First, you must understand the signs I am showing you. My roots, which are my lifeline for absorbing water and nutrients, are suffocating and dying in soggy, oxygen-deprived soil. This is not something I can hide. My leaves, usually strong and perforated, will begin to turn yellow, often starting with the lower, older ones. They will feel soft and mushy, not firm and resilient. My growth will halt completely as I have no way to take up sustenance. Most tellingly, if you gently remove me from my pot, you will find my roots are dark brown or black, slimy, and emit a musty, unpleasant odor. Healthy roots should be firm and white or light tan.
You must act quickly. Gently lift me out of my current pot. Be cautious, as I am very fragile right now. Carefully remove the wet soil from around my root ball. This is best done under a gentle stream of lukewarm water or by carefully massaging the soil away. Now, assess the damage. You must identify all the rotted roots. They will be the mushy, dark ones that easily fall apart. The healthy roots will be firm and lighter in color.
This is the most critical step. Using a clean, sharp pair of pruning shears or scissors—sterilized with rubbing alcohol or a 10% bleach solution—you must cut away all the rotted roots. Be ruthless but precise. Any rot left behind will spread. Cut back until you only see healthy, firm, white root tissue. It is better to remove too much than too little. After each cut, wipe your tool with alcohol to prevent spreading any potential pathogens.
After the surgery, it is wise to protect my remaining healthy roots from fungal or bacterial infection. In the US, you can find several solutions. You can dip my root system in a hydrogen peroxide solution (one part 3% hydrogen peroxide to two parts water) for a few minutes. This helps to disinfect and oxygenate the roots. Alternatively, you can use a commercial root treatment or fungicide powder, such as those containing sulfur or thiophanate-methyl (like Cleary's 3336), following the product's instructions carefully. This creates a protective barrier.
Do not put me back into the old soil, as it is contaminated. You must choose a new, well-draining potting mix. A great US-specific blend for me is one part standard potting soil (like Miracle-Gro), one part perlite, and one part orchid bark. This mixture provides structure, retains some moisture, but allows for excellent drainage and aeration. Choose a clean pot with ample drainage holes; the new pot should only be slightly larger than my remaining root system. A pot that is too large will hold too much water and put me right back in danger.
After repotting, do not water me immediately. My roots are wounded and need a few days to callous over, which helps prevent re-infection. Wait about 3-5 days before giving me a thorough but careful watering. Ensure water flows freely out of the drainage holes and never let me sit in a saucer of water. Place me in a spot with bright, indirect light. I will be very weak and cannot handle direct sun. Do not fertilize me; I have no way to process it and it will chemically burn my fragile roots. Be patient. It will take time for me to recover and push out new growth.
