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SPIDER PLANT Chlorophytum comosum

ABOUT

Also known as the "airplane plant", the spider plant is a fast-growing plant that traces its origins to the tropical and southern regions of Africa and is named for its slender long leaves and the spidery stems its babies grow from. The plant was especially popular in the 70's, 80's, and 90's, but remains a household favorite due to being remarkably low maintenance. It is also valued for its air-purifying abilities.

PROFILE

DIFFICULTY No-fuss maintenance. Highly recommended for beginners or those with a "black thumb".

SIZE Small to medium. Fits on most shelves and tables, and also makes a good hanging plant.

TOXICITY Safe for animals and humans, although mildly hallucinogenic to cats, much like catnip.

IDEAL GROWING CONDITIONS

WATER | weekly waterings Allow soil to dry between waterings. On average, watering once a week should be sufficient. Make sure water is room temperature to avoid shocking your plant. 

CLIMATE | average humidity; average temperature Suggested temperatures are between 65-85°F / 18-29°C. Temperatures cooler than 50°F / 10°C have the potential to cause damage, so avoid drafty windows. Most indoor climates suit this plant just fine.

LIGHT | bright, indirect sunlight Direct sun will scorch leaves, so keep spider plants out of hot rays or sit them behind window sheers. They can also tolerate low light as long as they see at least a little bit of sun.

SPIDER PLANT MAINTENANCE "A recipe for growing a healthy, happy spider plant in the comfort of your own home."

YOU WILL NEED:

Well-draining soil

A pot with good drainage

Liquid fertilizer

Filtered water or rainwater (tap works fine if you let it sit overnight first)

Pruning shears or scissors

DIRECTIONS:

First, make sure your plant is comfortable in its environment by making sure both the soil and the pot it lives in allow for good drainage; lack of drainage increases the chances of root rot. Second, make sure that you're fertilizing your plant 1-2 times a month during its growing season. A spider plant's typical growing season is during spring and summer when it gets the most sunlight. Once you have made your plant comfortable, it is important that your plant receives occasional pruning. Snip the ends of the leaves at a diagonal angle if they turn brown. If a leaf dies or becomes discolored beyond saving, cut off the leaf near the base of the plant. Failing to remove dead material will make your plant expend precious energy on "lost cause" leaves and prevents growth.

Note: do not prune more than 20% of the plant during one session. Pruning gradually as new growth comes in is far healthier. Don't forget to repot every other year to accommodate growth, trim roots, and replenish soil. If your plant is too big for its home, size up about 2" from the previous pot.

LEAF COLORS (and what they mean)

WEAK, PALE YELLOW LEAVES | too much light, soil imbalance Your spider plant should never be in direct sunlight as it will scorch or bleach the leaves. Yellowing leaves are also indicators of shock when the soil is full of salt or fluoride deposits. Avoid this by fertilizing sparingly and using filtered water or rainwater.

FLIMSY, DROOPY YELLOW / BROWN LEAVES | too little light, too much water, not enough nutrients Spider plants can tolerate low light, but not no light; make sure your plant is at least in the middle of the room so it can see sunlight, if not near a shaded window. Overwatering wilts plants but can also lead to root rot, so check roots if wilting is severe. Also consider whether your plant needs fertilizer or new soil.

DRY, BROWN LEAVES / LEAF TIPS | water stress, too much light, soil imbalance Sometimes brown tips accompany dying yellow leaves and they mean much the same thing. Either your plant is toasty, dry, or thirsty, or the soil is full of too many harmful minerals.

BROWN / BLACK LEAF SPOTS | infection/blight, pests Large dark blotches may indicate a blight or infection. Smaller spots and sticky leaves may indicate an infestation, so inspect your plant for droppings, bugs, or chewing.

LUSH GREEN LEAVES | A happy plant! Good work!

TREATING YOUR SPIDER PLANT

DRY BROWN TIPS | Use a sterilized pair of pruning shears or scissors and snip the tips at a diagonal angle to remove damaged material.

BLIGHT SPOTS / DISCOLORED LEAVES | Use a sterilized pair of shears or scissors to cut off the entire leaf close to the base of the plant. If blighted, keep away from other plants in your home so they don't also get infected. 

PESTS | Spray leaves with a diluted insecticide. Neem oil spray is gentle and treats for a large variety of pests. Homemade dish soap sprays combat mites and aphids. Any sprays using peppers, ginger, or other sources of capsaicin help deter mites. 

ROOT ROT | Take your plant out of its pot, rinse the roots, and leave roots naked to dry. Trim any clear, soggy roots and repot. Depending on the amount of rot, your plant may be beyond rescue as this condition is often most fatal.

ROOT BOUND | If the roots are poking above soil or creeping out of drainage holes it has likely outgrown its home. Repot in a pot that's about 2" larger than the current one.

VIRIDESCENT THUMB

June 23, 2020

Plant Care Guide 1: Spider Plant

For indoor plant guides, plant inspiration, and more, follow @viridescentthumb on Tumblr.

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P A R L O R  P A L M Chamaedorea elegans

ABOUT

Also known as the Neanthe Bella palm, the parlor palm is a slow-growing plant that traces its origins to the rain forests of southern Mexico and Guatemala. The plant was especially popular during the Victorian era as it could easily survive the ever-changing climates of the period's temperate households, which did not yet have heat or air-conditioning. The parlor palm is an air-purifying plant and mainly filters formaldehyde.

PROFILE

DIFFICULTY No-fuss maintenance. Highly recommended for beginners or those with a "black thumb".

SIZE Medium to large. Due to this plant's slow growth it can take years to reach full size at around 3-4 feet. Most indoor specimens only reach about 2-3 feet.

TOXICITY Safe for animals and humans.

IDEAL GROWING CONDITIONS

WATER | weekly waterings Allow soil to dry between waterings. On average, watering once a week should be sufficient. Make sure water is room temperature to avoid shocking your plant.

CLIMATE | average humidity; average temperature Suggested temperatures are between 65-80°F / 18-26°C. Temperatures cooler than 50°F / 10°C have the potential to cause damage, so avoid drafty windows. Most indoor climates suit this plant just fine.

LIGHT | bright, indirect sunlight Direct sun will scorch leaves, so keep parlor palms out of hot rays or sit them behind window sheers. They can also tolerate low light as long as they see at least a little bit of sun.

PARLOR PALM MAINTENANCE | "A recipe for growing a healthy, happy parlor palm in the comfort of your own home." 

YOU WILL NEED:

Well-draining soil

A pot with good drainage

Liquid fertilizer

Filtered water or rainwater (tap works fine if you let it sit overnight first)

Pruning shears or scissors

DIRECTIONS: First, make sure your plant is comfortable in its environment by making sure both the soil and the pot it lives in allow for good drainage; lack of drainage increases the chances of root rot.

Second, make sure that you're fertilizing your plant once a month during its growing season. A parlor palm's typical growing season is during spring and summer when it gets the most sunlight.

Like other palms, it is important to only prune when parts of the plant have died naturally and are impossible to recover. Palms in general tend to be slow growers, so pruning healthy, green fronds can halt growth altogether. However, it is fine to trim away dead fronds during the plant's dormant period. Remove brown leaves from the stems as needed.Parlor palms have delicate root systems so it's suggested to grow bunches of them in one pot so that they can reinforce each other (and also create a fuller appearance). 

Despite the fragility of the roots, within the first few years of your parlor palm's life you should repot once a year. When the plant reaches maximum height it can go a few years at a time without repotting as long as yearly maintenance is kept on the top soil layers.

PARLOR PALM HEALTH CONCERNS

SECTIONS BROWNING / DYING It is perfectly normal for large sections of the plant to die naturally every once in a while. However, if this is happening rapidly throughout the entire plant it can be an indication of poor health. 

PALE, FADED LEAVES This is the "dying" stage where your palm transfers resources away from choice sections to support new growth. This is normal; wait for this section to die completely before you remove the discolored material. 

YELLOW LEAVES Yellow leaves means your palm is hungry or thirsty, so water, fertilize, or repot depending on which you've neglected. 

BROWN LEAF TIPS Brown tips indicate a dry environment, which means your parlor palm may be craving humidity. Also be sure that your plant isn't sitting near a drafty window or air conditioner. 

BROWN SPOTS / BLOTCHES Your plant may be too cold or it is being over watered. Remember that parlor palms are technically tropical plants, so they enjoy warm climates. Their roots are susceptible to root rot, so if leaf damage is severe check the plant's roots. 

PESTS Mites are the most common pests for the parlor palm. The presence of these pests are made obvious by silvery, sticky webs.

TREATING YOUR PARLOR PALM

PRUNING Avoid pruning unless it's absolutely necessary, as over-pruning a parlor palm can halt growth. Remove dead leaves and dead fronds during the dormant period by cutting off brown areas with sterilized shears or scissors. Avoid cutting green material altogether. Infected/blighted areas may require more immediate pruning.

PESTS Spray leaves with a diluted insecticide. Neem oil spray is gentle and treats for a large variety of pests. Homemade dish soap sprays combat mites and aphids. Any sprays using peppers, ginger, or other sources of capsaicin help deter mites. 

ROOT ROT Take your plant out of its pot, rinse the roots, and leave roots naked to dry. Trim any clear, soggy roots and repot. Depending on the amount of rot, your plant may be beyond rescue as this condition is often most fatal. 

ROOT BOUND A root bound palm is an unhappy one. This is perhaps the only time you should repot a mature parlor palm as they don't like being repotted otherwise.

VIRIDESCENT THUMB

June 26, 2020

Plant care guide 2:

Parlor Palm

For indoor plant guides, plant inspiration, and more, follow @viridescentthumb on Tumblr.