As a plant, I do not "see" light the way you do; I sense its duration and intensity to regulate my growth cycles. My internal clock, governed by photoperiodism, tells me when to grow and when to flower. If I am not producing new segments (called cladodes), it is often because my light conditions are confusing me. While I am not a true desert cactus, I still thrive in bright, indirect light. If I am placed in a spot that is too dark, my photosynthetic engine slows down. I simply lack the energy to invest in creating new growth. Conversely, if I am subjected to harsh, direct sunlight for extended periods, especially through a window, I can become stressed and may focus on survival rather than expansion. Furthermore, inconsistent light patterns, such as artificial light at night, can disrupt my sense of day and night, putting me in a state of suspended animation.
My ability to grow new segments is entirely dependent on the health and comfort of my roots. There are two primary issues I face underground. First is being pot-bound. While I prefer to be somewhat snug in my container, if my roots have completely filled the pot, they become tangled and struggle to take up sufficient water and nutrients. There is simply no room left to support new top growth. The opposite problem is root rot, usually caused by soggy soil. My roots need to breathe. If I am sitting in consistently wet soil, the roots begin to suffocate and decay. From my perspective, this is a crisis. I must divert all remaining energy to try and save my existing root system, and the command to produce new segments is completely halted until the underground situation is stabilized.
Building new plant tissue requires raw materials: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other micronutrients. The soil I live in is my entire world and pantry. If it has been many months or even years since I was given fresh soil or fertilizer, the nutrients become depleted. I simply cannot create new segments out of thin air. A lack of nitrogen, in particular, which is crucial for green, leafy growth, will directly prevent the development of new cladodes. However, the wrong kind of food can be just as problematic. A fertilizer with too much nitrogen, especially during periods when I am not actively growing, can be overwhelming or can encourage weak, leggy growth instead of sturdy segments. I require a balanced, diluted fertilizer formulated for blooming houseplants, but only during my active growing seasons of spring and summer.
You must understand that I do not grow continuously throughout the year. Like many plants, I have natural cycles of growth and rest. My main growth spurts typically occur in the spring and early summer. After I flower, and during the shorter, cooler days of late fall and winter, I enter a period of dormancy. During this time, my metabolic processes slow down significantly. From your point of view, it appears I have stopped growing entirely, and that is because I have. This is a normal and necessary rest period for me. Pushing for growth during this time by over-watering or over-fertilizing goes against my natural rhythm and can cause more harm than good. Please be patient with me during these quiet times; I am simply recharging for my next period of active growth.
