From my perspective, the most immediate and dangerous threat is having my roots constantly saturated. I am a Grevillea, a proud member of the Proteaceae family, and my roots are finely tuned for survival in well-drained, often nutrient-poor soils. When you water me too frequently, the air pockets in the soil fill with water, and my roots literally begin to suffocate. Without oxygen, they cannot function and will start to rot. You will see this manifest in my leaves: they will turn yellow, particularly the older ones, and become soft and mushy, almost like wet paper. The vibrant, firm texture will be gone. In severe cases, the tips of my branches will begin to die back, and my overall growth will be stunted. If you were to check the soil around my base, it would feel cold, soggy, and smell unpleasant or musty. This is a critical state for me.
While I am drought-tolerant once established, I am not a cactus. I still require water, especially when I am young or during extended periods of intense heat and wind. When I do not receive enough water, my internal water pressure drops—a state you know as wilting. My leaves will lose their rigidity, droop noticeably, and feel dry and brittle to the touch. They may begin to curl at the edges to reduce surface area and minimize water loss. The most telling sign is that the wilting does not recover in the cooler evening or morning hours; it persists. The soil will pull away from the sides of the pot or feel bone-dry deep below the surface. Without intervention, my leaves will turn brown, crispy, and begin to fall off, starting from the tips and outer branches inward.
My watering needs are a reflection of my origins. I thrive on a cycle of thorough watering followed by a period of drought. The goal is to mimic a good, drenching rainstorm. You should water me deeply, allowing moisture to penetrate the entire root zone. Then, you must let the soil dry out significantly before the next watering. To check, push your finger into the soil up to the second knuckle. If it feels dry at that depth, it is time for a drink. If it is still moist, wait. The frequency will change with the seasons: more often in the hot, active growing season and much less in the cool, dormant winter months. The most crucial factor of all is my planting location; I must have exceptionally well-draining soil. Heavy, clay-rich soils are my nemesis, as they hold water for far too long around my sensitive roots.
Please understand that your observations might not always be solely about water. Leaf yellowing can also indicate a nutrient issue, particularly if you have used a fertilizer high in phosphorus, which is toxic to me. Pest infestations, like scale or spider mites, can also cause leaf discoloration and drop, mimicking drought stress. Furthermore, if I am planted in a position that receives reflected heat from a wall or pavement, I will lose water through my leaves much faster than expected, making my soil dry out quicker and potentially making me appear underwatered even if your watering routine is typically sufficient. Always consider the entire environment when diagnosing my condition.
