Attractive and petite, the curly spider plant is one of the best houseplants that many people love to have at home. This adorable plant has a swirl of curly leaves with a variegated color that looks absolutely gorgeous. You can have a small pot on the table in the living room or plant them in hanging baskets outside. So if you plan to get some curly spider plants, the caring guide and tips below will be useful.
1. Basic Care For Curly Spider Plants
1.1. Fertilizer
One of the great things about indoor plants is that they don’t require frequent fertilization, which is quite convenient. Curly Spider plants are one of those plants, and they only need fertilizer in their growing season. During spring and summer, which is their growing seasons, you will only have to feed them once every month. This is to aid their health as they grow so that their leaves and variegation look beautiful and bright. I recommend using liquid fertilizer because it is easy to apply and store when not in use. In case you are busy, then go for slow-release fertilizers because they will do the work without your monitoring. Always check to remove any excess fertilizer from the soil surface to prevent diseases and pests.
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1.2. Light
Since they are ideal as both indoor and outdoor plants, the amount of sunlight that they need is quite tricky. To keep things short, these plants like partial to full shade, and direct sunlight can scorch their leaves. When growing them indoors, keep them in a spot with bright indirect sunlight like near the window. Make sure that the amount of light is appropriate, not too low and not too much. Lower light leads to slow growth and the loss of strips and variegation of the plant. Too much light results in brown or dead leaves, so keep things in the right conditions for them.
1.3. Maintenance
The long curly leaves are very pretty, but you can prune and trim them if they get too long for you. Occasional pruning does not only keep them looking neat but also encourages them to grow well. You will notice flowers and side shoots, and your curly spider will not develop a large root system. However, these plants may not flower when you grow them indoors. As outdoor plants, they produce small star-shaped white flowers with a fragrant that attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and many other pollinators. Don’t forget to also trim out the brown tips and yellow foliage if there is any.
1.4. Propagation
Looking leafy and all, curly spider plants are actually pretty easy to propagate. During spring, the plant will produce little air plants when the growing conditions are right for them. Those baby air plants are what you need to propagate more curly spider plants for your collection. Simply trim the baby plants then plant them in new pots, and that’s it. Care for them the same way you do with the adult plants, and they will flourish throughout the season.
1.5. Soil
Curly spider plants are not picky when it comes to soil, and ordinary well-drained soil will do. All you need to do is make sure that the soil drains the excess water well. That also means you have to pick the right pot to grow this indoor plant. Choose the pot that has at least one drainage hole so that the water can escape. With the combination of the right soil in the right pot, your curly spider plant will grow healthily all year. You should also repot the plant annually to give more room to its growing roots. Their roots are fibrous and thick, and they can burst the container if you don’t repot them on time. The best time to repot curly spider plants is spring because they can tolerate stress during the process well.
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1.6. Temperature
Room temperatures are good for them, and the best temperature range is between 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They can tolerate a warm climate and temperature, but the cold can kill them. If you leave them outside for some air, make sure to bring them back inside when the weather gets cold. Curly spider plants may experience stress and other problems if staying in temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit for too long.
1.7. Watering
This gorgeous houseplant likes moist but well-drained soil, so watering it every 10 days or so will do. Don’t overdo it when it comes to watering because curly spider plants don’t do well in damp or soggy soil. At the same time, make sure to allow the soil to dry between thorough waterings. This is to ensure that the excess does not build up and lead to diseases like root rot. I recommend checking the soil moisture before watering if you are new to the plant. If the top 2 to 4 inches of the soil is dry or the plant is wilted, it is time to water. When watering, apply water at the soil level to avoid wetting the foliage. Another thing to remember is to reduce watering during the winter months to every 2 to 3 weeks.
2. Curly Spider Plant – FAQs:
2.1. Why is my curly spider plant turning yellow?
When your plants turn yellow, that means the conditions that they are in are not ideal for them. It could be because of the light, temperature, or watering, and you will need to adjust or change those habits. When the growing conditions are right, you will see those green variegated leaves in no time.
2.2. Why is my curly spider losing curl?
Surprisingly, the leaves of curly spider plants will become straight if you too much attention to them. If you want your plant to have curly foliage, use a dry potting mix and water them right. When the soil is moist and nice, the leaves will begin to be curly again for you.
2.3. What are curly spider plants’ diseases and pests?
The only common disease that these plants are susceptible to is root rot, resulting from overwatering. You will also notice brown tips on the leaves if there is too little water or low humidity. And if there are scalded leaves, that means there is too much sunlight so reposition them immediately. The most common pests that attack curly spider plants are aphids, scales, spider mites, and whiteflies.
Bottom Line
Curly Spider plants are among the best because they are not only easy to grow but also beneficial. They purify indoor air by removing indoor air pollutants, resulting in fresher and healthier air for you. And most importantly, these plants are so pretty for both indoor and outdoor settings. The easy caring tips above say it all about how easy it is to plant them. Don’t hesitate to get one if you like them, these plants are so gorgeous.