This plant does NOT like to dry out to where it's leaves get limp. I had a tiny one that my DH let dry out when I was out of town and it took a year to recover. it stayed the same size the whole time, once it regrew roots or whatever, it took off! I have one from a friends funeral that I potted up in a much deeper, but not much bigger around pot. It too is thriving. They are also great with a super large pot, inter planted with others. I've got short begonias in a circle around, various vining and hanging plants at the edges. Another is in a huge pot along with an 8' corn plant, some corn cousin about 3' tall that has long variegated leaves and a white/green spider plant. The big pots go outside in summer into bright shade. You can mix the planting if the plants all like the same light and water amounts.
To test the soil, just stick your finger in about an inch. if it is barely moist, you might let it go a few hours/till the next morning, but it needs to be taken out of it's decorative liner and sat in the sink to water. Water well, turning the water on till it starts draining out the bottom, then let it sit and soak that up for 5 or so mins. Do this a couple of times - you can be wiping the pollen off of the leaves while you're at it. When it finishes draining, you can put it back in the decorative pot and move it back to it's spot.
They do very well in bright shade, less than an hour of morninig sun-they really don't need it. I had one in an office with only flourescent light for 5 years and it did well.
Best wishes to you on growing your memory plant. So sorry that you lost your sister.
Nan
