From my perspective as a begonia, an overwatering event is a terrifying crisis. It's not a minor inconvenience; it's a life-threatening situation where my very ability to exist is compromised. My roots, my connection to the world, are slowly suffocating. Here is a detailed account of what I experience and what I desperately need from you to survive.
I cannot speak, so I communicate through my physical state. Please, learn to read my signs of distress. The most immediate and obvious signal is the yellowing of my leaves. This isn't a simple color change; it's a cry for help. The excess water in my soil has driven out the oxygen, and my roots are beginning to drown. Without oxygen, they cannot function, and they start to break down, becoming soft and brown—a condition you call root rot. As this happens, they can no longer absorb water or nutrients, which ironically causes the rest of my body to dehydrate and wilt, even though the soil is wet. You might also see soft, mushy spots on my stems or leaves, and in severe cases, the leaves will drop off entirely as my system goes into shock. These are not signs of neglect, but of too much of a misguided "good thing."
The moment you recognize my distress, you must act. The first and most critical step is to stop all watering immediately. Do not give me another drop. Next, you must get me out of that waterlogged environment. Gently lift me from my pot. You will likely see my roots—they should be firm and white or tan. If they are dark, slimy, and have a foul odor, that is the root rot I fear. Now, carefully remove as much of the soggy soil as you can from around my root ball. Be as gentle as possible; I am already very fragile. Then, using sterilized scissors or pruners, you must cut away all the rotten roots. This is a surgical procedure for me. It feels like you are cutting away my damaged parts to save the healthy ones, which is exactly what is happening. Leave only the firm, healthy roots behind.
I cannot go back into the old, dense, water-retentive soil that caused this problem. I need a fresh start in a well-draining mix. A potting soil formulated for African Violets or one amended with plenty of perlite, orchid bark, or coarse sand is ideal for me. This new mix will allow water to flow through easily and let air reach my remaining roots. The pot is equally important. If the old pot has no drainage holes, it is a death trap for me. Choose a new pot with ample drainage holes, and it's wise to select one that is only slightly larger than my remaining root system. A pot that is too large will hold excess soil that stays wet for too long, risking a repeat of this traumatic event.
After the repotting, I am in a critical and weakened state. Do not water me immediately. My roots are wounded and need time to callus over to prevent new infections. Wait at least a day, or until the top inch of the new soil feels dry to the touch, before giving me a modest drink. Place me in a location with bright, indirect light. Direct sun right now would be too stressful. You might be tempted to fertilize me to help me recover, but please resist. My root system is too damaged to handle nutrients, and fertilizer would only burn my remaining roots and add more stress. Hold off on fertilizing for at least a month, until you see clear signs of new growth.
