First, you must understand my distress signal. My leaves are my primary communication tool. If I am underwatered, my leaves will become limp, wilted, and may feel dry or papery to the touch. The soil around my bulbs will be dry and pull away from the edge of the pot. I am simply parched and desperate for a drink. Conversely, if I am overwatered, my leaves may also wilt, but they will often feel soft, mushy, and look yellow or even brown, starting from the base. The soil will be constantly soggy, and a foul smell might emanate from it, indicating root rot. My bulbs, my life source, are suffocating and beginning to decay in the waterlogged environment.
If I am dehydrated, the remedy is gentle and consistent rehydration. Do not flood me with a deluge of water; this will shock my system. Instead, place my pot in a shallow basin filled with about an inch of room-temperature water. Allow me to absorb moisture from the drainage holes at the bottom for approximately 30-45 minutes. This bottom-watering technique ensures my roots get a thorough drink without overwhelming me. Once the topsoil feels moist, remove me from the basin and let any excess water drain away completely. Return me to my usual spot with bright, indirect light and monitor my soil. Water me again only when the top inch of soil feels dry. I should begin to perk up within a few hours to a day.
This situation is more critical, as my roots are likely damaged. You must act immediately. Gently remove me from my pot and carefully examine my bulbs and roots. Healthy roots are firm and white or tan. If they are brown, black, slimy, or mushy, you must perform surgery. Using sterile shears, trim away all the rotten roots and any soft, affected parts of the bulb. Let my bulb and remaining healthy roots air dry for a few hours in a cool, well-ventilated space. Meanwhile, discard the old, soggy soil and clean the pot with a mild bleach solution to kill any pathogens. Repot me in fresh, well-draining potting mix, ensuring the pot has adequate drainage holes. Do not water me immediately. Wait for several days to a week to allow me to settle and recover in the new soil before giving a very modest drink.
To prevent a relapse, please provide me with a stable environment. I prefer my soil to be like a wrung-out sponge—moist but never sopping wet. Test the soil with your finger before watering; water deeply only when the top inch is dry, and always empty the saucer beneath my pot after watering. I enjoy bright, indirect sunlight. Too much direct sun can scorch my leaves, while too little will make me weak. After my blooming period, I need my foliage to photosynthesize and store energy in my bulb for next year’s growth, so please continue to care for my leaves until they yellow and die back naturally.
