Which variety of spider plant is most effective at removing formaldehyde?
The spider plant is one of the most traditional hanging houseplants, also known as grape orchid, Zhejiang crane orchid, upside-down orchid, etc. It is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Chlorophytum in the family Liliaceae, with horizontal or slanting rhizomes and many thick fleshy roots. Its flowers cluster at the ends of the drooping branches, and the stamens are yellow. It is suitable for potted ornamental display. Let us take a look below at which spider plant is best at removing formaldehyde!
Which spider plant is best at removing formaldehyde?
There are many kinds of spider plants, and the common ones include golden-edged spider plant, golden-hearted spider plant, silver-edged spider plant, silver-hearted spider plant, broad-leaved spider plant, mid-variegated spider plant, milky-white spider plant, and so on. These spider plants differ only in appearance; in fact, they are all the same plant species. As for which spider plant has the best formaldehyde-removal effect, these spider plants are actually all about the same in formaldehyde removal, but you cannot pin all your hopes on plants for formaldehyde removal either, since the formaldehyde-removal speed of spider plants is relatively slow.
What common varieties of spider plant are there?
1. Golden-edged spider plant: The leaves of the golden-edged spider plant are broadly linear and tender green, growing on short stems, with large cylindrical fleshy roots, racemose inflorescences that curve and droop, and small white flowers. It often produces several clusters of rooted small plantlets formed from plantlets on the flowering stems, which is very interesting.
2. Silver-edged spider plant: The leaf margins of the silver-edged spider plant are white, with racemose inflorescences, small white flowers, and rhizomes and fleshy roots. It likes a warm, humid, semi-shaded environment, has relatively poor cold resistance, and is best grown in well-drained, fertile sandy soil.
3. Golden-hearted spider plant: The leaves of the golden-hearted spider plant are slender, linear-lanceolate, with yellow-white longitudinal stripes in the center, clasping the stem at the base, and bright green. Stoloniferous branches emerge from the leaf axils, extend out of the plant clump, curve outward, and bear small plantlets with aerial roots at the tips. The flowers are white, with 6 tepals.
4. Large-leaved spider plant: The large-leaved spider plant is native to southern Africa. It likes a warm, humid, and semi-shaded environment. Its leaves are especially sensitive to light, and it fears strong light in summer. The soil should be loose, fertile loam with good water retention, and the winter temperature should not be lower than 10°C.
How do you grow spider plants so they thrive?
1. Light: Spider plants like semi-shaded environments and are very sensitive to light. When exposed to direct sunlight in summer and autumn, the leaves will turn yellow and withered, and the whole plant may even die. In winter, since sunlight is not strong, spider plants can be given some direct sunlight appropriately.
2. Temperature: Spider plants like warm and humid climates and cannot tolerate severe cold or intense heat. The most suitable growing temperature is 15-25°C, and the winter room temperature must not be lower than 5°C. During hot periods, avoid direct strong light, while in cold and cool conditions, more sunlight is preferable.
3. Watering: Spider plants like water and have relatively strong drought resistance. During the peak growth period from March to September, they need a large amount of water, so they should be watered and sprayed frequently to keep the potting soil completely moist. During the winter dormant period, watering can be done after the soil about 1 cm below the surface has dried.
4. Fertilizing: Spider plants are relatively tolerant of fertilizer. Insufficient fertilizer and water can easily cause the tips to scorch and the plant to age, with leaves turning yellow and losing ornamental value. For spider plants that have begun to produce small plantlets, apply a nitrogen fertilizer once every half month; well-growing spider plants can also go without fertilizing.
5. Soil: Spider plants are best grown in loose, fertile sandy loam, and the soil should contain humus and have strong permeability. For potting, a mixture of equal parts leaf mold or peat soil, garden soil, and river sand with a small amount of base fertilizer can be used as the growing medium.
6. Repotting: Spider plants should be repotted once every March. If the pot is relatively deep and the base fertilizer is sufficient, they can be repotted once every two years. When repotting, knock the plant out of the pot, cut off dead and rotten roots and excess roots, replace with new growing soil, and apply sufficient base fertilizer.
7. Pests and diseases: Spider plants generally are not prone to pests and diseases. When problems occur, they are usually root rot caused by water accumulation in the potting soil and poor ventilation, and pesticide should be sprayed promptly for control. Dense plant clumps with poor ventilation are susceptible to scale insects, so prevention should be the priority.
8. Pruning: Spider plants should have yellow leaves cut off at any time. They can be repotted once every March, cutting off old roots, rotten roots, and excess fibrous roots. In early to mid-May, some old leaves of the spider plant can be cut off, which will encourage it to sprout more new leaves and small spider plantlets.