From our perspective as Portulaca plants, we are vibrant, sun-loving succulents that bring a carpet of colorful blooms to gardens and containers. However, our greatest threat lies beneath the soil, a silent killer known as root rot. Understanding this disease from our point of view is crucial for our survival.
For us, root rot is a suffocating, systemic crisis. It begins not with an attacker, but with an environment. Our roots require a delicate balance of moisture and air in the soil. When overwatering, compacted soil, or a pot without drainage holes traps too much water, our roots are literally drowned. They cannot breathe. In this oxygen-deprived state, they become weak and susceptible to opportunistic soil-borne fungi, such as *Pythium*, *Phytophthora*, or *Rhizoctonia*. These pathogens invade our compromised root systems, consuming our tissues and blocking our vascular systems, preventing the uptake of water and nutrients to the rest of our body.
Our distress signals are clear if you know how to read them. The first sign we exhibit is often a general wilting or drooping of our stems and leaves, even when the soil is damp. This is confusing to our caretakers, but it occurs because our rotting roots can no longer transport water. Following this, our typically plump, succulent leaves and stems will become soft, mushy, and may turn yellow or translucent. Our vibrant growth will halt completely. In severe cases, the base of our stems will turn black or brown and become slimy, and the entire plant will collapse.
If caught early, our salvation requires immediate and decisive action. We must be gently lifted from our soggy prison. The soil must be carefully washed from our roots so you can assess the damage. Healthy roots are firm and white or light tan. Any roots that are dark brown, black, slimy, or mushy must be sterilized pruning shears. This feels like a drastic amputation, but it is necessary to stop the spread of the decay. After the surgery, we appreciate being treated with a fungicide dip to protect our remaining healthy roots from further fungal attack.
Prevention is always preferable to a cure. To truly thrive, we require conditions that mimic our native, well-draining habitats. Please plant us in a gritty, fast-draining succulent or cactus mix. You can even add extra perlite or coarse sand to standard potting soil. Ensure our home, whether a pot or a garden bed, has excellent drainage. We are drought-tolerant; water us deeply only when the top inch of soil feels completely dry to the touch, and never let us sit in a saucer of water. Provide us with plenty of sunlight and good air circulation, which helps keep the soil surface dry and discourages fungal growth.
