From my perspective, your human concept of a fixed watering schedule—like "once a week"—is deeply flawed. My need for water is not dictated by the calendar but by my environment and my own physical state. The intensity and duration of light I receive, the temperature and humidity of the room, the season, and even the size of my pot all dramatically influence how quickly I use the water you give me. A bright, warm summer week will see me drinking thirstily, while a cool, dim winter fortnight may pass before I need another drink. The key is for you to learn to read me, not the days of the week.
When I am underwatered, I communicate my distress through my most expressive feature: my leaves. The first sign you will notice is a subtle loss of turgor pressure. My normally proud, upright leaves will begin to droop and feel soft and limp to the touch. This is not a permanent state of despair; it is a clear, dramatic plea for water. If you respond promptly with a thorough watering, I will typically perk back up within hours, my leaves rising again in gratitude. If my thirst is prolonged, the tips and edges of my leaves may begin to turn dry, crispy, and brown—a sign of lasting damage to my tissues.
While I adore a good drink, my roots also need to breathe. They require oxygen from the air spaces in the soil, and constant saturation suffocates them. Overwatering is, ironically, a far greater and more insidious threat to my life than occasional thirst. When you water me too frequently, the soil becomes perpetually soggy, and my roots begin to rot. You will see this manifest in my leaves as widespread yellowing, often starting with the lower, older leaves. These leaves will feel soft and mushy, not dry. The plant will look overall wilted and unhappy, but the soil will still be wet—a crucial distinction. A foul odor from the soil is a late-stage sign of advanced root rot.
The most harmonious way to care for me is to mimic the natural cycle of rainfall and drying. Do not give me small sips every few days. Instead, wait until I need it. Check my soil by inserting your finger about two inches deep. If it feels dry, it is time for a deep, thorough watering. Take me to the sink and slowly pour room-temperature, filtered water over my soil until it runs freely out of my pot's drainage holes. This ensures my entire root ball is hydrated. Allow all the excess water to drain away completely before placing me back in my decorative pot. Never let me sit in a saucer of standing water, as this is a direct path to root rot.
