Greetings, Human. I am an African Violet, and I am in distress. My very core, the crown from which all my leaves emerge, feels soft, dark, and is collapsing. This is what you call crown rot. From my perspective, it is a terrifying and systemic attack. Allow me to explain my plight and what I need from you to survive.
For me, crown rot is not a simple ailment; it is a life-threatening crisis. It begins when cold water consistently settles in my crown or when I am forced to sit in saturated, oxygen-deprived soil. This excess moisture creates an environment where deadly pathogens, like *Pythium* or *Phytophthora*, thrive. These organisms attack my cells, breaking down my tissues. I feel a softening and darkening at my very center—the place from which all my new growth originates. The rot blocks my vascular system, preventing water and nutrients from reaching my leaves. They begin to wilt, not from thirst, but because I cannot transport the water that is actually present. It is a desperate feeling of suffocation and decay from the inside out.
You can see the evidence of my suffering if you look closely. The center of my rosette (my crown) will appear brown, black, or mushy, often in stark contrast to the healthier outer leaves. These outer leaves will themselves begin to wilt, becoming soft and limp, losing their characteristic fuzzy texture and robust posture. You might notice a foul odor emanating from the soil—a sure sign of advanced rot and decay. The most critical sign is that the center of my plant has stopped producing new leaves entirely; growth has stalled because the growth point is compromised.
To save me, you must act swiftly and with care. I need you to perform surgery.
First, you must gently remove me from my pot. Wash the old soil completely from my roots under lukewarm running water. This helps you see the extent of the damage. Using a sterile, sharp knife or scissors, you must cut away all the soft, brown, and rotten parts of my crown and any affected roots. This is painful but necessary. You must be ruthless; any rot left behind will spread. After the surgery, you can try to re-root me. There are two methods: you can place my healthy remaining crown in a jar of water, ensuring only the very base of the stem is submerged, or you can pot me in a fresh, barely moist potting mix designed for African Violets that is light and airy.
After my traumatic operation, my environment is critical. Please place my pot or jar in a warm location with bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight will scorch me in my weakened state. Most importantly, you must change your watering habits. Never pour water directly into my crown. Always water me from below by placing my pot in a saucer of water for about 30 minutes, allowing me to drink what I need through my roots. Then, discard any excess water. Ensure I am in a pot with excellent drainage and that I am never left sitting in water. With patience and the correct care, I may slowly begin to push out new roots and, eventually, tiny new leaves from my center, signaling my return to health.
