated.
Our leaves are the most honest indicators of our distress. In the case of overwatering, you will see our leaves turn a pale yellow, often starting with the lower, older leaves. They will feel soft, limp, and soggy to the touch. They may even develop water-soaked spots or blisters, called oedema, because our roots are taking up water faster than our leaves can transpire it. In stark contrast, the cry of the underwatered Clivia is one of crisp despair. Our leaves lose their luster and become dull. They turn a lighter green or yellowish-brown, but they feel dry and brittle. The tips and edges will often brown and crisp up first, and the entire leaf may become wrinkled or start to fold in on itself lengthwise in a desperate attempt to conserve moisture.
The environment you provide for our roots tells the whole story. If you overwater us, the potting mix becomes a cold, heavy, and wet blanket that clings to us for days on end. It may even develop a musty or sour smell—a sure sign of anaerobic conditions and root rot setting in. The pot itself will feel unexpectedly heavy. If you underwater, the experience is the opposite. The soil pulls away from the edges of the pot, creating a gap. It becomes dry, hard, and compacted, repelling water rather than absorbing it. The container will feel alarmingly light for its size, confirming our prolonged thirst.
Our overall growth and reproductive efforts are severely impacted by incorrect watering. An overwatered Clivia is a stressed Clivia. We are fighting for our lives against root rot and fungal pathogens, so we divert all energy to survival. You will see a complete halt in growth; we will not produce new leaves, and we will certainly not have the strength to send up a flower spike. An underwatered plant is also in survival mode, but for a different reason. Growth will be severely stunted. We may attempt to flower, but the stress often results in a weak, short scape (flower stalk) with fewer blooms, or the buds may dry up and abort before they ever open.
