You could mix the compost 50/50 with decent garden soil if you have access to any. That would help with moisture retention and also add a bit of weight so that the pot doesn’t get too heavy so easily, which IME can sometimes be a problem with spider plants.
thanks. i do know people with gardens, so i could get some soil, but not immediately. maybe for the cuttings still in water i can do that. but i will look out for moisture retention. hopefully when they're in terra cotta pots, that's less likely?
You could put more than one plant in a pot. This would give a quicker impact but it would probably also mean that you would have to pot them on sooner.
thanks. yes, this is true, not sure which is best, less work now and more later, or vice versa. i'll have to see how my diary progresses.
1. Same size pot. 2. Heavier pot and heavier compost (John Innes) for stability. 3. More symmetrical postioning.
thanks. i bought some terra cotta pots, but then realised they were too big, so now i've ordered some more online, as the garden centre isn't exactly close.
i don't have easy access to other compost, i will have to make arrangements.
definitely with the symmetrical position.
on the variegated plant there are some pretty thick aerial roots. Presumably i need to make sure they're covered up, though they seem quite happy at the moment?
1. Same size pot. 2. Heavier pot and heavier compost (John Innes) for stability. 3. More symmetrical postioning.
The poster already has MPC and doesn’t drive … hence my suggestion of a mix of garden soil with the MPC … it used to be that experienced gardeners developed a degree of pragmatism rather than running to buy something different from the GC for each individual task. Surely that’s a useful skill we should be passing on?
And anyway spider plants really aren’t that fussy 😃
thanks. i'm sure bédé was only trying to help, and had missed that. but yes, i was amazed at the garden centre all the things that are now available. and the variety! for instance, i wanted a pair of gardening gloves. simple, you'd imagine. but there were a good twenty alternatives (i didn't count them!). mad! i mean, i like choice, but not to be overwhelmed!
i've already successfully planted up a couple of cuttings from the non-variegated plant in this soil with a little bit of perlite. they seem quite happy, though they're pretty thirsty.
thanks. are you referring to the variegated or non-variegated plant, or both?
yes, it seems if i'm not careful, i'm going to have a house full of spider plants and jade plants! my natural instinct is to try to give everything a chance of life, and it's hard fighting that!
i've only been in this flat for a few months, so my plants are still acclimatising, i suppose, as am i. the windows are NE / SW, with one small window facing NW.
If there is a difference in cultivation requirements between green and variegated it’s very small and nothing to worry about because spider plants are so damn tough.
Along with cultivating your plants it’s a good idea to cultivate a bit of ruthlessness as far as necessary disposal is concerned. Better to have a few happy, healthy specimens than a multitude of straggly, strugglers, invading your space and pulling a guilt trip on you every time they decide to multiply.🤔😁
If there is a difference in cultivation requirements between green and variegated it’s very small and nothing to worry about because spider plants are so damn tough.
Along with cultivating your plants it’s a good idea to cultivate a bit of ruthlessness as far as necessary disposal is concerned. Better to have a few happy, healthy specimens than a multitude of straggly, strugglers, invading your space and pulling a guilt trip on you every time they decide to multiply.🤔😁
thanks, that's useful to know.
yes, i understand that. i would like to have a variety of houseplants, not just Spider and Jade plants! i will see if i can give any of them away. some people might appreciate them because they're so easy to look after. slowly but surely they will take over the world!
Examine the roots of the spider plant. If they are circling around the root ball or have become overcrowded, it's a good sign that the plant needs repotting.
thanks jameswheeler7102, and sorry for the delay. i'd have to take the plant out of its pot to see the roots though, might that not disturb it? perhaps i should wait till the early spring then, as they seem to be doing well, i'm just concerned about how tenable and sustainable their position is.
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thanks. i do know people with gardens, so i could get some soil, but not immediately. maybe for the cuttings still in water i can do that. but i will look out for moisture retention. hopefully when they're in terra cotta pots, that's less likely?
thanks. yes, this is true, not sure which is best, less work now and more later, or vice versa. i'll have to see how my diary progresses.
thanks bédé
Along with cultivating your plants it’s a good idea to cultivate a bit of ruthlessness as far as necessary disposal is concerned. Better to have a few happy, healthy specimens than a multitude of straggly, strugglers, invading your space and pulling a guilt trip on you every time they decide to multiply.🤔😁