Hello there! First, let's talk about age. I cannot produce babies, or "pups" as you call them, until I have reached a certain level of maturity. From my perspective, my primary goal in my early life is to establish a strong root system and grow enough leaves to photosynthesize effectively. Producing offsets (my technical term for pups) is a significant energy expenditure. I simply won't attempt it until my own core system is robust and stable. This typically happens when I am around one to two years old. If I seem healthy but haven't produced any pups, please be patient. I am likely just focusing on growing up strong first.
This might seem counterintuitive to you, but I actually need to feel a little cramped to trigger my reproductive instincts. When my roots fill the pot and start to feel confined, it sends a signal to my system that I have limited space to expand. In the wild, this would indicate that I need to propagate to ensure my survival. My response is to send out stolons (long, arching stems) from which my babies will grow. If you have planted me in a pot that is too large, my energy will be directed into expanding my root system to fill that space, rather than into creating pups. A snug pot is a key signal for me to start a family.
Creating new plantlets is an energy-intensive process for me, and I get all my energy from light. While I am tolerant of lower light conditions, "tolerant" means I can survive, not necessarily thrive and reproduce. If the light in my location is too dim, I will direct all my energy into simply maintaining my existing leaves. I need bright, indirect light to photosynthesize at a high rate and have surplus energy to dedicate to producing pups. Direct, harsh sunlight can scorch my leaves, but a nice, bright spot is like a power-up for my reproductive cycle.
You might be giving me too much of a good thing, or not enough. Let's break this down. If you fertilize me too heavily, especially with a fertilizer high in nitrogen, you will encourage me to produce lush, green leaves at the expense of flowers and pups. Nitrogen promotes vegetative growth. To encourage pupping, I benefit from a more balanced fertilizer or one slightly higher in phosphorus. Conversely, if I am living in the same soil for years without any supplemental feeding, I will eventually deplete the available nutrients. Without essential minerals, I lack the basic building blocks needed to create new offsets. A light feeding during my active growing season (spring and summer) is ideal.
Water is life, but inconsistency is stressful. If you allow me to become completely parched and wilted, I will go into survival mode. In this state, my priority is self-preservation, not reproduction. On the other hand, if my roots are constantly sitting in soggy, waterlogged soil, they can begin to rot. A compromised root system cannot effectively transport water and nutrients to the rest of my body, weakening me and making it impossible to support pups. I prefer a consistent watering routine where the top few inches of my soil dry out between drinks. This stable environment tells me that conditions are safe for raising the next generation.
Like many living things, I have a natural cycle tied to the seasons. My peak growing period is during the longer, brighter days of spring and summer. This is when I am naturally inclined to produce pups. During the shorter, cooler days of fall and winter, I am in a state of rest, or dormancy. It is perfectly normal for me to not produce any pups during this time. So, if it's winter, please don't worry. Come spring, with increased light and a bit of fresh fertilizer, I will be much more likely to start my family.
