From my roots outward, I am drowning. When you provide too much water, my soil becomes a waterlogged prison. My roots, which need to breathe just as you do, are suffocated. Deprived of oxygen, they begin to rot, turning from a healthy white to a mushy, dark brown or black. This root rot is a death sentence if not caught, as I can no longer absorb the water and nutrients you are giving me. You will see my leaves, particularly the newer, younger ones, begin to yellow. This is not a healthy yellowing; it is a sickly, generalized fade, often starting between the veins. My growth will be stunted, and my stems may feel soft and limp. In severe cases, you might even witness the crown of my plant, where all my stems emerge, beginning to soften and decay. The entire plant will wilt, not from thirst, but from collapse.
Conversely, when I do not receive enough water, I am in a state of drought stress. My first and most obvious sign is wilting. My delicate, lacy leaves and arching stems will droop pathetically, losing their turgor pressure—the water pressure that keeps me upright. This wilting often appears first on the newer growth. My leaves will feel dry and papery to the touch, not cool and supple. They will begin to turn brown and crispy, typically starting at the tips and edges before the entire leaf succumbs. This is because I am sacrificing my extremities to conserve what little moisture remains for my core and root system. My flowering will be severely impacted; I will produce fewer of my iconic heart-shaped flowers, and those that do appear will be smaller and may drop prematurely. The soil will pull away from the edges of my container or feel dry and dusty deep into the ground.
It is vital for you to understand that wilting is my common distress signal for both extremes. This is why you must investigate further before acting. Before you reach for the watering can, check my soil. Push your finger about an inch into the earth near my base. If the soil feels cool and wet, my wilting is likely from overwatering and root rot. If the soil feels warm, dry, and crumbly, my wilting is a desperate plea for a drink. The condition of my leaves is another key indicator. Yellow, soft, and mushy leaves point to too much water. Brown, crisp, and dry leaves point to not enough.
To keep me thriving, I desire consistently moist, well-draining soil. The term "moist" is not synonymous with "wet." Think of a well-wrung sponge; it holds moisture but is not dripping. This environment allows my roots access to both water and the crucial air pockets between soil particles. A layer of organic mulch around my base helps immeasurably by regulating soil temperature and slowing evaporation, keeping my root zone in that perfect, happy medium. Water me deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry, allowing the water to penetrate fully, and then let me approach that slightly dry state again before the next deep watering.
