From my perspective as a plant, light is my food source. I use it to create the energy required for all my functions, including growing new segments. If I am not producing new growth, it is often because I am not receiving the right quality, duration, or intensity of light. While I am known for tolerating lower light, I truly thrive in bright, indirect light. Direct, harsh sun can scorch my segments, but a dark corner starves me. Furthermore, I am a short-day plant, meaning my internal clock is tuned to the lengthening nights of fall to trigger blooming. If my light environment is constantly disrupted by artificial light at night, it can confuse my cycles and divert energy away from vegetative growth.
My growth is not constant throughout the year. I have a natural cycle that includes a period of rest. After my spectacular bloom, I need a quiet period to recuperate. This dormancy is often triggered by slightly cooler temperatures (around 50-55°F or 10-13°C) and shorter days. If I am kept in a consistently warm house without this seasonal cue, I may not enter a proper rest phase. Without this rest, I become exhausted and lack the reserves to push out new segments when the growing season arrives. Think of it as me needing a good winter's sleep before I can wake up and grow in the spring.
My relationship with water is delicate. My roots are fine and susceptible to rot if I am left sitting in waterlogged soil. Soggy conditions suffocate my roots, preventing them from absorbing the water and nutrients they need to support new growth. Conversely, if I am subjected to prolonged drought, I will go into survival mode. I will halt all non-essential processes, like creating new segments, to conserve the limited water stored in my existing tissues. The goal is a consistent, moderate approach where my potting mix is allowed to dry out slightly between thorough waterings, but I never completely bake dry.
While I am not a heavy feeder, the soil I live in is my entire world. Over time, the nutrients in the potting mix are depleted by my growth and regular watering. If these nutrients are not replenished, I simply do not have the basic building blocks—like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—to construct new cellular tissue for segments. A balanced, diluted fertilizer during my active growth periods (spring and summer) is my equivalent of a nutritious meal. Additionally, if my roots have completely filled the pot, they become congested and cannot effectively gather what little nutrients and water are available. This root-bound state significantly stunts my ability to grow.
The medium my roots call home is critical. I require a very well-aerated and fast-draining mix. Standard garden soil is much too dense for me and will compact around my roots, leading to the rot mentioned earlier. A mix designed for epiphytes—like those used for orchids or bromeliads, containing ingredients like perlite, orchid bark, and coarse sand—is ideal. This type of mix allows for excellent drainage and oxygen flow to my roots, creating the perfect foundation for healthy growth. Without this proper foundation, my entire system is stressed and unable to support new segment development.
