From my roots outward, root rot is not a mere disease; it is a suffocating catastrophe. My entire existence depends on the delicate, white, and fuzzy root hairs that drink in water and nutrients. When the soil around me remains constantly waterlogged, the air pockets between soil particles fill with water, driving out the precious oxygen my roots need to breathe. Without oxygen, my root cells begin to suffocate and die. This weakness is an open invitation to the ever-present oomycete pathogens in the soil, like *Phytophthora* and *Pythium*, or fungal foes like *Fusarium* and *Rhizoctonia*. They attack my compromised roots, feasting on the dying tissue and rapidly spreading, turning my vibrant root system into a brown, mushy, and useless mass.
I cannot speak, but I communicate my distress clearly through my foliage. Please, watch for these signs. Above the soil, my growth will become stunted and my leaves will begin to wilt, not from thirst, but because my rotten roots cannot transport water—a cruel irony. My leaves will turn a sickly yellow (chlorosis), starting with the older ones, before progressing to a brown, crispy demise. The most telling sign is my stems; they may become soft and darken at the base where they meet the soil. If you were to gently lift me from my pot, the horror would be revealed: my roots will be dark brown or black, slimy to the touch, and will easily slough off instead of being firm and white. A foul, decaying smell from the soil is the final confirmation of my rotting foundation.
Preventing this nightmare is about replicating my native Mediterranean home: sunny, warm, and with impeccable drainage. My number one request is a pot with large drainage holes. Do not let me sit in a saucer of water; my feet must never be wet. The soil you choose is my lifeblood. I demand a gritty, fast-draining mix. Combine a standard potting soil with a generous amount of perlite, coarse sand, or small gravel—aim for at least a 30% amendment. Please, do not love me to death with water. Before watering, check the soil. It must feel dry at least an inch below the surface. In cooler months, I need even less. Ensure I bask in full sun for strong growth and to help the soil dry appropriately.
If you act swiftly at the first signs, you might save me. First, you must isolate me from other plants to prevent the pathogens from spreading. Gently remove me from my pot and carefully wash my root system under a gentle stream of lukewarm water to remove all the infected soil. With sterilized shears, ruthlessly cut away every single soft, brown, or black root. Only healthy, firm, white roots should remain. Then, prune back my top growth by one-third to one-half to reduce the strain on my diminished root system. Repot me in a clean pot (or the old one scrubbed with a bleach solution) filled with completely fresh, sterile, well-draining potting mix. Water me sparingly just to settle the soil, and place me in bright, indirect light until I show signs of new growth, proving my will to live.
