What Exactly is the Purple Spider Plant?
Purple Spider Plant belongs to the Asparagaceae family and the genus Chlorophytum. It has lovely purple variegated foliage. This plant produces violet flowers under perfect growing conditions. This is why it is also known as the Purple Queen Spider Plant. It can be found in the South African rainforests. It grows on tree trunks and in soil there.
The purple spider plant grows quickly, although it only grows 3 to 4 feet tall and spreads 1 to 2 feet. The general health and size of this plant are determined by the grower’s growth and caring procedures. Because of its superior air purifying capabilities. According to NASA, the Purple Queen can filter 90% of air pollutants. To reduce toxic gases, we Americans should grow indoor plants. Formaldehyde and other hazardous gases are released into indoor air by plastics, furniture, and paint.
Air purifying plants are a simple and inexpensive way to continuously filter indoor air. My kitchen has two plants, and my bedroom has one. I also have a rubber plant in my living room to keep the air clean and free of toxins.
How to Care for a Purple Spider Plant
It is simple to cultivate and care for; simply simulate tropical conditions. I understand that transforming a house into a forest is impossible. As a result, you’ll require a manual that covers every aspect of its care and upkeep. The information needed to successfully cultivate it is provided below.
Purple Spider Plant Lighting Requirements
It is a tough plant that can withstand a constantly changing environment. However, this does not imply that it can be grown in low or medium light. A healthy purple spider plant requires 7 to 8 hours of intense indirect light. In my opinion, the optimum location will be beside a sunny window or somewhere where it can absorb morning light for a few hours.
Then strong light for the remainder of the day. Keep its leaves away from direct sunlight. For its leaves, they are spicy and intense. It has less green portions on its leaves and cannot endure direct sunshine. When sunshine strikes its leaves, the temperature rises and the stored moisture evaporates. As a result, the tips of the plant’s leaves begin to turn brown. To avoid light-related concerns, select an appropriate location in your home or utilise grow lights to meet its light requirements.
Purple Spider Plant Watering
It requires little water in cold weather and a lot of water on hot summer days. Before watering your plant, determine whether it is thirsty or not. Checking the soil moisture is a simple formula. If you check the soil and discover it to be dry, water your plant. For this, I utilise a moisture testing metre. It is a highly useful and reasonably priced item.
The quality of the water should be the next consideration. Because it has an impact on a spider plant’s overall health. Stop watering indoor spider plants with tap water. To avoid any water-related concerns, always use filtered water. Because filtered water is pure and free of contaminants such as chlorine and fluoride. These are not necessary for the cultivation of purple spider plants.
They are detrimental to the roots and transport system of houseplants. Use a plant pot with a drainage hole to safeguard your plant from inadvertent overwatering. These containers are ideal for houseplants. The bottom hole in these pots allows excess water to drain out of the pot.
Purple Spider Plant Potting Soil
Purple Queen Spider Plant grows best in sandy or loamy soil. Because these soil formulae are airy and well-draining. It thrives in tropical jungles with plenty of moisture in the soil. Indoors, it requires a certain level of moisture or it will die. To prepare an appropriate potting soil for this plant, combine peat moss with ordinary potting soil. If you’re novice to gardening, a succulent potting mix will suffice. Because peat moss can keep moisture for a long period, do not add perlite to the formula. It is also a drought-tolerant plant. Perlite is also ideal for plants that cannot thrive in dry soil.
Optimal Temperature
A temperature range of 55 to 70 degrees F is ideal for developing and caring for a purple variegated spider plant. This is our typical house temperature range. Simply protect your plant from extreme heat and cold. It is not a frost-hardy houseplant. In the winter, keep it in a warm room with a temperature that is always above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
For this plant, temperatures below 50 F are considered freezing, and the leaf cells begin to freeze. As a result, the purple leaves have brown tips. Furthermore, too cold temperatures cause it to shed its blossoms, while too hot temperatures prevent it from blossoming. It should not be placed near doorways or heating vents.
Range of Humidity
Throughout the year, you should keep your home’s humidity level above 50%. Purple spider plant thrives in environments with humidity levels ranging from 80% to 90%. This range is not appropriate for human lungs or pets. You should get a hygrometer to determine the relative home humidity or specific humidity of a certain space. Low humidity is a problem, and the following are some solutions:
Water for Misting
In low humidity, you can spritz some water on its leaves with a spray bottle. When the temperature is hot and the humidity is only 4% to 5% lower than required, this strategy works. Leaf fungal disease is caused by too much water on plant leaves. As a result, I always advocate the two methods listed below for raising household humidity.
Tray of Pebbles
Fill a pebble tray halfway with tap water. Place your plant on it and watch it evaporate water. Make sure the water level on a tray does not touch the plant pot’s bottom hole. Keep an eye on the tray’s water level and refill it as needed. It is a time-consuming procedure that requires spare time.
Humidifier for Plants
It is a quick way to increase relative humidity. Plant humidifiers are inexpensive and widely available on Amazon. Turn on the humidifier and place all of your indoor plants in one room. This manner, all of your plants will be protected from low humidity.
Indoor Purple Spider Plant Fertilization
indoor purple spider plant improve the health of your plant, use liquid fertiliser. It is a medium-sized plant with moderate fertiliser requirements. I prefer synthetic nutrients since they are rapid and easy for roots to absorb. Do not feed your purple queen spider plant with compost. When organic stuff begins to decompose, it emits a foul odour.
A well-balanced fertiliser is ideal for producing a disease-free plant. To avoid overfertilization, feed it once every 30 days in the summer and spring. Even if the plant is not blooming, do not fertilise it in the winter. Overfeeding and burnt leaves will result from winter fertilisation. Temperature shock can cause plants to stop producing blooms.
Pruning Requirements
Pruning is required to foster the growth of side shoots on your plant. The plant’s shoots can be utilized to propagate it. Furthermore, by pruning your plant on time, you keep it healthy and fresh. Remove the dry brown leaves. You should also cut healthy leaves if they are ruining the plant’s beauty. Wear gardening gloves and prune your plant with sterilized shears or a sharp knife. After you’ve finished pruning, disinfect and store your instruments.
Tixicity
Purple Spider Plant is not hazardous to humans or animals, however, it is harmful if consumed. The reason for this is that it contains several compounds found in opium. Even if the entire plant is consumed, they have no effect on humans. However, when the pets consume its components, they begin to behave strangely. Some of its side effects include vomiting, nausea, and itching. As a result, keep it away from your pets to keep them safe and healthy.
It’s Repotting Time!
Violet Queen does not require frequent repotting, but it must be repotted when the pot becomes too small for its roots. Lift the plant pot and look for the bottom drainage hole to identify it. If the roots are growing out of the hole, it is time to replace the huge pot. The second repotting sign is visible roots on the soil’s top surface.
