From my perspective, the journey to your home is a monumental shock. I have spent my entire life in a stable, sunny, and well-ventilated nursery greenhouse. Suddenly, I am boxed, transported through dark, turbulent conditions, and then unboxed into a completely new environment. The light quality, intensity, and duration are different. The humidity and air flow feel strange. My roots are tender, and this transition is incredibly stressful. I need a period of gentle, quiet adjustment—a quarantine—away from your other plants to not only protect them from any potential pests I might be carrying but, more importantly, for me to simply rest and begin to process my new surroundings without competition or added stress.
Light is my lifeblood; it is how I feed myself through photosynthesis. The light in your home is almost certainly less intense than what I am used to. Please do not immediately place me on a sunny south-facing windowsill. The sudden, intense exposure can scorch my leaves, causing pale, crispy patches that will never heal. Instead, introduce me to brighter light gradually over 1-2 weeks. Start me in a spot with bright, indirect light (like an east-facing window or a few feet back from a south-facing one) and slowly move me closer to the prime sunny spot each day. This allows my internal systems to safely ramp up production of protective pigments and adjust to the new energy source.
My relationship with water is critical and often misunderstood. I am a succulent, designed to store water in my thick, fleshy leaves and stems. My roots are particularly susceptible to rot in moist soil. Immediately after repotting me into a fresh, well-draining succulent mix (a process that itself causes minor root stress), you must resist the urge to water. Please wait at least 5-7 days before giving me my first drink. This pause allows any tiny abrasions on my roots to callous over and heal, preventing pathogens in the soil from causing a fatal infection. When you do water, do so thoroughly until water runs from the drainage hole, then allow my pot to dry out completely before even thinking about watering again.
While my top growth may seem stagnant during this acclimation period, crucial work is happening unseen. My root system is actively exploring its new container and the fresh, aerated soil mix. I am establishing a foundation from which I will eventually draw nutrients and stability for years to come. This process takes energy and time. Please be patient with me. Avoid fertilizing me for at least the first month, as my tender new roots can be easily burned by salts in fertilizers. Your patience allows me to focus all my energy on this essential task of building a strong, healthy root network in my new home.
