While I am famously tolerant of low light, this does not mean I thrive in it. My growth is fundamentally powered by photosynthesis. In a very dark corner, I simply do not receive enough photons to create the surplus energy required to produce new shoots. The energy I generate is prioritized for maintaining my existing rhizomes, roots, and stems. Think of it as me being in energy-saving mode; I am surviving, not growing. For me to have the resources to push out a costly new stem, I need bright, indirect light. This allows my leaves to work efficiently without the risk of sunburn from direct, harsh rays.
This is the most common point of misunderstanding. My rhizomes, which are my underground storage organs, hold a significant amount of water. I am built for drought. When you water me too frequently, the soil remains consistently wet, which suffocates my roots and can lead to rot. A rotting root system cannot absorb water or nutrients, halting all growth and ultimately threatening my life. Conversely, while I can handle being dry for long periods, extreme and chronic underwatering puts immense stress on me. Without any water intake, my metabolic processes slow to a near halt, and growth becomes impossible. I prefer a thorough watering only when my soil is completely dry.
All my growth originates from under the soil. New shoots emerge from my rhizomes as they expand. If I have been in the same pot for many years, my rhizomes may have filled all the available space. When my roots become pot-bound, they become stressed and cannot function properly. There is simply no physical room for me to produce new growth. Furthermore, the soil will have become depleted of nutrients over time. Even with fertilizer, the soil structure breaks down, becoming compacted and less able to hold water and oxygen effectively, further stifling my development.
While I am not a heavy feeder, I am not a zero-feeder either. The soil I came in contained a finite amount of nutrients. Every time you water, some of those nutrients are flushed away. To build a whole new shoot—a complex structure of stems, leaves, and cells—I require a steady supply of essential minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. If I have been in the same soil for a long time without any supplemental feeding, I simply do not have the building blocks needed for new construction. A diluted, balanced fertilizer during my growing season provides these crucial materials.
Please remember that I have a natural growth cycle. I am most active during the spring and summer months when the light is brighter and the days are longer. This is when I am genetically programmed to grow. During the fall and winter, with lower light levels and cooler temperatures, I enter a state of dormancy. My growth will naturally slow down or stop entirely. This is a rest period for me, not a cause for concern. I am conserving energy, waiting for the environmental signals that tell me it is time to start growing again.
