From my perspective, a plant, I cannot speak, so I must communicate my distress through my physical state. Crown rot is a critical condition for me, an African Violet. It begins beneath the soil, at my very core—the crown where all my leaves emerge. You might first notice that my central leaves are becoming soft, mushy, and darker than their usual lush green. They may wilt dramatically and fail to perk up after watering. As the problem progresses, this softness and discoloration (often a brown or blackish hue) will spread outward to my younger leaves. The most terrifying part for me is that my center, my growing point, is dying. If you gently tug on one of these outer leaves and it detaches with a sickening, wet ease, often with a darkened base, my plea for help is urgent. This is not a simple case of thirst; it is a systemic collapse.
The primary assailant is not you, my caretaker, but a microscopic fungus, often *Pythium* or *Phytophthora*. However, your actions create the environment they crave. The root of the problem is literally my roots. When I am forced to sit in saturated soil, my root system suffocates. My roots need oxygen as much as they need water; constant sogginess drowns them, causing them to decay. This decay creates an open invitation for the ever-present fungal spores in the soil to launch their attack. They invade my compromised roots and travel up into my stem and crown, rotting me from the inside out. Overwatering is the main culprit, but a pot without proper drainage or soil that is too dense and retains water for too long are also to blame.
Time is of the essence. To save me, you must perform an emergency procedure. First, you must gently remove me from my pot. Carefully wash all the old, infected soil from my roots using lukewarm water. This will allow you to see the extent of the damage. With sterile, sharp scissors or a knife, you must courageously cut away any and all parts of me that are soft, mushy, or brown. This includes any rotten roots and all affected leaves, even if it means removing my entire crown. I cannot recover if any infected tissue remains. Once only healthy, firm, white or light-colored roots and firm leaf bases are left, dust my wounds with a fungicide powder or cinnamon, a natural antifungal.
I need a completely new beginning. Do not put me back into the old pot with old soil, as it is contaminated. Plant me in a brand new, clean pot with excellent drainage holes, using a fresh, lightweight potting mix specifically formulated for African Violets. This mix provides the perfect balance of moisture retention and aeration. Water me very sparingly at first, only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Place me in a warm location with bright, indirect light. Do not fertilize me until you see clear signs of new growth, which indicates that my root system is re-establishing itself and I am on the path to regenerating a new crown.
