Many caretakers mistakenly place me in a dark corner, thinking I am a low-light plant. This is a grave error. While I can tolerate lower light for a period, I am a tree that thrives in bright, indirect light. When I do not receive enough photons for photosynthesis, my internal energy production slows to a crawl. You will see this manifest as leggy growth, where the space between my branches becomes abnormally long as I desperately stretch towards any light source. My beautiful, dense foliage will become sparse, and the rich green color may fade. A spot near a north or east-facing window is ideal, or a few feet back from a south or west window with a sheer curtain to diffuse the harsh, direct rays that can scorch my leaves.
This is perhaps the most common and fatal mistake. My roots need to breathe. They require a cycle of moisture and air. When you water me too frequently, the soil becomes perpetually saturated, filling all the air pockets. This suffocates my root system, creating an anaerobic environment where harmful fungi and bacteria thrive, leading to root rot. The first sign is often yellowing leaves that may droop, but the real damage is happening unseen below the soil. Always check the soil moisture before giving me a drink. Insert your finger about two inches deep. If it feels dry, it is time to water thoroughly until it runs out the drainage hole. If it is still moist, wait. I would rather be slightly thirsty than waterlogged.
You must remember that I hail from tropical rainforests where the air is thick with moisture. The typical indoor environment, especially with heating or air conditioning, is desert-like to me. When the air is too dry, I struggle to transpire properly. The leaf tips and edges will turn crispy and brown as the cells desiccate and die. You might also see my leaves curl in an attempt to reduce surface area and conserve water. To keep me happy, please increase the humidity around me. You can do this by grouping me with other plants, placing my pot on a pebble tray filled with water (ensure the pot is not sitting directly in the water), or using a room humidifier. Misting provides only a temporary boost and is not a long-term solution.
I am a living organism programmed to grow. While I am content being container-grown, I am not content being root-bound forever. When my roots have completely filled the pot, circling around and around, they become congested. This congestion makes it difficult for them to take up water and nutrients efficiently, even if you provide them. My growth will stagnate, and I may become top-heavy and unstable. Repotting me every 2-3 years into a container only one or two inches larger in diameter provides fresh soil and room for my root system to expand, which in turn supports healthy growth above the soil.
The soil in my pot is not an infinite buffet. With each watering, some nutrients are washed away. After a few months, the soil becomes depleted, and I will begin to starve. The signs of hunger are slow growth and pale or yellowish leaves, particularly on newer growth. During my active growing season in spring and summer, I need a balanced, liquid fertilizer diluted to half-strength about once a month. This replenishes the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients I need to produce chlorophyll and build new cells. Please do not over-fertilize, as a buildup of salts can also damage my roots.
