From my perspective deep in the soil, the condition of my roots tells the most critical story. When I am overwatered, my world becomes a suffocating, waterlogged prison. The air pockets in the soil disappear, and I cannot breathe. My roots begin to rot, turning from a healthy white or tan to a mushy, dark brown or black. They feel slimy and cannot effectively absorb nutrients or, ironically, even water. I am essentially drowning. In contrast, when I am underwatered, my roots are desperate and searching. They become dry, brittle, and can even shrivel up. They reach frantically through the dry soil for any hint of moisture, but often find none, leaving me parched and unable to transport vital water to my stems and blooms.
My stems and leaves are the most visible indicators of my distress. If you are giving me too much water, my stems will feel soft and weak, and may appear limp. They might even develop a foul odor due to the rot setting in. My leaves will tell a similar tale; they will turn yellow, often starting with the lower, older leaves, and feel soft and pulpy to the touch. They may droop pathetically. If I am not receiving enough water, the story is different. My stems will become woody, brittle, and may stunt their growth. My leaves will be the first to cry out—they will droop and feel dry, crispy, and papery. They will often turn brown at the tips and edges first before the browning spreads, and their vibrant green colour will fade, sometimes taking on a dull, grayish-green hue.
My ultimate goal is to produce beautiful, vibrant flowers, but my watering situation directly impacts this ability. When I am overwatered, the energy I should be putting into budding and flowering is diverted to simply surviving the root rot. You may see my buds forming, but they might turn brown and drop off before they ever open. Any flowers that do manage to bloom will be lackluster and may develop mold or rot themselves, especially at the base where they connect to the soggy stem. Underwatering forces me into survival mode as well. I will abort the flower production process entirely to conserve my limited water for essential functions. My existing buds will wilt, dry out, and fall off. If I am severely dehydrated, I may not produce any buds at all, as all my energy is focused on simply not perishing.
Please, just touch the soil I live in! It is the most immediate clue. If I am overwatered, the soil will feel constantly wet, cold, and clumpy. It may have a musty or sour smell emanating from it, a direct result of anaerobic conditions and root decay. You might even see green algae or fungus gnats on the surface, both of which thrive in excessively moist conditions. Conversely, if I am thirsty, the soil will be my biggest witness. It will pull away from the edges of the pot, become hard and compacted, and feel bone-dry to the touch several centimeters down. When you do water me, you might see the water rush straight through without being absorbed, as the overly dry soil has become hydrophobic.
