From my perspective, a Lobelia, the issue of watering is a matter of life and breath. My roots are not just anchors; they are my mouth and lungs, all in one. They drink in the water and dissolved nutrients I need to fuel my vibrant blooms. But crucially, they also need to breathe. The tiny air pockets in the soil are my source of oxygen. When you water me perfectly, you create a blissful cycle: water is absorbed, and air moves back into the spaces you created. The goal is to keep my root zone consistently moist, like a well-wrung-out sponge—hydrated but never saturated. This is the equilibrium I strive for every day.
Root rot is a terrifying and suffocating experience. It begins not with a dramatic attack, but with a simple, prolonged mistake: too much water. When my pot or the soil around me lacks drainage, or when I am watered too frequently, water fills every available pore in the soil. You have, in effect, flooded my home. My roots, desperate for oxygen, begin to drown. The cells weaken and die. This is when the opportunistic pathogens, the fungi and water molds like Pythium and Phytophthora that are always present in the soil, see their chance. They attack my weakened, dying roots. The rot sets in, turning my once healthy, white, and firm roots into a brown, black, mushy, and foul-smelling mess. From my vantage point, it's a systemic collapse; I can no longer drink or uptake nutrients, even if water is present, because my plumbing system is destroyed.
To help me avoid this fate, my single most important request is for a well-draining home. Please, plant me in a lightweight, fluffy potting mix. A blend that includes peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, or coarse sand is ideal. These ingredients create a loose structure that holds just enough moisture for my roots to sip on but allows the excess water to drain away quickly, pulling fresh oxygen down to my root zone. Equally critical is the container I live in. It must have drainage holes—multiple holes are even better. A pot without drainage is a death sentence, a bathtub from which I cannot escape. When you pot me, ensure these holes are clear and never allow me to sit in a saucer full of water for more than a few minutes after watering. Empty the saucer to let my roots breathe.
Do not water me on a rigid schedule. My thirst depends on the weather, the sun's intensity, and the season. Instead, check the soil itself. The best method is the "finger test." Push your finger about an inch into the soil near my base. If the soil at your fingertip feels dry, it is time for a drink. If it feels cool and moist, please wait. When you do water, water me thoroughly. A light sprinkle only wets the surface and encourages my roots to stay shallow. A deep, thorough watering, until water runs freely out of the drainage holes, encourages my roots to grow deep and strong, making me a more resilient plant. Water me at my base, avoiding my foliage and flowers, as wet leaves can invite other diseases. It is far better to underwater me slightly than to overwater. I can recover from a brief wilt, but I may not recover from root rot.
