From my perspective, the first signs of root rot are a desperate cry for help, a physiological breakdown I cannot hide. It begins unseen, beneath the soil where my delicate, white feeder roots are attacked. They turn brown, become mushy, and lose their ability to drink and eat. You might not notice this until my distress becomes visible above ground. My leaves, my pride and joy, will start to wilt and droop dramatically. This is not a simple plea for water; in fact, watering me more will only worsen my agony. The wilting occurs because my rotting roots cannot absorb the water you provide, leaving me paradoxically thirsty. Soon, my vibrant green foliage will fade to a sickly yellow, and the tips may turn brown and crispy. In severe cases, my stems will soften at the base, and a foul, decaying smell will emanate from my soil—a sure sign of advanced rot and the presence of destructive pathogens.
If you catch my suffering early, there is hope. The treatment you provide must be swift and decisive. First, you must gently lift me from my pot. This is a traumatic experience for me, but it is necessary for my survival. Carefully wash the soil from my root ball to assess the damage. Using sterile, sharp shears, you must prune away all the brown, soft, and rotting roots. This feels like a major amputation, but it removes the infection and allows me a chance to regenerate healthy tissue. After the surgery, please dip my remaining healthy roots in a fungicide solution; this will help protect me from further fungal attack. Then, repot me into a clean container with excellent drainage, using fresh, well-draining acidic soil that I love. Do not fertilize me while I am this weak; my focus must be on root recovery, not new growth.
Prevention is always better than cure, and for me, it revolves around one core principle: perfect drainage. My roots crave moisture but despise sogginess. You must plant me in a pot with generous drainage holes and use a loose, airy potting mix, perhaps amended with bark or perlite. When you water me, do so thoroughly until water runs free from the bottom, but then you must let the top inch of soil dry out before even thinking about watering again. Please never let me sit in a saucer of water; it feels like drowning. Ensure I live in a spot with bright, indirect light and good air circulation around my foliage and soil surface. This creates an environment where the harmful fungi that cause root rot cannot thrive, allowing me to live a long, healthy, and fragrant life for you.
