For the rest of the year water thoroughly. Moist air is necessary. Mist leaves regularly, but never use a coarse spray. Surround pot with damp peat. In spring or summer pot up basal shoots with a few leaves and roots attached.
Air layering is an alternative.
The air is too cool or there is a cold draught. Mealy bugs at the base of the leaf stalks can be a serious problem - so can red spider mite if the light is too bright. Not surprisingly it has been a favourite for generations but it is not easy to keep an Aphelandra under ordinary room conditions for more than a few months. The fate of nearly all of them is to become leggy and leafless. The way to avoid this is to feed regularly, never allow the compost to dry out, mist frequently and keep warm in winter.