Water is my lifeblood, but the balance is delicate. If my soil becomes too dry, my roots cannot absorb moisture and nutrients. To conserve my remaining resources, I must sacrifice my leaves, starting with the oldest ones. They will often turn yellow or brown and feel crispy before falling. Conversely, if my pot has no drainage or I am watered too frequently, my roots are suffocating in soggy soil. Without oxygen, they begin to rot and decay, becoming unable to function. In this case, my leaves will droop, turn yellow, and drop, and the soil will have a persistently wet, heavy feel. My pot should feel light when I need water and water should always drain freely from the bottom.
I am a creature of habit. A sudden shift in my location is a significant shock to my system. If you recently brought me home from a nursery or moved me to a new spot, I am simply reacting to the change in light, temperature, and humidity. This is often called "transplant shock." My leaves drop because the conditions I adapted to have altered, and I need time to reacclimate. Please place me in a stable location with bright, indirect light and avoid moving me frequently. Consistency is key to my well-being.
As a sun-loving plant, I crave bright, indirect light for most of the day. If I am placed in a dark corner, I cannot perform adequate photosynthesis to sustain my foliage. I will respond by becoming leggy as I stretch toward the light and will drop leaves to reduce energy demand. On the other hand, too much harsh, direct sunlight, especially through a hot window, can scorch my delicate leaves, causing them to turn brown and crispy before they fall. A spot near an east or south-facing window (with a sheer curtain for protection in intense afternoon sun) is my ideal home.
I thrive in comfortable, stable temperatures similar to those you enjoy. Cold drafts from doors, windows, or air conditioning vents are particularly distressing. The sudden chill can cause me to go into shock, leading to rapid leaf yellowing and drop. Similarly, excessive dry heat from radiators or fireplaces will sap the moisture from my leaves, causing them to dry out and fall. Please keep me away from any sources of extreme or fluctuating temperature to keep my foliage secure and healthy.
During my active growing season (spring and summer), I am working hard to produce new growth and flowers. This effort requires energy. If I have been in the same pot for many years, the nutrients in my soil become depleted. Without these essential nutrients, particularly nitrogen, iron, and magnesium, I cannot maintain my green, healthy leaves. They will often turn pale green or yellow between the veins before dropping. Feeding me with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season provides me with the sustenance I need to hold onto my leaves and thrive.
