How to water spider plants? A detailed guide to watering methods for growing spider plants
Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) like a humid environment, so relatively high air humidity should be maintained, and the potting soil should be kept moist during the growing period. However, because their fleshy roots store a large amount of water, they also have a strong ability to resist drought, and will not dry out and die if not watered for several days. In summer, watering should be plentiful, and every evening the leaves and stems should also be sprayed with water to keep the air humid. In early October, move them indoors and place them in a spot with sunlight, and every 5 to 7 days at midday when the temperature is relatively high, spray and wash the leaves and stems with clean water close to room temperature. However, the potting soil should preferably be on the dry side.
6. Propagation methods for growing spider plants
Spider plants are extremely easy to propagate. Generally, division is most often used; from spring to autumn, the small plantlets on the flower stems can be cut off at any time and planted separately, or in early spring the root clusters of old plants can be separated and planted separately.
When propagating by division, it can be done in any season except winter, when the temperature is too low and division is unsuitable. For plants grown in pots for 2 to 3 years, division can be done in spring when repotting. Before division, watering should be stopped so that the potting soil dries appropriately, which makes it easier to remove the plant; after taking the plant out of the pot, remove the old growing medium, divide it into several plants, and pot them separately.
When propagating using the small plantlets with roots at the tips of the flower stems, the small plantlet clusters with roots at the tips of the flower stems should be removed, broken apart into individual small plantlets, and then potted. However, they should not be planted too deep, as planting too deep is not conducive to tillering and the plants will grow slowly.
Everything you want to know about spider plants is on Four Seasons Plants website!
How to grow string of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) likes soil rich in organic matter, loose and fertile. It grows best in a warm environment with relatively high air humidity and strong scattered light. In summer, avoid high temperature and high humidity, otherwise the stems will easily rot and the plant will die; the potted plant can be placed in a rain-proof shaded area for cultivation. After autumn begins, the plant resumes growth, so light should be increased and liquid fertilizer applied as a top dressing.
1 Propagation methods
String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) is mostly propagated by cuttings. The stems and leaves can be trimmed into sections of 8-10 cm each, then inserted into the potting soil, half-buried, with humidity controlled between 50% and 60%. They root in 10 days to half a month, and with careful attention they can survive. At this time, watering should be strictly controlled, keeping the potting soil in a state between dry and moist, which is most beneficial to plant growth.
2 Cultivation management
"Better dry than wet" is one key point in growing string of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus). In addition, applying light fertilizer frequently is also an extremely important point. The saying "better dry than wet" is because string of pearls, which comes from southern Africa, likes a warm environment and is relatively drought-tolerant but cannot tolerate waterlogging, so it is better to place it in a dry environment than to cause poor development due to excessive watering. "Applying light fertilizer frequently" means fertilizer should be applied often, but each time as a dilute fertilizer; too much fertilizer at one time should not be applied, which would cause problems in its growth.
3 Pest prevention
String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) actually rarely suffers from pest damage, but such cases still occur. Generally speaking, the most common disease of string of pearls is aphid infestation, which occurs in spring. When this happens, it should be killed with 500 times diluted omethoate. In summer, mites appear, which can be killed with 1000 times diluted dicofol. When pests occur, pay attention to increasing leaf surface humidity, which can reduce pest damage; in addition, ventilation facilities should also be properly provided.