As a sun-loving Mediterranean plant, I require a tremendous amount of light to fuel my growth. My internal processes are designed to operate under bright, direct sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours each day. If I am placed in a dim corner or on a windowsill that only gets a few hours of weak light, my growth will slow to a crawl or stop entirely. I simply cannot produce enough energy from photosynthesis to create new leaves and stems. Without adequate light, I become leggy, stretching out weakly in a desperate search for a sunbeam, and my leaves will be small and sparse.
My roots need oxygen as much as they need water. Constantly wet, soggy soil is a death sentence for me. It fills the air pockets in the soil, suffocating my root system and creating the perfect environment for root rot to set in. If my pot lacks drainage holes or the soil is too heavy and moisture-retentive, every time you water me, you are essentially waterboarding my roots. You will notice my growth halting, my lower leaves turning yellow and dropping, and a general look of unhappiness. In severe cases, my stems will become soft and mushy at the base.
I am not a fussy plant, but I have specific soil preferences honed by my native habitat. I thrive in well-draining, gritty, and slightly sandy soil that allows water to flow through quickly. Rich, heavy, clay-based, or moisture-retaining potting mixes are anathema to me. They hold too much water around my roots and often contain excessive nutrients that can harm me. If I am struggling to grow, the soil might be too dense, compacted, or too rich. I need a lean and mean environment that mimics the rocky hillsides I originate from.
Nutrition is a delicate balance. While I am not a heavy feeder, a complete lack of nutrients in depleted soil will eventually stunt my growth. However, the opposite problem is far more common and dangerous. Over-fertilizing, especially with high-nitrogen fertilizers, can shock my system, cause rapid but weak growth that is susceptible to pests, and even burn my roots. It forces me to divert energy in ways I am not designed for. I much prefer a light feeding, perhaps once at the beginning of the growing season with a balanced, half-strength fertilizer, or a top dressing of compost.
While I don't mind being slightly pot-bound, there is a limit. If I have been in the same container for several years, my roots may have completely filled the available space. They become a tangled, dense mass that can no longer effectively take up water or nutrients, and they have no room to expand to support new top growth. You might see roots circling the surface of the soil or growing out of the drainage holes. This root-bound condition strangles my potential and halts all growth above the soil.
My growth can be paused by environmental factors that cause me stress. If the temperature is too cold (below 50°F or 10°C), I will go into a state of dormancy and will not grow. Significant temperature fluctuations, like a draft from a door or heat from a vent, can also shock me. Furthermore, a severe pest infestation, such as from spider mites or aphids, forces me to expend all my energy on basic defense and survival rather than on producing new growth.
