Hello, everybody! Reader here, and I have taken on a new quest.
A couple of years ago, I talked about adding some life to my apartment, and my Aunt Marie asked me if I wanted a cutting off of one of her plants, that had gotten too big, so I said “Sure, I’ll take it!”
A few months later, it was dead. My thumb proved to be more black than green.
But recently, our office manager Leslie asked me if I’d be interested in adopting one of our spider plants from the lobby.
So, once again, I accepted the task, but this time, I hope it goes better.
Now, my apartment doesn’t get a lot of natural light. Most of my windows face north, except for one small east-facing window in my bathroom, so I’ve plunked it down in my living room, against the back of my couch.
We’ll see how it does there, but I’m anything but a plant expert. So I put it to the listeners, to glean some advice, and here’s what some of them had to say:
Meanwhile, I did a search for spider plant care tips, and here’s what came up:
Tip Number One: Lighting: Spider plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight. Place them near a window or in a well-lit room, but avoid direct sunlight to prevent leaf scorching.
Number Two? Watering: Avoid overwatering your spider plant. Let the top inch of soil dry out before watering. Always check the soil moisture level by inserting your finger into the soil – if it feels dry, it’s time to water! (I may excel at this – I’m great at forgetting to water my plants!)
Tip Number Three: Humidity. These plants enjoy slightly higher humidity levels. Mist the leaves occasionally or place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water to increase humidity around the plant. (This gives me an excuse to use the spray bottle I bought ages ago at the dollar store, and never got around to using!)
Next up? Fertilizing: Feed your spider plant with a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the spring and summer months. In the colder seasons, reduce fertilization to every other month. (Guess I need to pick up some Miracle-Gro!)
And finally, Propagation: Spider plants are excellent for propagation! Simply cut off a healthy baby plantlet and place it in water or moist soil until it develops roots. Then, transfer it to its own pot. (If it survives, maybe someday, I can have two spider plants instead of one! Dare to dream!)
Remember, spider plants are resilient and forgiving, making them perfect for a beginner like yours truly! Enjoy the beauty and air-purifying benefits of these lovely plants. Happy growing!
Oh, and by the way… My spider plant has a name… Boris.
