Are Spider Plants Difficult to Grow?

Spider plants make excellent houseplants because they are very easy to grow, require little maintenance in order to thrive, and adapt well to the conditions of most homes and other indoor spaces. They are also used frequently in schools because they are easy to propagate and require so little care. Particularly if you are a beginning gardener, spider plants are excellent starter plants to add some greenery to your home.

Spider plants are happiest when grown in containers or hanging baskets, which will provide plenty of room for their shoots. However, you should not grow them in containers that are too large for the size of the plant, because they enjoy being a little rootbound.

At the end of their long stalks, spider plants will begin to grow new baby plants. If you wish to grow more spider plants from your original plant, just cut these small plants off the ends of the stalks, and place their roots in water. When the roots of these new plants have grown to be an inch long, transplant them into containers filled with potting soil.

When you are growing spider plants, keep in mind that they like well drained, rich potting soil, although they can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions. You should water them at least once every week. Give them liquid fertilizer once or twice per month, but take care not to over water them or give them too much fertilizer. In fact, you may want to dilute the fertilizer to half its recommended strength, or skip fertilizer entirely if your plants are healthy and thriving without it. If you are over watering or over fertilizing, you will know it because the tips of your spider plant’s leaves will turn brown. If this happens, remove the brown leaves, and adjust the amount of fertilizer and water. Your plant will soon grow new, green leaves to replace the brown ones. If this does not solve the issue, you may want to try distilled water, as some chemicals in tap water may be harmful for your spider plants.

Although your spider plants will do just fine in the low light conditions found in many areas of the typical home, they also enjoy some sunshine. You can place your plants in a sunny window once or twice per week, but you should not forget them there. If you leave them in direct sunlight for too long, the leaves may turn brown. Also be sure not to leave them near the window on cold nights, as they prefer warmer temperatures.

Caring for Spider plants are very rewarding to grow. If you take proper care of them and grow new plants by replanting the baby spider plants on the end of the shoots, you will soon have a whole house filled with beautiful spider plants. Keep in mind that plants can help improve air quality by cleaning the air. They also make wonderful gifts to help your friends and family begin their own spider plant gardens. Spider plants can be grown by beginning gardeners, and require only a little effort to help them thrive.

Peace Lily A Low Light House Plant

Unless you have a great number of windows, many areas of your home are probably considered low light areas. Generally this is defined as being eight feet or more away from a large window, with no direct light. Many areas of the typical home do not reeive enough natural light. However, you can still grow beautiful houseplants in these areas! There are many plants which will acclimate to low light conditions. They do not require high levels of care, although you should spray them with water occasionally to wash accumulated dust off their leaves. Here are some of the best low-light plants for your home:

Cast Iron Plant, or Aspidistra elatior, is a foliage plant with long, dark green glossy leaves. It has a reputation for growing under even the worst light conditions, and is not particular about temperature or water conditions, either. Watch for mealybugs, mites, and scales, which are known for attacking this plant. You should divide and repot this plant in the spring, when its roots have outgrown the pot.

Zebra Haworthia, another choice for low-light planting, is a succulent plant with white spotted leaves. These thick leaves form rosettes and tube-like flowers that hang on long stalks. It is a small plant, making it an ideal choice for container gardens or small spaces. It should be watered thoroughly, and night temperatures should be around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. It should be repotted when it has outgrown the existing pot, in a well-drained porous soil mixture.

Chinese evergreen is another good low-light houseplant. They can even be grown in water, with no soil. There are many varieties with interesting color patterns, which can add variety to your plant selection. The temperature should not fall below 60 Fahrenheit at night. When the plant becomes root-bound, you should repot it.

Snake plant, or Sansevieria trifasciata, is an African plant with thick leaves banded with yellow or dark green. Older plants sometimes grow spikes of yellow or white flowers in greater light conditions. The soil should be sandy with some peat moss, and the plant should be fertilized every 3 to 4 months. You should water this plant thoroughly when the soil is dry to the touch.

Split leaf Philodendron is a climbing plant with large leathery leaves. It requires support, such as a pole or lattice, but can easily be cut back to keep it within the space you have. Soil should be kept damp, and this plant prefers humid conditions and temperatures above 60 degrees.

Peace Lily is a plant which comes in many varieties available at garden centers or nurseries. The size of this plant varies greatly, meaning there is likely one to fit your needs. In higher light conditions, it will produce long-lasting, creamy white flowers. Soil should be slightly moist at all times, and temperatures should not drop below 55 or 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pothos, or Devil’s Ivy, is a popular hanging foliage plants, and it can also be trained to grow upright on poles. You should keep the temperature warm, and the soil slightly moist at all times.

English Ivy comes in many varieties and grows well in low light conditions. Varieties come with different leaf shapes, colors, and sizes. Ivy can tolerate temperatures as low as 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Screw Pine, or Pandanus veitchii, is a shrub with white-striped, swordlike leaves. This plant prefers humidity, as well as temperatures above 60 degrees. You should allow soil to dry out between waterings, and repot only when rootbound. The plant propagates through suckers that grow out from the base of the plant.

Grape Ivy usually comes in hanging basket or table plant forms. This vine has small, glossy green pointed leaflets and tendrils. Guides on care of Grape Ivy say that this peace lily cultivar enjoys high humidity, and new growth is usually covered with a strange white felt-like substance, which will disappear as the new growth reaches maturity.

Things To Consider When Watering Your Plant

Many gardeners have difficulty deciding how often their plants should be watered. The amount of water plants need varies greatly and depends on the rate at which the plant absorbs water.

Plants which are actively growing require more water than those that are not currently growing. Those which have many roots filling the pot require more water to maintain their growth than ones which are smaller and not as well established.

The time of year also affects the water needs of plants. During the growing season, which usually lasts from April until October, most plants require more water than they use in the rest of the year. However, there are some exceptions, so be sure you understand your plant’s growing season when you’re deciding how much to water them.

You should inspect your plants daily to determine whether it is time for watering. Some plants will need watering every day, while others will only need watering every few days.

One way to tell when your plant needs watering is to feel the soil. Potted plants should be watered when the soil is moderately dry, and should be given enough water to soak through to the drainage hole. Many roots are located far down into the pot, so it is important that the water reaches all the way down to them.

It may be hard to tell when the soil is dry enough to require watering. One test is to tap the pot about halfway down with your knuckles or a wooden hammer. If this results in a light hollow sound, you should water the plant. If it results in a dull noise, the soil is wet enough. However, if the soil is not packed down, this test will not work.

When watering your plant, the water should be room temperature. You can use either rain water or tap water. It is actually quite easy to overwater your plants, so you should be extremely careful when watering them. If you do overwater, the tips of your plants may become yellow or brown. If this happens, stop watering the plant until the soil dries out, and poke the soil all over with a pointed sick to aerate it, helping the soil dry quickly. If the soil grows moss or algae due to overwatering, you need to remove this coating. If you want your plants to be safe for overwatering it is good to use an Automatic plant watering system.

Before you water your houseplants, you should set the pots in saucers or bowls to catch the drainage. Use glazed containers if you plan to set the plants on woodwork or other items which would be damaged by the moisture. You can also set smaller potted plants in hanging baskets or larger plants to catch the excess water.

Many plants need fertilizer in addition to the water. These especially include plants which are in their growing season, generally May to August. Bulb plants may require fertilizer at other times of the year, however. You can use liquid fertilizer, or tablets which are to be mixed with water. This should not be overlooked if you want your plants to thrive.