Here is Jasmine as a baby:
And here is Jasmine, post root rot attack:
Notice the large chunks of plant that are dying. Horrible! And so characteristic of root rot. Naturally, once I figured out what was going on, I indignantly asked the gardening universe, "What causes root rot??" and discovered (with the help of the internet) that in fact, I am to blame for my damaged plant-baby.
A few things contribute:
-Overwatering
-Poorly draining pots
-Overly heavy soil
And for the science geeks (ie, myself), it's specifically frequently caused by a mold genus called Phytophthora. But mostly it's caused by the overwaterers who are happily, unknowingly drowning their plants. Sadly, there is no cure-- "lethal," says Wikipedia-- and my Jasmine will probably die.
As a side note, Jasmine has a lifetime warranty on it from Armstrong's Garden Center who will replace it in case of death (all trees and shrubs! whaaaatt?). I am far too proud, however, to bring in a plant that I managed to murder after only one year in my care, and instead, will probably wait for it to die-- but hopefully bloom first-- and then replace it with something awesome.
