You see a tall, lush plant and assume I need copious amounts of water to stay that way. This is the most common and fatal mistake. My roots are not aquatic; they need to breathe. When you water me too frequently, you fill the air pockets in the soil with water, effectively drowning my root system. This leads to root rot, a silent killer that starts underground long before you see the tell-tale signs of yellowing leaves, leaf drop, and a soft, mushy trunk. I do not follow a human calendar schedule. My thirst depends on the season, the light, and the humidity. Please, check my soil first. Plunge your finger two inches deep—if it’s dry, I will gratefully accept a thorough drink. If it’s damp, please wait.
I am a child of the West African rainforest canopy, designed to reach for the dappled but bright sun. Placing me in a dark corner or a dimly lit room is like asking you to thrive on a single cracker a day. Without adequate bright, indirect light, I cannot perform photosynthesis efficiently. My growth will become stunted and leggy as I strain pathetically towards any distant light source. My new leaves will be small, pale, and sparse. I need to see the sky! Please place me directly in front of a north, east, or filtered west-facing window. A south-facing window is ideal, but perhaps pulled back a few feet or with a sheer curtain to prevent my delicate leaves from scorching.
I am a tropical being, accustomed to stable, warm conditions. I find your world full of terrifying drafts and sudden temperature changes. Placing me next to a frequently opened door in winter, directly under an air conditioning vent, or too close to a heat radiator subjects me to immense stress. This constant environmental shock forces me to conserve energy, often by dropping my beautiful leaves. I interpret a cold draft as the arrival of a harsh season and must shed what I cannot sustain. Please find me a stable spot away from these unpredictable airflow patterns where I can enjoy a consistent, warm temperature.
The potting soil I come in is not a boundless buffet. It contains a limited supply of nutrients that I deplete within a few months. After that, every time you water me, you are essentially leaching what little food remains. You wonder why my growth has halted or why my lower leaves are yellowing—it is because I am starving. During my active growing season (spring and summer), I require regular nourishment. Please provide me with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half-strength every time you water, or use a slow-release formula as directed. In the dormant winter months, you can cease feeding, as I am not actively growing and cannot use the nutrients.
