When you give me too much water, you are essentially suffocating me. My roots, like all plant roots, need to breathe. They require oxygen from the air pockets in the soil to perform critical functions and uptake nutrients. When the soil is constantly saturated, these air pockets fill with water, creating an anaerobic environment. My roots begin to rot, turning soft, brown, and mushy. This root rot is a death sentence for my ability to absorb water and nutrients. Ironically, even though I am standing in water, I cannot drink. The first sign you will see is my beautiful spathe (the flower) and leaves becoming soft, heavy, and drooping downwards. The leaves may also feel limp and look yellow, not just at the tips but throughout. The soil will feel cold, soggy, and clumpy to the touch, often with a musty smell.
Conversely, when you forget to water me, I am simply parched. I am a moisture-loving plant, native to marshlands, and my cells rely on water pressure (turgor pressure) to stay rigid and upright. Without a consistent supply of water, this internal pressure drops. My cells become flaccid, causing my stems to weaken and my leaves to wilt and droop in a desperate attempt to conserve moisture. My drooping from thirst looks different from my drowning. My leaves and flower will droop but will often feel dry, crispy, and papery to the touch. They may start to yellow from the tips and edges inward, and the soil will pull away from the edges of the pot, feeling dry and dusty many inches down. The entire pot will feel very light.
To understand my plea, you must look at all the clues. Touch my leaves. Are they limp and soft (overwatered) or dry and brittle (underwatered)? Feel the soil. Is it sopping wet and smelly days after watering, or is it bone-dry and pulling away from the pot? Look at the color of my foliage. A general yellowing, particularly in lower leaves, often points to overwatering and root rot. Yellowing or browning that starts at the tips and edges and feels crispy suggests a lack of water. Heft my pot; a pot that is surprisingly heavy indicates waterlogged soil, while a very light one signals a serious need for a drink.
My ideal watering schedule is not based on a strict calendar but on the conditions of my soil and environment. The goal is consistently moist but never soggy soil. Please water me thoroughly when the top inch or two of soil feels dry to your touch. Ensure the water flows freely from the drainage holes at the bottom of my pot, and then always, always empty the saucer underneath after 15 minutes. I despise sitting in a puddle. During my active growth and blooming period in spring and summer, I will drink more frequently. When I am dormant in the late fall and winter, I need much less water, sometimes only a slight sprinkle to keep my rhizome from shriveling completely.
