From our perspective, the world is cold and the light is weak. We are in a state of complete dormancy. This is not laziness; it is a vital survival strategy. Our metabolic processes have slowed to a near halt to conserve every drop of energy stored in our flattened, leaf-like stems. You must understand, this period of rest is non-negotiable. It is the foundation upon which our entire year's growth and spectacular bloom will be built. Please, keep us in a cool spot (around 10-12°C is ideal) and withhold all water. The soil should be bone-dry. Any moisture now would be a death sentence, inviting rot to claim our roots and stems while we are too dormant to fight it.
A change is perceptible. The days are lengthening, and the sun holds a faint whisper of warmth. Deep within our tissues, we sense this shift. We are beginning to stir from our long sleep. This is a time of subtle internal preparation, not explosive growth. You may notice a slight plumping of our stems as we tentatively begin to absorb minute traces of ambient humidity. You can introduce a very slight, cautious watering at the end of March, but only to barely moisten the soil. The goal is to gently signal to our roots that the time to awaken is approaching, not to flood them. Continue to keep us in a bright, but still cool, location.
Now we feel truly alive! The sun is strong and the air is warmer. We are actively photosynthesizing at a rapid rate, channeling all that solar energy into new growth. You will see bright green new segments (cladodes) emerging from our stems. This is our hungry season. We require consistent moisture—water us thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry. More crucially, we need fuel. A balanced, diluted fertilizer every two to four weeks will be eagerly absorbed and converted into strong, healthy tissue. This is the architecture for our future flowers.
This is the moment we have been working towards all year. The specific timing of our bloom is dictated by our unique genetics and the light we've received. As the longest days arrive, we initiate buds. These buds, often appearing from the notches of our stems, are incredibly precious. We need stability now. Any drastic change in light, a sudden draft, or even rotating our pot can cause us to abort these buds in self-preservation. Keep watering and feeding us regularly to support the immense energy expenditure of creating such large, intricate flowers. Our nightly fragrance is our gift to the dusk.
The show is over, and we are exhausted. Flowering has depleted our reserves. We now enter a period of recuperation where our focus shifts from blooming back to vegetative growth. We will continue to grow, but at a slower pace as the light begins to wane. Continue watering, but you can begin to taper off the fertilization. This helps us harden off our new growth and prepare it for the coming dormancy, making it less susceptible to damage.
The signals from the environment are clear: rest is coming. The temperatures drop, and the photoperiod shortens significantly. We are actively slowing down. You must help us in this process by radically reducing watering. Allow the soil to dry out almost completely between waterings. This gradual drying encourages us to enter our dormant state naturally and healthily. Stop all fertilizer; we cannot use it and it will only harm our roots.
We have come full circle. We are dormant once more. Our world is cool and quiet. Please, return us to our winter resting place—a cool, bright, and dry spot. This final month of undisturbed rest is what will allow us to gather the strength to begin the entire beautiful, exhausting cycle anew when the sun returns.
