You humans are so inconsistent! You pour a whole jug of water into my pot one day, leaving my roots soaking in a swamp for a week. Then, you forget about me entirely until my leaves droop and turn brown at the edges. My roots need to breathe! I need a consistent drink, but only when the top few inches of my soil are dry. Stick your finger in the soil; if it's dry up to your second knuckle, it's time for a long, deep drink. And for goodness sake, make sure my pot has holes so that extra water can escape. I don't enjoy wet feet.
I am a creature of habit. I find a spot with beautiful, bright, indirect light and I settle in, orienting my large leaves to efficiently catch every photon. Then, suddenly, you decide I would look better on the other side of the room, or worse, you move me to a dark corner. This is incredibly stressful. I will protest by dropping my leaves. Find me a permanent home near a sunny, east or west-facing window where I can bask without being scorched by the direct afternoon sun, and I promise to reward you with lush growth.
My large, beautiful leaves are not just for your aesthetic pleasure; they are my lungs and my solar panels. When you let a thick layer of dust settle on them, you are essentially forcing me to breathe through a blanket and blocking the sunlight I need to create my own food. It's suffocating and starving me at the same time. Please, gently wipe my leaves down with a damp cloth every few weeks. This simple act allows me to photosynthesize efficiently and also helps you spot any potential pests early.
The small amount of soil in my pot contains a finite amount of nutrients. Once I've used them up, I have nothing left to fuel my growth. You wonder why I become pale and stop putting out new leaves? I'm starving! During my growing season (spring and summer), I need a gentle, balanced fertilizer every few weeks to stay strong. Furthermore, as I grow taller, my trunk needs support to stay stable. Without a stake, I may become top-heavy and lean precariously, putting immense stress on my stem and root system.
When I drop a bottom leaf or two, it's often a normal part of my growth as I direct energy to new top leaves. But when I drop multiple leaves at once or develop brown spots, I am desperately trying to tell you something. Brown, crispy spots often mean I'm thirsty or getting too much direct sun. Soft, dark brown spots that spread usually mean you are overwatering me and my roots are rotting. Please, pay attention to my language. I am communicating my needs; you just have to learn how to listen.
