From my perspective as an Emerald Tree, my roots are my lifeline. They are not just anchors; they are my mouth and lungs, responsible for absorbing water and oxygen. When you overwater me, you are essentially drowning my world. The soil becomes saturated, filling all the air pockets between the soil particles. My roots, needing to respire just like you do, are suffocated. They begin to rot, turning soft, brown, and mushy. This root rot is a silent killer. With a compromised root system, I cannot drink, no matter how much water is in the soil. The initial signs you see above ground are a direct result of my roots failing below.
Conversely, when you underwater me, my roots are left gasping for moisture. They shrink and desiccate, becoming brittle and unable to perform their function. The delicate root hairs, which are the primary sites for water uptake, die back first. I am left with a root ball that is too small and weak to support my canopy, leading to a desperate struggle for hydration. In both cases, the problem begins where you cannot see it, and the symptoms in my leaves and stems are my final attempts to communicate my distress.
My leaves are my most honest indicators. They will tell you clearly if I am suffering from too much or too little water, though the messages can be confusingly similar at first glance. The most common signal is wilting. When I am underwatered, my leaves wilt because there is simply not enough water pressure (turgor) within my cells to keep them firm. They will feel dry, crispy, and may curl at the edges before eventually turning brown and falling off. The entire process is one of drought and desiccation.
When I am overwatered, I also wilt, but for a completely different reason. As my roots rot, they can no longer transport water to my leaves, even though the soil is wet. This creates a paradoxical situation where I am wilting in soggy soil. The yellowing of leaves is another key distinction. Underwatering typically causes leaves to turn brown and crispy, starting at the tips and margins. Overwatering, however, often leads to a generalized yellowing of the leaves, particularly the older ones closer to the base. These leaves may turn yellow, feel soft and limp, and drop off easily. In severe cases, you might even see oedema, where my leaf cells absorb so much water they rupture, creating blisters or corky bumps.
Look beyond my leaves for confirmation. My stems provide crucial evidence. An underwatered Emerald Tree will have stems that are dry, brittle, and may shrink or wrinkle slightly. They lack vitality. An overwatered tree, however, may have stems that feel soft and mushy, especially near the soil line. The base of my trunk might even show signs of decay. New growth is also a tell-tale sign. Underwatering will cause new leaves to be stunted, small, or fail to emerge altogether as I conserve every last drop of water. Overwatering can also stunt new growth, but it may be accompanied by a pale, sickly green colour.
Finally, the soil itself is part of my being. Do not just look at the surface. Before watering, push your finger a few inches into the soil near my roots. If it feels soggy, cold, and clings to your finger, I am too wet. If it feels dry, dusty, and pulls away from the edges of the pot, I am too dry. The ideal state for me is a soil that feels like a well-wrung sponge – moist but not wet, with plenty of air pockets for my roots to breathe. Listening to this tactile feedback from my environment is as important as observing my physical form.
