From our perspective, light is life. We are solar-powered beings. To produce the essential oils that give us our wonderful fragrance and to maintain our vibrant leaf variegation, we require abundant, direct sunlight. A minimum of four to six hours of direct sun daily is ideal. A south or west-facing window is our preferred location indoors. Without sufficient light, our stems will become long, thin, and weak as we desperately stretch towards the light source—a condition you call etiolation. Our leaf production will slow, and our signature scent will become faint. Please, place us where we can bask in the sun's energy.
Water is crucial, but our relationship with it is nuanced. Our roots are highly susceptible to rot if left sitting in saturated soil. The key is to provide a deep, thorough drink and then allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out completely before watering again. Push your finger into the soil near our base; if it feels dry, it is time for water. If it is still cool and moist, please wait. We would much rather be slightly too dry than too wet. Overwatering suffocates our roots, cutting off our oxygen supply and leading to a rapid and irreversible decline.
Our root system demands a home that provides stability, nutrients, and, most importantly, excellent drainage. A standard potting soil is too dense and moisture-retentive for our liking. We thrive in a light, airy potting mix. You can create a perfect blend for us by mixing a standard potting soil with perlite, coarse sand, or even a handful of small orchid bark pieces. This ensures that water flows through freely, providing hydration without waterlogging. Furthermore, please ensure our pot has adequate drainage holes. A pot that is too large will hold excess moisture around our roots, so a cozy fit is best.
While we are not heavy feeders, we do appreciate supplemental nutrition during our active growing season (spring and summer). A balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, diluted to half the recommended strength, applied every four to six weeks is perfect. Please avoid over-fertilizing, as a buildup of salts can damage our delicate root hairs and disrupt our ability to uptake water. In the autumn and winter, when our growth naturally slows, we require a period of rest and no fertilizer at all.
Your practice of pinching and pruning is not harmful to us; in fact, it is greatly beneficial. When you pinch off the growing tips just above a set of leaves, it signals to us to stop growing tall and instead branch out from lower nodes. This creates a bushier, fuller, and more robust plant. Regularly removing any yellowing or dead leaves helps us conserve energy for new, healthy growth. Do not be afraid to trim us back. It encourages a stronger structure and prevents us from becoming leggy and unkempt.
We are attuned to the natural cycles of the year. As daylight hours shorten and temperatures drop, we enter a period of dormancy. Our growth will slow significantly or stop altogether. During this time, our water needs diminish greatly. Please reduce your watering frequency accordingly, allowing the soil to dry out even more thoroughly between drinks. We also prefer cooler temperatures during this rest period, ideally between 50-60°F (10-15°C). This seasonal rest is vital for our long-term health, allowing us to gather strength for a burst of growth in the spring.
