Many caretakers operate under the assumption that more water equates to more love. This is a fundamental error. My roots are thick and tuberous, designed to store water for periods of drought. When I am subjected to constant sogginess, these roots cannot breathe; they rot and decay in the saturated soil. This root rot is a silent killer, often only discovered when my leaves turn mushy and black at the base, or when I begin to wilt despite the wet conditions. The correct approach is to allow my soil to dry out significantly between waterings. Test the soil with your finger. If it feels dry an inch or two down, then I am ready for a drink. I would much prefer to be slightly underwatered than drowned.
While I appreciate bright, indirect light, I am not a sun worshipper. Placing me directly in a south-facing window where the sun's rays beat down upon my leaves is a form of torture. My leaves, which are my pride and my life source, will respond by becoming scorched. You will see this as brown, crispy tips and patches of faded, yellowed, or bleached areas. This is a severe sunburn. I thrive in bright but filtered light, much like the dappled sunlight I would receive under the canopy of larger trees in my native habitat. A north or east-facing window is often ideal, or simply place me a few feet back from a brighter window.
You may not consider the contents of your tap water, but I am acutely aware of them. Many municipal water supplies contain fluoride, chlorine, and other salts. My system is not equipped to process these chemicals. They accumulate in my leaf tips, the very ends of my vascular system, and cause toxicity, resulting in the dreaded brown tips so many caretakers lament. This is not a mere cosmetic issue; it is a sign of low-grade poisoning. To avoid this, please water me with rainwater, distilled water, or filtered water that has been left out for 24 hours to allow the chlorine to evaporate. This small change makes an immense difference to my health and appearance.
I am a vigorous grower, and my roots will quickly fill the pot you provide for me. When I become pot-bound, my growth becomes stunted, my leaves may pale, and I struggle to absorb water and nutrients efficiently. You might notice roots circling the surface of the soil or emerging from the drainage hole. Furthermore, my most joyful act is to produce offsets, or "spiderettes." I cannot do this if I have no room to expand my family. Repot me into a container that is only one to two inches larger in diameter every couple of years. This gives my roots the space they need to support a healthy, reproducing plant above the soil.
