Hello! From my perspective, the most common issue I face is improper hydration. I am quite drought-tolerant, but I do have preferences. Please water me thoroughly until you see water drain freely from the holes in my pot. This ensures my entire root system gets a nice drink. Then, the most crucial part: let my soil dry out almost completely before you water me again. You can check this by sticking your finger about an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, it's time for water. If it's still damp, please wait. Overwatering makes my roots soft, brown, and rotten—a condition I find very unpleasant and that can be fatal.
I adore bright, indirect sunlight. A spot near an east or north-facing window is my idea of paradise. Here, I get plenty of light to fuel my growth and produce my charming little plantlets (spider babies!) without the risk of sunburn. My leaves will tell you if I'm unhappy. If they are pale and lack their usual vibrant stripes, I likely need more light. If the tips of my leaves turn brown and crispy, or if the green parts look bleached, I am probably getting too much direct, harsh sun. A little morning sun is wonderful, but please protect me from the intense afternoon rays.
I am not a picky eater or a demanding tenant. I prefer a well-draining potting mix to prevent my roots from sitting in water. A standard houseplant mix works perfectly fine. As for food, I only need a light meal. Please feed me with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength, and only do this once a month during my main growing season (spring and summer). In the autumn and winter, I am mostly resting, so you can stop fertilizing me altogether. I also enjoy being slightly root-bound, so you only need to repot me into a slightly larger home every 2-3 years.
I thrive in the same comfortable temperatures that you do. A consistent environment between 18°C and 32°C (65°F and 90°F) is perfect. Please keep me away from cold drafts, air conditioning vents, or heating ducts, as sudden temperature extremes can shock my system. I am very adaptable to standard household humidity levels, so you don't need to mist me. However, I will certainly not complain if the air is a bit more humid, as it keeps my leaf tips from turning brown.
One of my greatest joys is producing long runners with little plantlets on the end. When you see these spider babies, know that I am very happy! Once a plantlet has developed its own little roots that are about an inch or two long, you can propagate it. You can simply snip it off and place it in a small glass of water (change the water weekly) until a more robust root system develops, then pot it. Alternatively, you can pin the plantlet to the soil in a nearby pot while it's still attached to me; once it roots itself, you can sever the runner.
