Hello from below the soil! My root system is my mouth, my stomach, and my anchor, all in one. Understanding my drinking habits is the single most important thing you can do for me. I am a Grevillea, bred from hardy Australian ancestors, and my roots are particularly sensitive. They despise being constantly wet. Soggy, waterlogged soil is a death sentence, suffocating my roots and inviting rot. My plea is for a "soak and dry" cycle. Please water me deeply until I can't take another drop and it runs from my pot's drainage holes. Then, and this is crucial, let me almost completely dry out before the next generous drink.
I will communicate my needs to you through my foliage. Pay close attention. When I am truly thirsty, my normally firm, glossy leaves will begin to droop and feel limp. They might lose their luster. This is my clear, desperate signal for water. However, if my leaves start to yellow, particularly the older ones lower down, and feel soft or mushy, you are loving me too much with water. This yellowing is a sign of distress from my drowning roots. Browning leaf tips can also be a sign of overwatering, or sometimes, from the chemicals in tap water, which I'm not a huge fan of.
When it is time to water, please do it properly. Drizzling a little water on the surface does me no good; it only wets the top inch and my deepest, thirstiest roots remain parched. You must pour water evenly over the entire soil surface until it flows freely from the bottom of my pot. This ensures my entire root ball is hydrated. I would be immensely grateful if you used room-temperature water, as cold water shocks my system. Let me sit in the drained water for no more than 15 minutes to ensure I've had my fill, then always empty the saucer beneath me. I never, ever want to sit in a puddle.
My thirst is not constant throughout the year. During the spring and summer, when the sun is strong and I am actively growing and perhaps even flowering, I will need frequent drinks. The increased light and warmth make me use water much faster. However, in the autumn and winter, my growth slows dramatically. I enter a period of rest. During this time, my soil will take much longer to dry out. You must extend the time between waterings significantly. Always check my soil moisture before watering, regardless of the season.
My ability to thrive is directly tied to what you plant me in. I demand a potting mix that is extremely well-draining. A standard mix is too moisture-retentive for my sensitive roots. Please plant me in a native Australian plant mix or amend a standard potting mix with plenty of coarse sand, perlite, or pumice to ensure it is loose and fast-draining. The pot you choose is equally important. It must have excellent drainage holes. A terracotta pot is a fantastic choice for me, as it is porous and allows the soil to dry out more evenly from the sides, reducing the risk of root rot.
