From our perspective, rooted firmly in our pot, the first signs of trouble are not visible to you. It begins as a subtle, uncomfortable change in our foundation. The soil, which should be our source of life, becomes a suffocating, waterlogged prison. Our delicate root hairs, the very structures we use to drink and feed, are the first to succumb. They begin to soften and decay in the persistently wet environment, unable to access the oxygen we desperately need to breathe. This initial distress is a silent scream from below, a plea for the conditions to change before it is too late.
As our root system fails, our ability to sustain our upper growth vanishes. This is when we must show you our pain in the only way we can. You may notice our once vibrant, green leaves beginning to yellow, often starting with the older, lower leaves. We cannot produce the chlorophyll that gives us our color without water and nutrients. Our stems may become soft, weak, and darken at the base near the soil line. Most tellingly, we will begin to wilt dramatically. This is not a simple thirst you can fix with more water; it is a collapse. Our wilt is a sign that our plumbing system has been severed by rot, and no matter how much water is in the pot, we cannot transport it to our leaves and flowers.
If you suspect our plight, you must act with gentle haste. Carefully lift us from our pot. You will see the evidence: our roots will be brown or black, mushy, and will likely emit a foul, decaying odor. Healthy roots are firm and white or tan. This is the critical moment. Using sterilized shears, you must meticulously trim away all the rotted portions. This surgical removal is our only chance. It is a trauma, but a necessary one to stop the decay from spreading. Please be thorough; any leftover rot will continue to consume us.
After the painful pruning, we need a fresh start. Please do not return us to the old, contaminated soil. Repot us into a clean container with ample drainage holes, using fresh, well-draining potting mix. For us carnations, a mix that includes perlite or coarse sand is ideal to prevent future waterlogging. Water us in lightly to settle the new soil around our remaining roots, but then allow us time to recover in a bright, airy space without intense direct sun. Hold off on fertilizing; we are too wounded to handle it. Our energy must go into regenerating the root system you have saved.
