You think I have enough light, but I likely do not. I am a tropical plant, adapted to live on the forest floor where I receive bright, but filtered, light through the canopy above. Your dim living room corner is like a perpetual twilight to me. Without sufficient light, I cannot perform photosynthesis effectively. This process is how I create the energy (sugars) required to build new stems, leaves, and roots. If I am not growing, please move me closer to a bright window, but shield my leaves from the harsh, direct afternoon sun which can scorch me. A north or east-facing window is often ideal.
Look down, because the problem is likely beneath the soil. My root system is my engine. If I have been in the same pot for years, my roots have likely exhausted the available nutrients and become a tangled, circular mass. This is called being root-bound. There is no room for new roots to grow, which means I cannot take up enough water and nutrients to support new top growth. Furthermore, if the soil has become compacted or is not draining well, my roots might be suffocating or even rotting from sitting in water. Healthy roots need oxygen as much as they need water.
The potting mix I live in is not a boundless buffet. It is a limited reservoir of nutrients that I deplete over time. Each time you water, some of these nutrients are washed away. To put out a large, fenestrated leaf, I require a significant amount of energy and building blocks like Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. If you have never fed me, or do so very rarely, I am simply running on empty. I am surviving, not thriving. I need a balanced liquid fertilizer during my main growing seasons (spring and summer) to have the resources to create new growth.
My large, beautiful leaves are adapted for a humid jungle environment. The average home, especially with air conditioning or heating, is extremely dry for me. In low humidity, I close my stomata (the tiny pores on my leaves) to conserve water. When my stomata are closed, I cannot take in carbon dioxide, which is a key ingredient for photosynthesis. This severely slows my metabolic processes and, consequently, my growth. You might also see the tips of my leaves turn brown and crispy. Misting me provides only a temporary boost. A pebble tray with water or a small humidifier nearby would make me much happier.
Please remember that I have a natural growth cycle. I am most active and eager to grow during the longer, warmer days of spring and summer. During the short, cool days of autumn and winter, I enter a period of dormancy. This is a rest period where my growth will naturally slow down or stop completely; this is normal and not a cause for alarm. Furthermore, if you have recently repotted me or moved me to a new location, I may be in a state of shock. I am redirecting my energy to repairing my root system and acclimating to my new conditions instead of producing new leaves. Please be patient with me.
