Question
QUESTION: hello,i have a nice size spider plant in a 4-6 inch pot i received as a gift.its been potted for a month.there was a stem with a new baby spider on it so i cut it off and started rooting it in water.how should i care for the potted spider plant and the new baby spider.someone told me that shells from an egg will give a plant protein,is that true. please help Jared

ANSWER: Hi Jared,

Spider plants like to be right in a sunny window. That will help them grow strong and healthy. Water the soil thoroughly as soon as the top half-inch of soil feels dry. If the soil dries out that much within a few days, then the plant is probably ready for a pot one size larger. Fertilize it with any standard fertilizer, but at half strength once per month. Egg shells are a tiny source of calcium, but not needed. They are more likely to attract insect pests.

The baby spider should be floating on top of the water so that just the base of it is in constant contact with water. When the roots are about an inch long, then move it to a small pot filled with damp potting mix.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Will Creed, i need to ask about 2 plants.

I just recived a potted corn plant and its about a foot long. when should i expect a baby plant.

i have just potted and formed 2 golden pothos pots, one of them have leaves that turn yellow one by one. how do i stop this and how do i prevent the other plant from this. Please help
ANSWER: Jared,

Corn plants do not ordinarily produce baby plants. Are you confusing it with a spider plant?

I don't understand what you have done with your Pothos. Did you divide it to make two plants? Did you start them from cuttings? Please give me detailed information to work with, including pot sizes before and after.

~Will



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: 3 days ago i watered my spider plant with fresh water then watered it with marical gro plant food mix. Ever scenes then the soil has been becoming more firm and dry. Should i water the plant now or wait about another 7 days and how often should i water my plants period
ANSWER: Hi Jared,

There is no connection between any fertilizer use and soil becoming firm and dry. It can only be coincidental. The only thing that will cause soil to become dry is evaporation of the moisture from the soil, typically due to increased light and/or temperature.

The frequency of watering varies from one plant to another and depends on such factors as pot size, extensiveness of the root system, plant species, soil porosity, light, temperature and humidity. A general rule of thumb for many plants is to water when the top quarter of the soil feels dry to the touch, but I caution you that there are many exceptions to that.

In any case, do not water by the calendar. Do it as soon as the soil has reached the appropriate level of dryness. As I mentioned above, if your spider plant is properly potted, then you should water it thoroughly as soon as the top half-inch of soil feels dry.

I have written an article on watering potted plants that I will email to anyone who sends a request to me at [email protected]

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions. If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i need to ask the same question about my corn plant,its new by the way.The plant was already watered and well potted.  I received it 5 days ago.I thing its the change in location,temp even though the change was small.the plant soil dried a lot scenes i received it and that is the problem so should i water it as soon as possible or wait

please help,Jared

Answer
Hi Jared,

As I wrote previously, do not water any plant by the calendar. Do it as soon as the soil has reached the appropriate level of dryness. For your corn plant, that means waiting until the top quarter of the soil feels dry. Below that the soil will still be moist.

If you have future questions, please ask them on a new thread as new questions, not attached to this one.

Will Creed