Chlorophytum comosum - caring for the houseplant at home

Flowers

Among the unpretentious greens that grow well in different conditions, the domesticated one stands out chlorophytumSome of its varieties have become a fixture in virtually every home and office. The plant's popularity stems from its ability to positively influence indoor air quality, as well as the ease of growing and propagating it.

Chlorophytum comosum is a top choice among gardeners, boasting a rich green hue and beautiful drooping leaves that can create verdant greenery with proper care. Another distinct advantage of this species is its ease of planting, allowing you to quickly acquire several specimens of varying sizes.

Characteristics of the Crested Chlorophytum flower

The plant's native land is sultry Africa, but today it can be found on virtually every continent. Chlorophytum is a perennial herb that arrived in Europe only in the late 19th century and immediately gained popularity thanks to its rich green color. The Latin name for this plant, Chlorophytum, translates as "green plant." This climbing plant has the following distinctive features:

narrow and long leaves, reaching 50 cm in length and no more than 3 cm in width, which grow in bunches and create a shaggy crown;
fleshy roots that go 10 cm deep into a container with soil;
the presence of small flowers on a branched inflorescence;
flowers come in green and white shades;
the seeds are in capsules;
inflorescences contain hanging shoots with children;
Leaves can be either single-colored or have white stripes.

Because of its long shoots, chlorophytum is popularly called "spider", while botanists prefer the name "clumpy", which refers to the specific growth of the leaves of this representative of the Liana family.

Rules for caring for Chlorophytum comosum at home

This flower doesn't require any special or meticulous care. Even a novice gardener can grow it at home, provided they know and understand a few basic rules for ornamental houseplants.

Soil for planting

You can buy a growing medium for Chlorophytum at any store that sells soil for ornamental foliage plants; a universal soil with a pH of 6-7 is suitable. You can also make your own by combining turf and leaf mold soil and adding river sand. You can also add humus to improve the substrate's nutritional properties. The key is to create a light and loose mixture.

Since chlorophytum is characterized by powerful roots that develop quickly, it is better to choose wide pots for planting and be sure to place sufficient drainage at the bottom.

Lighting

The spider plant adapts easily to any type of lighting and can grow in almost any window or even hanging on the wall of an apartment or office with limited light. Being a natural woodland plant, it thrives in filtered light and partial shade.

To create ideal lighting for the plant, place it on a southwest-facing windowsill, where it will delight you with its most vibrant colors and vigorous growth. Direct sunlight will require more frequent watering, and the foliage will lose its rich green hue. Insufficient sunlight will cause the foliage to turn pale.

Air temperature and humidity

Chlorophytum prefers high humidity and temperatures, thriving at 28°C. While the plant can thrive in winter at 12°C, it doesn't feel comfortable when temperatures drop below 10°C and may indicate this by drooping foliage.

Advice!

If the ornamental plant will be wintering in a cold room, then it is necessary to reduce watering, so that it can more easily tolerate low air temperatures.

At any time of year, it's necessary to mist the plant with a spray bottle. It's best to let the water settle for a while rather than using running tap water. The leaves are quite fragile, so misting is preferable to wiping with damp cloths, which can damage the plant. An excellent solution is to use a shower head in the bathroom at least once a week in the summer, and no more than once a month in the colder months.

Watering

Although chlorophytum thrives on abundant watering, it can tolerate drought for a while, drawing on its internal reserves. Its standard watering schedule is quite simple:

water the roots every 3-4 days during the summer months;
in autumn and spring it is enough to moisturize once every 7 days;
in winter – once a week if he lives in a warm room, and a little less often if the room temperature is below +12°C.

When watering, it's important to consider the amount of liquid used and avoid overwatering the plant, as this can damage and rot the roots. If water appears at the bottom after watering, be sure to pour it out.

Top dressing

The main stem of the flower feeds the offspring, which form quite a large number if growth is normal. Therefore, additional energy is needed to ensure there are enough nutrients for all of them. The plant will, of course, indicate a mineral deficiency in the substrate by drying out and yellowing leaves, but don't wait for this to happen; it's better to fertilize promptly.

In this case, this means watering the chlorophytum with liquid fertilizer weekly during the active growing season and at least once a month during the dormant period. General-purpose mineral soluble fertilizers for indoor foliage plants, as well as micronutrient fertilizers containing iron, potassium, and molybdenum, are appropriate.

Transfer and transshipment

For the first five years of its life, chlorophytum requires annual repotting, which should be done in the spring. It's best to repot the plant into a pot a few centimeters wider than the previous one. This keeps the plant's roots intact and allows it to grow with renewed vigor.

Once the appropriate substrate has been prepared, it should be heated in the oven and only used for transplanting after it has cooled. The roots of the ornamental plant should be cleaned and soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to sterilize them. Afterwards, they can be safely placed in the new soil and continue with standard plant care.

Reproduction

Propagating the spider plant is very simple; it takes root quickly and requires no additional steps when transplanting for propagation purposes. This can be done in three simple ways:

Use a baby plant with already sprouted roots, planting it immediately in a pot with prepared soil.
Place a small pot of soil next to the mature plant and plant the clump of shoots that formed on the tendrils directly into it. Cut it off from the mother plant only after new foliage begins to emerge.
Reproduction of Chlorophytum
You can take a small rosette without roots, place it in a glass of water and wait for roots to appear, after which plant the young sprout in a pot.

Regardless of the chosen propagation method, chlorophytum quickly gains strength and enters the active growth phase.

Potential problems when growing chlorophytum

Even such an easy-to-care-for plant can become ill if not properly cared for. The main cause of chlorophytum deterioration is excess moisture in the pot, which can lead to the following problems:

leaf curling;
root rot;
mealybugs appear;
the greenery begins to turn yellow.

Remember!

If such symptoms are noticed, the amount of water used during watering should be reduced and care should be adjusted.

Crested Chlorophytum can also be susceptible to pests such as spider mites, scale insects, midges, and aphids. These insects are fairly easy to spot, but it's essential to take a number of steps to get rid of them. Ideal options include:

spraying with a solution of laundry soap;
pruning damaged parts of the plant;
spraying with a concentrated infusion of tobacco, wormwood, and crushed garlic;
removing several centimeters of soil on the surface and replacing it with new substrate;
treatment with special chemicals, for example, Vermitek, Aktofit, Aktara.

It is also important to pay attention to brown spots, which may be the result of burns from direct sunlight or close proximity to a source of hot air. In this case, it is necessary to immediately change the habitat of the “spider”.

Wilting or pale plantlets will signal the need for fertilizing. If the soil lacks fertilizer, they quickly become unsightly, signaling the plant needs feeding. This may also be a sign to repot the chlorophytum into a larger pot.

In general, with proper care, ornamental greenery of this type will not cause any particular difficulties.

Useful properties of the chlorophytum flower

This plant species brings benefits to those who choose to grow them, and the Crested Chlorophytum is no exception. It has a number of properties that are useful in any home or office:

elimination of formaldehyde in the premises;
destruction of 80% of harmful microorganisms found near decorative foliage flowers;
preservation and retention of air humidity;
enriching the room with oxygen;
serves as a good element of vertical decor that does not require a lot of light;
In folk medicine, an infusion of the roots is used as a laxative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do plant leaves turn yellow?

The cause of this phenomenon is improper watering and excess or lack of moisture.

What to do if the tips of the leaves of a chlorophytum are drying out?

It's important to check the root system and pot size for the Crested Flower's development; a small pot can cause the leaf tips to dry out. Fertilizer may be needed, as it's lacking in a mature plant.

How often should I fertilize my spider plant?

Fertilizing should be done depending on the season and growth phase. During the active growing season, it's recommended to fertilize four times a month, while during the colder months, when the plant is dormant, fertilizing once a month is sufficient.

How many species of chlorophytum are there?

There are over 200 species in the wild, but not all of them are cultivated for indoor planting. The most popular representatives in our country are: Curly, Crested, Cape, and Winged Chlorophytum.

Why is activated carbon added to a flower pot?

If the substrate contains coal, chlorophytum is able to better and more effectively release moisture and oxygen, which increases the plant's productivity.