Hello once again my Hive friends. How are you all coping with the present situation? Some may be adjusting well, some with difficulty. But whichever, we know we have to cooperate and do what we are told to do to avert the spread of COVID-19. One way we can cope is to find things where we can channel our pent up emotions and feelings of helplessness on. For me it is spending more time in the garden and appreciate the beauty and tranquility that plants and flowers give. I have written quite a number of posts about the different plants in my wife's garden and here's another one that might interest you. The spider plant.
Chlorophytum comosum, often called spider plant but also known as airplane plant, St. Bernard's lily, spider ivy, ribbon plant, and hen and chickens is a species of perennial flowering plant. Wikipedia
The spider plant is so named because of its spider-like plants, or spiderettes, which dangle down from the mother plant like spiders on a web.
As a house plant, the spider plant has grown in popularity because of its ability to produce oxygen while at the same time purifying the air inside the home or office. It acts as a detoxifying agent as it can absorb carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and xylene, chemicals that cause several ailments such as headaches, dizziness, eye irritation and more. Do you know that the spider plant is one of the 10 plants recommended by NASA to have inside the home based on a study they conducted in the late '80's called The Clean Air Study? It recommended having at least one of any of these 10 plants for every 100 square feet of room space to eliminate these chemicals and have fresh, clean and oxygen-rich air. You can click on the link here for more on the NASA study. Spider plants are also non-toxic and are in fact edible, making them safe for pets and young children.
Spider plant is one of the easiest to grow. They can thrive under a wide range of conditions. The usual and common problem encountered with this plant is the occasional browning of the tips or scorching of the leaves caused by too much exposure to sunlight. These brown tips and scorched leaves can easily be removed and will not affect the plant at all.
It's a tough plant and can tolerate a lot of mishandling or improper care making it ideal for guys (like me) who do not have the proverbial green thumb. Or for newbies as well. Just remember it needs bright but indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight results in scorching of the leaves. They should be potted with soilless growing mediums which include peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and sand. Generally, these mediums are mixed together rather than used alone, as each usually provides its own function. Soilless mediums are considered better than soil because dirt in the soil can be the source of harmful bacteria and fungi. (Read more at Gardening Know How: Soilless Potting Mix – What Is A Soilless Mixture And Making Homemade Soilless Mix https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/soilless-growing-mediums.htm)
Now how are spider plants propagated? Simply cut off one of the plantlets, place it in a pot of soil, and water generously. Place the pot in a ventilated plastic bag and put this in a bright location. Once the spiderette is well rooted, remove from the bag and grow as usual.
We're getting ready to move the mother plants inside the house but we need to prepare and find an ideal spot for them. As of now we have our sansevieria's in both the living room and bedrooms. We'll figure out where to situate them soon or how to rearrange them and I'll be sure to write a post about it just to keep you informed. Here's a last look at one of the mother plants hanging just outside our patio with one of our 12 cats keeping watch.
That's it for this post. Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoyed this one. Please stay safe, stay healthy and stay home. We can all beat this pandemic if we act as one! God bless you all.
(All photos are mine.)