From the moment you bring me home, I am in a state of profound shock. I was grown in a perfect, high-humidity, warm greenhouse with ideal light and constant nutrients. Your home is drastically different—drier, darker, and full of curious drafts. This "transplant shock" is my biggest hurdle. Please don't repot me immediately; it adds more stress. Instead, let me acclimate for a week or two. Keep me in a bright, warm spot away from heating vents or chilly windows, and be very gentle with my roots and leaves.
You often misunderstand my watering needs. My small plastic pot has shallow roots and dries out incredibly fast under your warm lights. I need you to check my soil daily. Stick your finger in up to the first knuckle; if it feels dry, I need a long, deep drink. Please water me slowly at my base until water runs freely out of the drainage holes. This ensures my entire root system gets moisture. However, I despise soggy feet! Never let me sit in a saucer of stagnant water, as this will suffocate my roots and cause them to rot, which is a death sentence.
I am a sun-loving plant, descended from varieties that thrive in the Mediterranean climate. The light levels in your supermarket are poor, and your home is likely not much better. A dim kitchen counter is a slow end for me. I need as much bright, direct light as you can provide. A south-facing window is ideal. Without at least 6-8 hours of strong light per day, I will become leggy, weak, and my leaves will turn pale green. I will stretch desperately towards any light source, becoming unstable and unable to support my own growth.
This crowded pot I came in is not my forever home. My siblings and I are packed tightly together to look lush for sale, but we are all competing for the same limited water and nutrients in the soil. After I have acclimated to your home, please carefully separate us. Gently tease our root masses apart and plant me in a new, larger pot with fresh, well-draining potting mix. This gives my roots the space they need to expand and access new nutrients. Once I am settled, a half-strength dose of a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks will help me replace the leaves you harvest.
When you want to use my leaves, please do not just pluck the large ones from the top. This removes my primary solar panels and stunts my growth. Instead, always look for a pair of smaller leaves growing at the base of a larger set. Pinch the stem right above those small leaves. This encourages me to branch out at that point, becoming bushier and stronger. Regular, proper harvesting signals me to grow more vigorously rather than to flower and complete my life cycle.
