This plant can grow to be a tree or shrub. It can grow to about 12 feet tall in the right conditions. Do not allow this plant to dry out, the leaves will turn yellow and fall off. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Fertilize once a month. It likes to be indoors or outdoors in bright indirect light, direct sun will scorch its leaves. Repot when the roots grow out of the bottom of the pot, using a good potting mix. This plant can get heavy when it grows, use a heavy pot to prevent it from tipping over. This is one of the prettiest desert plants. I love the green with cream and pink variegation. Notice the 2 flower buds at the top of the plant? This plant seems to love full sun. When I bought it a week ago, the taller stalk was bent. I placed the bent part facing away from the sun and it straightened up quite a bit in 24 hours, it happened that fast.
During summer, I water once a week till the water drains out of the bottom of the pot. During winter, I water every 3-4 weeks. Allow the plant to dry out completely between waterings. Be extremely cautious while handling any cactus with needles, they hurt. Utilize a towel or newspaper to wrap around the plant when repotting to protect your skin. A few years ago, I had a barrel shaped cactus that always fell over and most of the time, it chose to fall onto my foot. Trust me, avoid this! I realize now that it was too top heavy for the pot. Do not use regular potting soil with this cactus, use a good cactus and succulent soil. This is my favorite plant. I couldn't have started a plant blog without starting with this beauty. This plant was a little plant priced at about a buck but look at it now. I'm ashamed to say I killed countless spiders before I got this plant.
These plants grow thick tuberous white roots as they mature. The roots store water, which is why they should not be watered too often, once every 7-10 days is usually just fine. Water till the water just begins to drain out of the bottom of the pot (please make sure your pot has adequate drainage or the roots will rot). This plant loves some morning sun (the leaves burn with too much sun exposure). I fertilize about once a month with Miracle Gro. They do like to be somewhat root bound. Once the roots appear through the drainage hole, it's time to repot. Move the plant to a pot that is the next size up, never choose a pot that is too big, it will drown when you water it. You may need to cut some of the thick roots away when repotting (if the plant is extremely root bound). Use a good potting mix, Walmart sells a bag of soil for about a buck and this plant seems to have no problem with it. The best part is that this plant produces offsets which flower and produces baby spider plants. I've given countless plants away as little gifts. Sometimes, the offsets produce tiny seed pods. When the seeds start to turn black the pod can be split open (if it doesn't do it on its own) and you can plant the seed. Please note that even if you have a variegated plant versus an all green spider, the plants that you get from seed will be green. Please get a spider plant. There's numerous varieties to choose from (including a Bonnie that has curly leaves). This plant is on NASA's list of plants that help purify the air in your home or office. |
About MeChocolate and caffeine addicted Brooklyn girl living in beautiful Las Vegas, NV. I love to cook, bake, garden, read and travel. I wouldn't say I have a green thumb. I just keep more plants alive than I kill. Categories
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