I like to stand in a place with lots of light, but not in bright direct sunlight for too long. For example, place me near a west or east facing window, or two metres from a south facing window. Turn me around a bit every now and then so all my leaves can catch a ray of sunshine. Also, you should know that I hate draft winds, brrr! Once I have found my place, please leave me be. I do not like change.

I like my soil to be slightly moist. Be careful with too much water! A regular sip of lukewarm water is enough for me. This does vary per season: I drink less in winter than summer, because the warmth and light in summer dries me out quicker. Therefore, the lighter the location, the more I drink. Give me water from the bottom of the pot by pouring water in my saucer. This allows me to absorb the amount of water I need and reduces the chance of critters and pests. After 15 minutes of bottom watering, you can use the remaining amount of water for other plants. Want to know when to water me? Stick your finger in the soil. Does soil stick to your finger after putting it in my soil? Please wait with watering for a bit. Is your finger clean and dry after putting it in the soil? Give me some water, please. You can also lift me up. Am I heavy? Then I am not thirsty. Am I easy to lift? Then I’d like a sip.

I only need fertilizer during growing season, which runs from March to September. During this period, you should fertilize me once a month as stated on the packaging. Don’t overfertilize, my roots hate that! I don’t need fertilizer outside of growing season, because this is my resting period.

If you have just bought me, you don’t need to repot me for the first few months. I need all the energy I have to adjust to my new environment. You can, of course, put me in a decorative pot. After the first repotting session, I’d like a new pot every two years that is 20% bigger than my previous pot. Please repot me in Spring, this is when I’m at my strongest. I also like fresh potting soil, because this is filled with nutrients that I need to grow. Sometimes, it happens that I go through a major growth spurt and need a new pot sooner. You can check if I need a new pot by checking my roots. Do they grow out of the bottom of the pot? Then you can repot me sooner.

It is very important to plant me in an inner pot first before putting me in a decorative pot. Thus, you can check if you’ve overwatered me by checking if there is water on the bottom of the decorative pot. You can also easily water me from the bottom.

You don’t need to cut off my old leaves. Just give me a little shake and my old leaves will fall down. Sometimes I grow very fast and get long shoots. Do you want to keep me nice and bushy? Feel free to cut those off in autumn.

With my many long leaves, I am a star at purifying the air! I make sure that the space I’m in is provided with clean air. I do this by converting the CO2 in the air into oxygen. This gives you a boost of energy, focus and creativity.

You can take me outside during a rainy day in summer! I may not like change that much, but I’m always in for a refreshing shower in the heat! It also gives my leaves a nice rinse, so I’m as good as new, inside and out. Win-win! 

No, I am not edible.