Chlorophytum cultivation methods and precautions

1. Soil

Chlorophytum does not have high requirements for soil, and general garden soil can basically meet its needs. However, if it can be maintained with loose, breathable, fertile and slightly acidic soil, its growth will be more vigorous. When preparing the soil, it is recommended to mix garden soil, leaf mold and river sand in a ratio of 4:4:2. Alternatively, you can mix peat soil, leaf mold, river sand and perlite in the ratio of 4:3:2:1. The prepared soil needs to be disinfected in advance before use.

2. Lighting

Chlorophytum likes semi-shady environment and is not resistant to sunlight. It has a certain degree of shade tolerance. During maintenance, it is necessary to block strong light in time to avoid sunburn. It is best to place it in a bright place indoors and expose it to more morning and evening sunlight to meet its light needs. Strong sunlight must be blocked in summer and you must avoid being exposed to the sun, otherwise you will easily get sunburned.

3. Temperature

The growth of Chlorophytum has certain temperature requirements. It does not like high temperatures and its cold resistance is not high. Therefore, attention should be paid to temperature control during maintenance, especially the high and low temperatures in summer and winter. In summer, you need to move it to a cool and well-ventilated environment, and spray water frequently to help cool it down. It is best to control the temperature below 28 degrees. In winter, it should be moved indoors, especially in the northern region. The indoor temperature should be controlled above 10 degrees so that it can survive the winter better. Be careful not to get too close to the heater. Normally, the best temperature is between 15 and 28 degrees, which is most conducive to growth.

4. Watering

Chlorophytum likes a humid environment and has a certain degree of drought resistance. However, in order for it to grow more vigorously, you should water it if you find the soil is dry to keep the soil moist. Especially during the growing season, it must not be short of water, otherwise the leaves will easily turn yellow. The amount of watering must also be controlled. It does not like waterlogging and there must not be water accumulation. If the climate in your area is relatively dry, you not only need to water it regularly, but also spray it with water frequently to increase the humidity. The specific watering frequency depends on the season. In spring and autumn, it is generally watered once every three or four days, in summer it is watered almost every day, and in winter, when the temperature is low, water needs to be controlled and watered only when the soil is dry.

5. Fertilization

In order to promote more vigorous growth of spider plants, it needs to be fertilized during the growing season. You can choose urea fertilizer or decomposed organic fertilizer, which can promote better leaf germination. When fertilizing, it is recommended to dilute the fertilizer and then water the fertilizer solution. During the growing season, top dressing is generally done every 20 days. After winter, you need to stop applying fertilizer in time to avoid fertilizer damage.

6. Repotting

Chlorophytum grows relatively fast and needs to be repotted once every one or two years to meet its need for space. Regular repotting can also prevent soil compaction. The time for repotting is generally in spring and autumn. Cut off the water supply in advance to make it easier to remove the plant from the pot. After removing the pot, the roots need to be trimmed, old roots, rotten roots, and diseased roots need to be cut off, and disinfected. This way, the spider plant can better absorb fertilizer and water in the later stage. You need to prepare a slightly larger flowerpot and prepare the soil according to the above method. After preparation, plant the spider plant directly into the soil, water it thoroughly in time, and keep it in a warm, ventilated and semi-shaded place, and it will soon resume normal growth.

7. Pest Control

If you water too much and the ventilation is poor during the maintenance of spider plants, they are prone to infection by pests. Common pests include scale insects, whiteflies, aphids, etc. For scale insects, spray 1500 times diluted 50% malathion or 3000 times diluted 2.5% cypermethrin; for whiteflies, spray 500-800 times diluted carbendazim wettable powder and water the roots once a week for 2-3 times in a row; aphids can be killed by spraying 1500 times diluted omethoate.

8. Reproduction Methods

1. Cutting method: Cutting can be carried out in spring, summer and autumn. Cut the small sprouts of spider plants for cuttings. Prepare a soft, breathable substrate, directly insert the small spider plant into the substrate, water it thoroughly, and maintain it in a cool, ventilated and warm environment. The survival rate is very high.

2. Division method: When dividing, take the spider plant out of the pot, remove the old soil, cut the old roots, make sure the divided plants have three stems, and then plant and maintain them separately.

3. Sowing method: Chlorophytum comosum is usually sown around March in spring. The sowing method is very simple. Just sprinkle the spider plant seeds on the soil surface, cover with a thin layer of soil, and spray with water to keep it moist. After sowing, an environment above 15 degrees needs to be provided, so that seedlings will germinate in about two weeks.

What to do if the leaves of Chlorophytum turn yellow

1. Rehydrate in time: The yellowing of spider plant leaves is likely due to lack of water. It likes a humid environment and has poor drought tolerance. If you forget to water it for a long time, it will not absorb water and its leaves will easily turn yellow. Water and moisturize should be carried out in time. During the growing season, water the plant as soon as you notice the soil is dry to avoid yellowing leaves.

2. Reasonable temperature control: The yellowing leaves of spider plants may be caused by frostbite due to the low temperature. It has poor cold resistance and the temperature is low in winter, so temperature control measures must be taken. Move it to a heated room and keep the temperature above 10 degrees.

3. Appropriate shading: Chlorophytum is shade-tolerant but not sun-tolerant. The yellowing of its leaves may be caused by sunburn due to too strong light. It is necessary to shade it in time, or move it to a cool and ventilated place and spray it with water appropriately to enable it to resume growth as soon as possible.

Main species of Chlorophytum

1. Chlorophytum: Its leaves are drooping and dark green in color. It usually blooms between June and July each year. The flower colors are light yellow and white.

2. Golden Edge Chlorophytum: The edges of the leaves of Golden Edge Chlorophytum are yellow, and its variety can be identified from the leaf color.

3. Silver-edged Chlorophytum: The edges of the leaves of Silver-edged Chlorophytum are painted white, which is quite obvious.

4. Purple spider plant: The branches and stems of purple spider plant are node-shaped, and leaves grow at each node. Its petioles are purple-red, and the leaves are thick and shiny. It usually blooms from June to October every year, and the flowers are pink.

5. Chlorophytum comosum: The branches and stems of Chlorophytum comosum are creeping, and the branches and leaves hang down. The leaves are peach-shaped, with golden patterns on the edges and through the center of the veins. The back of the leaves is purple and shiny.