Does Aspidistra Bloom? Read This and You'll Know

Aspidistra is also known as spider's egg, bamboo-leaf tray, nine-dragon tray, bamboo-joint tendon-stretcher, and so on. It is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Aspidistra in the family Liliaceae. It prefers warm and humid conditions and a semi-shaded environment, is relatively cold-tolerant, and extremely shade-tolerant. It originated in the southern provinces and regions of China, and is now cultivated throughout China and used quite widely. Let's take a look below at whether Aspidistra will bloom!

Does Aspidistra bloom?

Aspidistra does bloom. In people's impressions, Aspidistra only grows leaves and does not bloom, but this is not actually the case. Aspidistra usually blooms in April. The flower stalk is short, with a single flower borne at the top of the stalk, growing on the rhizome below the leaf cluster and exposed above the soil. The flower covering has lobes and is purplish-brown, with dark spots on the outside, and a single pistil in the center, with a large stigma that covers the stamens. After flowering it sets fruit, a green spherical berry, shaped somewhat like a spider's egg and cradled by the leaf cluster, which is why Aspidistra is also called spider's egg.

How to grow Aspidistra

1. Soil: Aspidistra is not very demanding about soil and is itself fairly tolerant of poor soil, but loose, fertile, slightly acidic sandy loam is still better. For pot cultivation, equal parts of leaf mold, peat soil, and garden soil can be mixed as the growing medium.

2. Watering: During the growing season, Aspidistra should be watered more attentively, because this is the most critical time. The potting soil should be kept moist at all times, and the leaves should be sprayed with water frequently to increase humidity. After autumn, the amount of watering can be reduced appropriately.

3. Light: Aspidistra is a light-loving plant, so it can be grown year-round in a bright indoor location, but whether indoors or outdoors, it must not be placed in direct sunlight. Even short exposure to strong sun can cause sunburn on Aspidistra, so appropriate shading can be used to control the intensity of light.

4. Fertilizing: Before planting, a base fertilizer can be applied to Aspidistra, usually leaf mold. During the vigorous growth period in spring and summer, liquid fertilizer can be applied 1 to 2 times a month to ensure the leaves remain neat and bright.

What to do if Aspidistra leaves turn yellow?

1. Too much light

[Cause] Aspidistra dislikes direct sunlight, and even short exposure to strong sun can cause the leaves to burn and turn yellow, reducing its ornamental value.

[Solution] Aspidistra can be grown year-round in a bright indoor location, but whether indoors or outdoors, it must not be placed in direct sunlight.

2. Too little light

[Cause] Aspidistra is extremely shade-tolerant, and can even be enjoyed in a dim room for several months, but being too dark for a long time is not good for the sprouting and growth of new leaves. If it stays in a dark place with too little light for a long time, the leaves of Aspidistra will turn yellow.

[Solution] If Aspidistra is placed in a dim room, it is best to move it every so often to a place with bright light for a period of care, to benefit growth and display, especially during the period from new leaf sprouting to new leaves reaching maturity, when it must not be placed in too dark a spot.

3. Overwatering

[Cause] Overwatering is also one of the reasons Aspidistra leaves turn yellow. Aspidistra likes water and has a certain tolerance, and will not die even after several days of drought, but if watered too much it affects root respiration, thereby causing the leaves to turn yellow.

[Solution] Water Aspidistra by the principle of watering when dry and stopping when wet. Do not water too much, but do not water too little either. During the growing period it needs sufficient water.

4. Too much fertilizer

[Cause] Aspidistra does not have a particularly large demand for fertilizer, and it is best to apply only light fertilizer each time. If too much fertilizer is applied, it will burn the roots, disrupt the growth of Aspidistra, and cause the leaves to turn yellow from fertilizer damage.

[Solution] Apply 1-2 times a month with dilute liquid fertilizer to encourage new leaf sprouting and robust growth and to keep the leaves neat and bright. Do not apply too much fertilizer.

5. Pest infestation

[Cause] Aspidistra kept indoors is very prone to red spider mites, and the appearance of pests is also a reason for Aspidistra leaves turning yellow.

[Solution] Check both sides of the leaves frequently and promptly spray with dicofol, hexythiazox, and similar controls.