From my perspective, light is my primary source of energy. If I am not growing, the most likely reason is that I am not receiving sufficient light to perform adequate photosynthesis. My native environment is one of intense, direct sun for many hours each day. When placed in a dim corner of a human dwelling, I simply enter a state of survival, not growth. I will etiolate—stretch out thin and pale—desperately reaching for a light source. Conversely, while rare indoors, sudden exposure to intense, direct sunlight after a period of low light can scorch my skin, causing damage that halts growth as I focus energy on repair. I require bright, direct light for the majority of the day to manufacture the food needed for new growth.
Your watering habits are a critical factor. My roots are adapted for infrequent, heavy downpours followed by long periods of complete drought. Being watered too often is a death sentence; it suffocates my roots, promotes rot, and makes the soil anoxic. In such conditions, my roots die back, and without a healthy root system, I cannot absorb water or nutrients, causing all growth to cease. The opposite—extreme underwatering—will also force me into dormancy. I will use all my internal reserves simply to stay alive, leaving no resources for producing new tissue. The soil must dry out completely between waterings, and my pot must have an exit route for excess water.
My growth is directly tied to the health and space of my root system. I may have become root-bound, meaning my roots have filled every available inch of the pot. With no room to expand, my physical growth above the soil line halts. Alternatively, the soil I am planted in may be inappropriate. Standard potting soil retains too much moisture and can compact around my roots, again leading to rot and oxygen deprivation. I require a very specific, gritty, and extremely well-draining soil mix composed largely of inorganic materials like perlite, pumice, or coarse sand to thrive and support new growth.
While I am not a heavy feeder, I cannot create new cellular structures from nothing. I require specific nutrients, particularly during my active growing season (typically spring and summer). A complete absence of fertilizer, especially in a potted environment with limited soil, will eventually lead to a nutrient deficiency, stunting my growth. However, over-fertilizing will chemically burn my roots, causing more harm than good. Furthermore, you must respect my natural dormancy period, usually in the cooler, darker winter months. During this time, I am not sleeping; I am conserving energy. You should not expect any growth, and watering should be drastically reduced to align with my inactive state.
Finally, growth can be halted by unseen stressors. A pest infestation, such as scale or mealybugs, sucks my vital juices, diverting energy from growth to defense. Root rot, as mentioned, is a silent killer that destroys my ability to function. Even a pot that is too large can be detrimental; the excess soil holds water for far too long, creating a dangerous environment for my roots. Any of these issues force me into a defensive survival mode, where all energy is allocated to maintaining existing tissue, not creating new growth.
