The Latest Methods for Growing Spider Plant in Water and Points to Note
Spider plant is also known as hanging spider plant, ribbon plant, and orchid grass, among other names. It is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Chlorophytum in the family Asparagaceae (lily family). Its branches are slender and drooping, and it produces small white flowers in summer or when temperatures are high in other seasons. The flowers cluster at the ends of the drooping branches, with yellow stamens, and the small tender leaves inside are sometimes purple. It can be grown in pots for ornamental display. Now let us take a look at the methods for growing spider plant in water and the points to note!
How to Plant Spider Plant in Water
1. Container selection: There are many types of containers for hydroponic plants. By material, there are peat, porcelain, glass, plastic, and so on. By light transmittance, they can be divided into transparent, opaque, and semi-transparent, among others. The roots of spider plant are ornamental, so choose a transparent glass container.
2. Preparing the nutrient solution: For the nutrient solution for hydroponic spider plant, add 1.8 grams of calcium nitrate, 0.187 grams of ammonium sulfate, 0.62 grams of monopotassium phosphate, 0.54 grams of magnesium sulfate, 0.62 grams of potassium chloride, and 0.0278 grams of ferrous phosphate per liter. After dissolving, dilute with water to 1 liter and mix evenly.
3. Preparing the spider plant: For hydroponic spider plant, the plant dug out from the soil needs to be processed. Wash the soil off the roots with water, then cut off old and rotten roots, keep the fibrous roots, and remove diseased leaves. It is best to wash the dust and soil off the leaf surfaces with clean water and keep the leaves intact.
4. Fixing in place: Insert the prepared spider plant into the bottle and fix it with materials such as glass balls or small stones. Make sure the plant can stand upright in the glass container and remain upright when moved or exposed to wind. Be careful to keep the root system intact and do not damage the roots.
How to Grow Spider Plant in Water
1. Sufficient water: Hydroponic spider plant does not need watering, but the water must be changed frequently. Especially in summer, the plant needs to be cooled by changing the water. Usually change it once every 3 to 4 days, and sprinkle more water around the plant at noon to keep the air moist.
2. Moderate light: Spider plant is a shade-loving plant, but it still needs light. In summer, do not place spider plant directly in the sun for exposure. It can be placed on a windowsill with appropriate shading. If spider plant is exposed to strong sunlight, the leaves will turn yellow and lose their luster.
3. Proper fertilization: Hydroponic spider plant is mostly soaked in nutrient solution, so it needs less fertilizer, but it still needs some. Each time you change the water, you can sprinkle a few grains of nitrogen fertilizer into the water, preferably granular.
4. Changing the culture solution: For hydroponic spider plant, add water and replace the nutrient solution about every 7 days. You can use common hydroponic nutrient solution available on the market or a dedicated nutrient solution. Be sure to replace it in time to keep the water clean, and if necessary, wash the roots of the spider plant when replacing the nutrient solution.
Points to Note for Hydroponic Spider Plant
1. Spider plant likes a warm, humid, and semi-shaded environment. The optimum temperature for growth is 15 to 25 degrees, and the wintering temperature is 5 degrees. If the air is too dry and ventilation is poor, tip drying is likely to occur, and if the sunlight is too strong, it can easily scorch the leaves.
2. For a single-layer bottle, add water and flower nutrient solution once every 4 days, feeding water in through the straw until it is full. For a double-layer bottle, change the water once a week. When changing the water, pour out the water in the bottle, wash the container clean, fill it with clean water and flower nutrient solution, and then place the plastic sieve on top of the water bottle.
3. The water level should preferably have 1/3 of the root system immersed in water. In summer, change the water once every 5 to 7 days; in spring and autumn, once every 7 to 10 days; in winter, once every 10 to 15 days. It is best to use tap water that has been left standing for 2 to 3 days, and the water temperature difference should not be greater than 2 degrees.
4. When spider plant is grown hydroponically by the root-washing method or division method, its original thick fleshy roots will rot, so the water must be changed every day, the roots washed, and rotten roots removed. After about 25 to 30 days, new roots can grow, and the old roots gradually adapt to the hydroponic environment. Only then can nutrient solution cultivation be used.
5. The nutrient solution is added during the process of changing the water. The nutrient solution should be stored in a dry, light-protected environment and in a place where children cannot easily reach it. The temperature should preferably not exceed 35 degrees.