First, you must understand that my dormant period is not a failure to perform; it is a vital, natural part of my life cycle. I am a sun-worshipper from the warm, arid regions of South America. When the days grow short and the temperatures drop, I receive a clear signal from my environment: winter is coming. To conserve my precious energy and survive the cooler, less sunny conditions, I enter a state of rest. My metabolic processes slow down, and I redirect my resources from prolific blooming to maintaining my core vascular system and roots. I am not dead, merely sleeping, gathering strength for the next glorious display.
Light is my primary alarm clock. To coax me out of dormancy and trigger the hormonal responses needed for flowering, I require an immense amount of direct, unfiltered sunlight. I need a minimum of five to six hours of direct sun each day, but truly, I crave more. If you have moved me indoors for the winter, place me in your brightest south-facing window. As the threat of frost passes, gradually reintroduce me to the outdoors over a week to avoid shocking my leaves. Do not relegate me to a shady corner; without intense light, my canes will grow long and leggy as I desperately search for the sun, and I will simply refuse to produce any of my beautiful papery bracts.
Upon awakening, my watering needs change dramatically. During dormancy, you rightly kept my soil quite dry. Now, as I begin new growth, I need consistently moist (but never soggy or waterlogged) soil. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out between thorough waterings. More critically, my diet must shift. To fuel a spectacular bloom, I require a fertilizer with a high phosphorus content—the middle number in the N-P-K ratio. Look for a formulation like 5-10-5 or something labeled "Blossom Booster." Feed me every two weeks during the active growing season. However, avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they will encourage an abundance of thorny green growth at the expense of my flowers.
I am a prolific bloomer, but I flower best when I am slightly root-bound. A pot that is too large directs my energy towards root expansion rather than flowering above the soil. Only repot me if it is absolutely necessary, and even then, move me to a container only one size larger. Furthermore, strategic pruning is essential. The best time to prune me is just as I am emerging from dormancy, before a major flush of new growth. Prune back any long, unruly canes by a third to a half to shape me and encourage branching. I produce flowers on new growth, so this pruning stimulates the fresh wood that will soon be covered in vibrant bracts.
This may seem counterintuitive, but a period of mild stress is one of the most powerful triggers for my blooming. Once I am established, growing well, and have a good structure of branches, you can manipulate my water. Allow my soil to become almost completely dry until I just begin to show the slightest signs of wilt (drooping leaves). Then, give me a deep, thorough watering. Repeating this cycle a few times—alternating between near-dryness and a good drink—mimics the natural drought-and-rain cycles of my native habitat. This stress signals to me that my survival may be at risk, prompting me to produce a magnificent flush of flowers to ensure my legacy through seed production.
