First, you must understand my perspective. I am a child of the Mediterranean sun, thriving in bright, direct light for at least six to eight hours a day. If I am dying, the most likely culprit is a lack of light, especially if I am kept indoors. My stems become leggy and weak as I stretch desperately for any photon I can find, and my foliage thins out. Please, move me to the sunniest spot you have, preferably outdoors. Conversely, if the soil around my roots is constantly wet and cold, I am suffocating. My roots need to breathe, and waterlogged soil creates an anaerobic environment that invites root rot. This is a silent killer from my point of view.
Water is a double-edged sword for me. I am built for drought, with small, leathery leaves that minimize water loss. When you water me too often, my roots drown and begin to decay. You might notice my leaves turning brown, brittle, and falling off. This is a cry for help—I am drowning. On the other hand, if you forget about me completely, especially if I'm in a small pot, I will become dehydrated. My leaves will turn brown but feel dry and crispy, and the soil will pull away from the edges of the pot. The key is to mimic the infrequent, deep soakings of a Mediterranean thunderstorm. Water me thoroughly only when the top few inches of soil are completely dry to the touch.
If you suspect overwatering, you must act quickly. Gently lift me from my pot and examine my root system. Healthy roots are firm and white or light brown. If they are dark, mushy, and have a foul smell, root rot has set in. Using clean, sharp scissors, carefully trim away all the affected roots. Be ruthless; any rot left behind will spread. Then, repot me into a container with excellent drainage—a terracotta pot is ideal because it breathes. Use a fresh, well-draining potting mix; a cactus or succulent blend is perfect, or you can amend regular potting soil with plenty of perlite or coarse sand to ensure water flows through freely.
While I am not a heavy feeder, a complete lack of nutrients in depleted soil can contribute to my decline. However, do not fertilize me while I am in crisis, especially if I have root damage. The salts in fertilizer can burn my already stressed roots. Once you see signs of new growth after addressing the primary issues, you can offer a diluted, balanced fertilizer. Furthermore, I need good air circulation. Stagnant, humid air encourages fungal diseases like powdery mildew, which appears as a white, powdery coating on my leaves. If I am indoors, a gentle breeze from an open window or a fan can make a world of difference.
After addressing the soil, water, and light, it is time to help me redirect my energy. If I have extensive brown, dead growth, it is weighing me down and preventing new shoots from emerging. Using clean pruners, carefully remove all the dead wood. You can also give me a light overall trim, but avoid cutting back into the old, woody stems that have no green leaves, as I often struggle to regenerate from there. Focus on shaping me and removing any weak, spindly growth. This pruning signals to me that it is time to push out fresh, healthy foliage from the remaining viable branches.
