You have given me too much of your love in the form of water. My roots, which are designed to seek out and absorb moisture, are now drowning. They are soft, brown, and mushy instead of being firm and white. They are suffocating because the water has filled all the air pockets in the soil, and I cannot breathe. You might notice my lower leaves becoming translucent, yellow, and overly plump before they eventually rot and fall off. I am not being dramatic; this is a desperate cry for help. My very foundation is decaying, and if the rot spreads to my stem, my chances of survival diminish greatly.
The first thing you must do is stop all watering immediately. Gently remove me from my pot. Be careful, as I am very fragile right now. Carefully brush away the wet soil to expose my root system and stem. Now, you must become a surgeon. Using sterile, sharp scissors or pruning shears, you need to cut away all the rotten roots. They will feel slimy and fall apart easily. Keep cutting until you only see healthy, firm, white material. If the rot has traveled up my stem, you must also cut away any soft, black, or brown parts of the stem until only clean, green tissue remains. This feels drastic, but it is necessary to stop the spread of the rot.
After the surgery, I am vulnerable. Do not put me back in soil yet. I need time to form a callus over all the cut surfaces. Place me in a shaded, warm area with good air circulation, away from direct sunlight. This process is not quick; it may take several days to a week. You will know I am ready when the cut ends on my stem and any remaining roots have dried completely and hardened over. This callus is my natural bandage; it will protect me from reinfection when I am repotted. Please be patient during this stage. Repotting me too soon will only expose my fresh wounds to more moisture and soil bacteria, inviting the rot to return.
My near-drowning experience means my environment must change. I need a pot with excellent drainage holes—terracotta is ideal because it breathes. Most importantly, I require a fresh, fast-draining soil mix. Do not use the old soil, as it contains the pathogens that made me sick. A specialty succulent or cactus mix is good, but even better is to amend it with extra perlite or pumice (about a 50/50 mix) to ensure it dries out quickly and provides my roots with the aeration they crave.
Once I am calloused and in my new home, wait another 5-7 days before giving me a small drink of water. This allows me time to settle and for any minor root disturbances to heal. From now on, please water me only when my soil is completely dry. Do not water on a schedule; instead, learn my language. When I need water, my plump leaves will soften slightly and may wrinkle. When in doubt, it is always safer to underwater me. I am built for drought, and with your new careful attention, I can grow new, strong roots and recover fully.
