Hello! Finding the perfect spot for me in your home is the most important thing you can do. I thrive in bright, indirect light. Think of the dappled sunlight I would receive under the canopy of taller trees in my native jungle. A spot near an east-facing window is perfect, or a few feet back from a south or west window. Direct, harsh afternoon sun will scorch my beautiful leaves, leaving ugly brown spots. If my leaves start to look pale or I'm not growing, I'm probably not getting enough light. Please don't put me in a dark corner; I'll become leggy and sad.
My relationship with water is simple: I dislike extremes. Overwatering is the quickest way to make me suffer. My roots need to breathe, and sitting in soggy soil will cause them to rot, which can be fatal. Before you water, please stick your finger about two inches into my soil. If it feels dry, it's time for a drink. When you do water, do so thoroughly until water runs freely out of my pot's drainage holes—this is non-negotiable. Always empty the saucer afterwards. In the winter, I drink much less. Yellowing leaves are often my cry for help, telling you my roots are too wet.
I need a well-draining, peat-based potting mix to be happy. This kind of soil provides structure for my roots while allowing excess water to flow away, creating the perfect balance of moisture and air. As for food, I am not a heavy feeder. During my active growing season (spring and summer), you can feed me a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month. This gives me the energy to push out those big, glossy new leaves you love. Please do not fertilize me in the fall and winter; I am resting and cannot process the nutrients, which will just sit in the soil and harm my roots.
I am a pretty vigorous grower when I'm happy. You'll know I'm getting too big for my pot if you see roots circling the surface of the soil or growing out of the drainage hole. This typically happens every year or two. When it's time to repot, choose a new pot that is only 1-2 inches larger in diameter. A pot that is too big will hold excess soil that stays wet for too long, leading to—you guessed it—root rot. The best time to do this is in the spring, just as I'm entering my main growth period.
The large surface area of my leaves collects dust, which can block the sunlight I work so hard to absorb. Please wipe my leaves gently with a damp cloth every few weeks. This keeps me photosynthesizing efficiently and keeps me looking my shiny best. If I start to get too tall or leggy, you can prune me. Simply make a clean cut just above a leaf node (the bump on my stem where a leaf grows). This will encourage me to branch out and become fuller. Don't be afraid; a good prune makes me stronger!
