Hello from my pot! The journey to your US home was long and disorienting. I was likely in a dark box, deprived of light and stable temperatures, which is very stressful for a succulent like me. My roots are probably dry and a bit shocked. My first request is simple: please do not repot me immediately and resist the urge to water. I need a period of quiet observation to understand my new environment. Think of me as a traveler from a distant land who needs to rest and get my bearings before being asked to do anything new.
In my native habitat, I am accustomed to very bright, indirect, or filtered light. The intense, direct afternoon sun through a south-facing US window can be too much too soon and will scald my sensitive sides, leaving permanent marks. Please place me in a spot with very bright but indirect light for the first few weeks. An east-facing window is often perfect. Gradually, over several weeks, you can introduce me to an hour or two of morning direct sun, slowly increasing my exposure. This gradual process, called hardening off, allows my tissues to adapt without getting sunburned.
After my 1-2 week rest period, it is time to check my foundation. The soil I arrived in is often too rich and moisture-retentive for the long term, a certain death sentence for my roots. Gently remove me from my current pot and brush away the old soil from my taproot. You will notice I have a long, sturdy root designed to seek water deep underground. My new home must be a pot that is deep enough to accommodate this root, with excellent drainage holes. My soil mix must be extremely gritty—a specialty cactus/succulent mix amended with at least 50% perlite, pumice, or coarse sand is ideal. This ensures my roots never sit in water, which would cause them to rot.
This is the most critical adjustment. Do not water me after repotting! My disturbed roots need at least a week to callous over and settle into their new, dry home to prevent rot. Your watering schedule must be dictated by my growth cycle, not the calendar. I absorb water during two main periods: in the fall when I flower and in the spring after I have completely shed my old leaves. The key sign that I am thirsty is when my top surface wrinkles and sinks slightly, and my sides become soft and pliable. Only then should you give me a thorough soak, allowing water to run out the drainage hole. Then, I must be left to completely dry out again.
My life cycle is different from most houseplants. During the hot US summer and again in the depths of winter, I go dormant. I am not growing; I am resting. During these times, you must withhold water entirely. My metabolism has slowed, and any moisture will likely rot me from the inside out. Please keep me in a bright location and trust that my wrinkled appearance is normal for my dormancy. When my growth period resumes, you will see new leaves emerging from my center, signaling that it is safe to resume your careful watering practice.
