From my perspective, nestled in your soil, my roots are my mouth and my anchor. I rely on you to provide a consistent, deep drink. When you water me, please do so thoroughly, allowing the moisture to penetrate deep into the ground. This encourages my roots to grow downwards, creating a strong, resilient foundation. Shallow, frequent sprinkles are confusing; they tease my roots into staying near the surface, where they are vulnerable to drying out quickly in the sun and heat. A deep, satisfying drink less often is far superior to a daily, superficial sip. My goal is to establish a deep root system that can access water reserves you can't even see.
While I am desperately thirsty, I also need to breathe. My roots require oxygen from the air pockets within the soil to function and to take up all that wonderful water and nutrients you give me. This is my central dilemma. If you are too generous and keep my feet constantly soaked in water, you drown me. The soil becomes waterlogged, pushing out all the air. My roots will begin to suffocate and rot, turning soft and brown, and I will be unable to feed myself, leading to my decline. The ideal state for me is consistently moist but never soggy soil. Think of a well-wrung-out sponge—that is the perfect environment for my root system to thrive.
I cannot speak your language, but I am constantly communicating my hydration status to you. On a hot, sunny day, you might see my leaves and blossoms looking slightly wilted in the afternoon sun. This is my natural reaction to conserve water, and I will often perk up again in the cooler evening air. However, if I am still wilted in the morning, that is a clear, desperate cry for a deep drink. Please also pay attention to my flowers and leaves. If my buds are dropping before they open or my flowers are small and sparse, I am likely stressed from inconsistent watering. Conversely, yellowing leaves, particularly lower down, can be a sign you are loving me a little too much and my roots are struggling.
My water needs are not static; they change as I grow and as the world around me changes. When I am just a young seedling, my roots are tiny and shallow. I need gentle, more frequent watering to keep the immediate area moist as I establish myself. As I mature and burst into my glorious flowering phase, my thirst increases significantly. Producing all these blooms is hard work and requires ample water. During the peak of summer, I will need your most vigilant attention, potentially requiring a deep watering every other day or even daily if the weather is extremely hot and dry. As my flowering slows and the season cools, you can gradually reduce your watering schedule.
