Spider Plant: Low maintenance survivor
Why is it called a Spider Plant? The answer is obvious! Babies which are small plantlets hang across the plant making it look like a long legged spider.
So this one is one more beautiful option to enhance the beauty of your house corner which grows by itself too with minimum maintenance.
Spider Plant is a sturdy one that adapts to unusual climate. It shows absolute tolerance towards the watering conditions even if you over or underwater it someday. It also tolerates the amount of sunlight you arrange for it.
So there are 2 types of spider plant one is with arching leaves with green at the center and the white stripes bordering it. Another one is with green leaves with white stripes at the center. Both look beautiful!!
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Health Benefits of Spider Plant:
Spider Plant produces a huge amount of oxygen compared to any other variegated houseplant.
Study says that it not just increases the level of oxygen in air but also removes about 95 percent of pollutants like formaldehyde and xylene which causes eye irritation, allergies, breathing problems etc. , carbon monoxide which causes irritation, fatigue, lack of coordination and concentration and toluene causing neurological disorder.
Spider Plant shows everlasting high transpiration rate which boost up the humidity in the air.
It is pet friendly so even your pets can breathe healthy air around it.
Pot Selection: Spider plants look great in hanging baskets too because of their arch forming fountain - like plantlets. So, pots or baskets made up of
Clay or Terracotta and 1/3larger than the root ball.
Make sure the pot has enough drainage holes at its bottom.
Sunlight: Spider Plant actually does not care much about the sunlight it gets but it is advised that it should be kept at a place where it will get
indirect but bright sunlight.
Temperature: Spider plants grows well if the temperature ranges between 65 to 80°F
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Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic loam or sand soil. You can add organic compost, Peat moss or coco peat to get the relevant soil texture
and pH (pH range: 6.0 to 7.0, slightly alkaline)
Watering: Overwatering or underwatering, simply doesn’t matter for the Spider plant but it is preferable to water moderately it once in every two
weeks, overwatering might cause root rot.
Before watering the Spider Plant next time make sure its soil is well-drained.
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Fertilizers: Organic compost or 10-10-10, N-P-K fertilizers every 6-8 months.
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Pests and Cure: Generally in case of Spider Plant fungus can be more annoying for the leaves and the roots. Overwatering might cause this problem.
Another issue can be seen on leaf tips. If you see the leaf tips are browning or drying it means that the plant has been exposed to
excessive fertilizers or it has been underwatered.
Sometimes even the soil can cause the trouble, so make sure you are using well-drained, clean and good to use potting soil for your
Spider Plant.
Repotting of a Spider Plant
Reporting process is quite easier for Spider Plant. Choose a larger pot which has big enough drainage hole at the bottom to repot the plant. Wash its roots and trim them a bit, and then you can put it in a new pot.
Spider Plant care
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Trimming or pruning the Spider Plant at regular intervals will be beneficial.
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While repotting please make sure if you are using healthy and sterile soil
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Though the Spider Plant shows tolerance towards the amount of water it cannot hold plenty of for long, so do water the plant wisely.