Tips for a beginner
#Dracaena so I just got it yesterday and have no idea what to do, what soil and how much to water and what not so any help is needed, google said it's spider plant but that didn't seem true so I'm working if it's a dracaena , also it had welting and spots on it's leaves is that bad ? #help #helpneeded #spiderplant #happyplants #plantaddict #newplantmom #newplantmom #rareplants #plantid #plantidentification
7ft to light, direct
18โ pot with drainage
Last watered 1 day ago
25
Best Answer
@mimo178 normally I would suggest adding more perlite, pumice, or orchid bark, but based on your climate in Egypt, and it looks like it is HOT ๐ฅต there right now, this might be a great mix for you. ๐ ๐
However, if you notice it takes a while to dry out (more than 3+ weeks) I would consider adding one or more of the above three ingredients for extra aeration and drainage ๐ Good luck! And feel free to tag me @DreamMachine if you have any other questions or need help along the way!
However, if you notice it takes a while to dry out (more than 3+ weeks) I would consider adding one or more of the above three ingredients for extra aeration and drainage ๐ Good luck! And feel free to tag me @DreamMachine if you have any other questions or need help along the way!
Hi Mimo, it does look like itโs a spider plant Spider Plant . Here is a care guide I found on the Internet. Good luck. Care Guide
Watering
Growing Season (Spring and Summer): Keep the soil slightly moist. Water regularly but avoid soggy conditions to prevent root rot.
Winter: Reduce watering frequency as the plant's growth slows down.
Light Requirements
Ideal Light: Place your spider plant in bright to moderate indirect sunlight.
Avoid Direct Sunlight: Direct exposure can scorch the leaves, leading to brown tips.
Temperature and Humidity
Temperature Range: Spider plants thrive in temperatures between 60ยฐF and 80ยฐF (15ยฐC to 27ยฐC).
Humidity: They prefer a humid environment. Consider misting the leaves or using a humidifier to maintain moisture.
Repotting
Frequency: Repot every couple of years to prevent the plant from becoming pot-bound. Use a well-draining potting mix.
Additional Care Tips
Fertilizing: Feed with a water-soluble fertilizer once a month during the growing season.
Pruning: Remove any dead or brown leaves to maintain plant health. If there are too many "spiderettes" (baby plants), trim some to conserve energy for the parent plant.
Common Issues
Brown Tips: This can be caused by underwatering, overwatering, or low humidity. Regularly check soil moisture and adjust care accordingly.
Watering
Growing Season (Spring and Summer): Keep the soil slightly moist. Water regularly but avoid soggy conditions to prevent root rot.
Winter: Reduce watering frequency as the plant's growth slows down.
Light Requirements
Ideal Light: Place your spider plant in bright to moderate indirect sunlight.
Avoid Direct Sunlight: Direct exposure can scorch the leaves, leading to brown tips.
Temperature and Humidity
Temperature Range: Spider plants thrive in temperatures between 60ยฐF and 80ยฐF (15ยฐC to 27ยฐC).
Humidity: They prefer a humid environment. Consider misting the leaves or using a humidifier to maintain moisture.
Repotting
Frequency: Repot every couple of years to prevent the plant from becoming pot-bound. Use a well-draining potting mix.
Additional Care Tips
Fertilizing: Feed with a water-soluble fertilizer once a month during the growing season.
Pruning: Remove any dead or brown leaves to maintain plant health. If there are too many "spiderettes" (baby plants), trim some to conserve energy for the parent plant.
Common Issues
Brown Tips: This can be caused by underwatering, overwatering, or low humidity. Regularly check soil moisture and adjust care accordingly.
@mimo178 Looks like youโve got a Dracaena โLemon Limeโ, not a spider plant. The leaf pattern (lime center with white edges) is the giveaway.
Soil: Use a regular indoor potting mix, nothing fancy. Just make sure the pot has drainage holes, because Dracaenas hate sitting in water.
Watering: Let the top 2 or 3 inches of soil dry out before watering again. They prefer being a little dry rather than constantly damp.
Light: Bright indirect light is perfect. Direct sun can scorch the leaves.
Wilting + spots: Usually from either under watering, over watering, or being too close to an A/C draft. Dracaenas donโt like cold air blowing on them.
Once you move it away from the A/C and get it on a โwater when dryโ routine, it should perk up!
Soil: Use a regular indoor potting mix, nothing fancy. Just make sure the pot has drainage holes, because Dracaenas hate sitting in water.
Watering: Let the top 2 or 3 inches of soil dry out before watering again. They prefer being a little dry rather than constantly damp.
Light: Bright indirect light is perfect. Direct sun can scorch the leaves.
Wilting + spots: Usually from either under watering, over watering, or being too close to an A/C draft. Dracaenas donโt like cold air blowing on them.
Once you move it away from the A/C and get it on a โwater when dryโ routine, it should perk up!
@AridRunner so no need for succulent soil? Cuz I have it and thought it's needed, about that AC should it not be in a room where there is one at all? Or just no next to it?
@mimo178 You donโt need succulent soil for a Dracaena. They actually prefer a regular indoor potting mix because it holds a bit more moisture. Succulent/cactus soil dries out too fast for them, so if thatโs all you have, you can mix it 50/50 with normal potting soil and should work fine. About the A/Cโฆ itโs totally okay for the plant to be in a room with one. You just donโt want cold air blowing directly on the leaves. A few feet away is perfect. Once itโs out of the draft and watered only when the top couple inches are dry, it should settle in.
@AridRunner currently it's in regular soil, what I understand is I should mix it with succulent soil , is that correct? I will not repot for a few days, And I moved the plant so the AC problem is done, the soil is still wet so no watering for now
@mimo178 No, I would leave your soil as is. Repotting can be hard on a plant. I was just suggesting that if you had a succulent soil, that a mix would be acceptable.
@mimo178 @AridRunner @Malagueรฑa Can I see the base of the plant where it comes out of the soil? This looks like a spider plant to me too. The leaf color is not a giveaway because this is my outer-margin variegated spider plant.
@AridRunner yes that picture @mimo178 posted doesnโt show the whole plant. Hereโs the base of my spider plant(s) vs a dracaena lemon lime I found online as I donโt have a reference plant. Dracaenaโs come off of a woody cane like stalk.
@DreamMachine I just posted a pic of the base , thx for telling the fact that it needs a woody cane cuz mine doesn't! I will put it as a spider plant
@mimo178 @AridRunner @Malagueรฑa Youโve got a spider plant! Bob Iโm including you too because AI plant info, unfortunately, is full of misinformation, but your ๐ was correct! ๐ Succulent soil is fine for them, they are native to parts of Africa and tend to grow along stream banks. They do like water but they need to dry out thoroughly before you water again. Thatโs why the one you have has the brown spots. Those are oedema marks which means your plant took in more water than it could process. Either the soil is holding too much water, or it was watered too frequently. They are used to dry spells, thatโs why their roots grow huge tubers like parts, it helps them save water during the dry period.
They also like the light of a thousand suns, like Deb @MamaLinne said once and Iโll never forget that. My spider plants live within a foot of my brightest southern window (or northern, for anyone in the southern hemisphere) with sun on them all day. You will need to slowly get your spider plants used to sunshine or else it will burn. Thatโs why doesnโt mean they donโt like sun, it means they were moved too quickly to full sun.
Because your plant is pale AND showing oedema spots, you might have root rot going on. Usually when spider plants are pale that means they are thirsty, so pale and showing oedema means the roots might not be working properly. So when you repot, check the roots and trim anything black or mushy. Healthy roots should be firm and light colored.
They also like the light of a thousand suns, like Deb @MamaLinne said once and Iโll never forget that. My spider plants live within a foot of my brightest southern window (or northern, for anyone in the southern hemisphere) with sun on them all day. You will need to slowly get your spider plants used to sunshine or else it will burn. Thatโs why doesnโt mean they donโt like sun, it means they were moved too quickly to full sun.
Because your plant is pale AND showing oedema spots, you might have root rot going on. Usually when spider plants are pale that means they are thirsty, so pale and showing oedema means the roots might not be working properly. So when you repot, check the roots and trim anything black or mushy. Healthy roots should be firm and light colored.
@mimo178 More pictures would help, but it looks like a reverse variegated spider plant from this pic. They like to be tight in their pots and they go through water pretty quickly. I let mine get fairly dry between waterings, and still end up watering about once a week.
Mine is one of my favorite plants, his name is Dave Grow ๐๐ชด๐ค๐ป
Mine is one of my favorite plants, his name is Dave Grow ๐๐ชด๐ค๐ป
@DreamMachine can you tell me when I should repot? Cuz I know it's good to repot as soon as I bring it home but when there's root rot I don't know what to do (lost my two first and latest plants cuz of it) and is there any signs that I should look out for that means I should do something immediately?
@DreamMachine I have succulent soil only should I mix it with the current regular one ( the one plant is already in ) or use succulent only?
@mimo178 I have to run off to work soon so i might not be able to reply. Iโm assuming your succulent soil will be fine, I just wanted to check it, but I would replace ALL the soil with the new succulent soil. The old soil most likely has root rot bacteria in it, so you would not want to reuse it.
