From my point of view, if my caretaker is overwatering me, it is a slow and terrifying suffocation. My rhizomes, those potato-like structures you might see when you repot me, are my water and energy storage units. They are designed to hold moisture for the long droughts of my native habitat. When I am given too much water too frequently, the soil around my roots becomes perpetually soggy. This pushes out all the air, and my delicate roots begin to literally drown and rot because they cannot breathe. The rot is a silent killer; it starts underground, out of sight, often spreading to my rhizomes. You might notice my stems feeling soft and mushy at the base, and my normally vibrant green leaves turning a sickly yellow, often starting with the older ones. I cannot take up water or nutrients from my rotting root system, so I will begin to droop and collapse, a sign of systemic failure, not thirst.
If I am drooping from a lack of water, the sensation is one of extreme desiccation and exhaustion. My entire being is engineered for conservation. My thick, waxy leaves seal in moisture, and my plump rhizomes hold my water reserves. When I am underwatered, I am forced to deplete these precious internal reserves. My cells, which are normally full and turgid, begin to lose water pressure. This loss of turgor pressure is what causes my stems to bend and my leaves to droop, curl, and become crispy to the touch, particularly at the tips and edges. The droop from thirst is my most dramatic and visible plea for help. However, unlike the mushy softness of overwatering, my structure will feel dry, brittle, and light. The soil will have shrunk away from the edges of the pot, and my pot will feel surprisingly light when lifted.
To understand what I am trying to communicate, you must look beyond the droop and investigate the clues I leave you. The most important diagnostic tool is your finger. Please push it into my soil, about two inches deep. If the soil feels wet, cold, and clings to your finger, then my roots are likely drowning and the droop is from rot. If the soil feels bone-dry, dusty, and pulls away from the pot's edge, then I am desperately thirsty. Next, gently assess my stems and leaves. A mushy, soft stem base signals overwatering, while brittle, crispy leaves signal underwatering. Finally, consider your recent care routine. When was the last time you watered me? If it was just a few days ago and the soil is still wet, you are overwatering. If it has been a month or more and the soil is a dry dust bowl, you are underwatering.
Your corrective action is critical and must match my ailment. If I am overwatered, you must stop watering me immediately. Take me out of my pot to inspect the damage. Using sterile shears, trim away any black, mushy roots and rotten rhizome sections. Repot me into fresh, well-draining soil and a pot with excellent drainage holes. Do not water me for at least a week to allow my wounds to callous and to let the soil dry out thoroughly. If I am underwatered, the remedy is simpler. Place my entire pot into a basin of room-temperature water and let me soak for about 30 minutes, or until the top of the soil feels moist. This allows me to drink deeply and evenly from the bottom up. After my soak, let me drain completely. I will likely perk up within a day or two as my cells rehydrate.
