We are dormant now. The light is weak, and the days are short. We appreciate being in your brightest possible window, perhaps a south-facing one. Please water us only when our soil is dry to the touch; our roots are not actively growing and are very susceptible to rot in cold, wet soil. Hold all fertilizer; we cannot use it and it will only harm our roots. Most importantly, keep us away from drafty windows and cold blasts when doors open; we are very tender and cannot tolerate freezing temperatures.
We feel the sun gaining strength. This is the time for your help. As we show signs of new, pale green growth, you can begin to gently shape us. Prune back any long, leggy stems to a node to encourage us to become bushier. If our roots are crowded, you can repot us into a slightly larger home with fresh, well-draining potting mix. Towards the end of March, you can give us a very diluted half-strength dose of fertilizer to support this new growth, but be gentle.
Our growth is accelerating rapidly! We are eager for more consistent moisture as the sun gets stronger, but always check our soil first. You can now fertilize us every two to four weeks with a balanced fertilizer to fuel our growth. This is also the perfect time to take stem cuttings from your healthy new growth to create new copies of us. Once the danger of frost has completely passed in your region, and the nights are consistently above 50°F (10°C), begin to acclimate us to the outdoors. Place us in a sheltered, shady spot for a few hours each day, gradually increasing our time outside and exposure to sun over 7-10 days. This prevents our leaves from getting scorched.
We are in our glory! We are blooming heavily and soaking up the sun. We need regular, thorough watering now, likely daily during the hottest stretches. Always water our soil, not our leaves, to prevent disease. Continue fertilizing us every two to four weeks to support this massive effort of flowering. For continuous blooms, please deadhead us. Simply snap off the entire spent flower stalk at its base; this tells us to put energy into new flowers instead of making seeds. We appreciate some afternoon shade in regions with intense summer heat.
We sense the days growing shorter and the air cooling. It is time to ease up. You should stop fertilizing us by mid-September to allow us to harden off our new growth before winter. Reduce the frequency of watering as the temperatures drop and our growth slows. Before the first frost arrives, you must bring us back inside. Carefully check our leaves and stems for any pests and treat them if necessary. Place us back in your sunniest indoor window.
We are transitioning back into our rest phase. We may drop some leaves as we adjust to the lower light and drier air indoors; this is normal. Water us sparingly, only when the soil is quite dry. Do not fertilize us at all during these months. We simply need a bright, cool spot to rest. A room that stays between 55-65°F (13-18°C) is ideal, but we will tolerate warmer living spaces as long as we have ample light.
