Climate anxiety is a phenomenon that most of us are aware of, if not experience. Although if one does not experience it at this critical moment in human history, it would surely be extremely tragic.
Simply put, the average temperature of the world is rising due to our increasing carbon emissions, leading to a whole host of an existential threat to our life as we know it, which vary from, but are not limited to increased natural disasters due to widespread change in climate and release of ancient diseases resulting from melting ice and rising sea levels.
Just like everything affecting the world, on a smaller scale, it affects our individual lives, rather directly.
One of the most important threats on an individual level is air pollution, the existence of harmful substances in the air, which can lead to a host of cancerous or heart diseases.
However, just like world-wide disasters are translated to our level, the solution to this problem is also translated to our puny level. The answer is simple, plant more trees.
We need more green around us, so it can suck up our mistakes and save us from ourselves. This is where our friendly neighborhood plant, Spider Plant, comes in.
The spider plant is an efficient natural air purifier, absorbing complicated toxins for its own use and saving us from these harmful substances.
It can be coupled with a host of other natural air purifiers to form an army of plants to wage war against the pollutants and protect our delicate bodies. If this does not get you to possess one, then their beauty in different shades of green might. Here is how to grow them:
Before Growing
Firstly we will consider the requirements of the plant, which have to stay the same throughout its existence.
These include the soil conditions for the plant, the amount of sunlight, and general rules regarding placing it in appropriate areas and the kinds of apparatus one should keep in place.
Spider Plant is like a spoiled child. It does require one to be meticulous, or else it stops functioning in its ecosystem. However, the plant grows everywhere in the world, meaning it can survive in ideal conditions easily.
The soil should be towards the sandier side, as the plant does not require a lot of water. Sandy soil drains water easily and keeps the plant hydrated enough not to cause it damage since the sun cannot directly evaporate the water.
The soil should be mixed with sufficient compost so that it becomes nutrient-rich; generally mixture of 30% compost to 70% soil is used.
The soil is thoroughly mixed with the compost and gains nutrients as well as the ability to turn dead leaves and organic matter into compost.
A large pot with proper drainage holes should be used for planting the seed as, as the plant grows rapidly.
Using a large pot saves you time on having to continually replace the pot for a bigger plant and the drainage holes dispense water, readily preventing potential damage.
The plant thrives in indirect light, so it should be placed ideally in a shady place outside or inside the house. Direct sunlight damages the plant leaves, which are the main source of its purification.
The plant could be placed in partial sunlight if it’s placed outside the house, for example, a place where sunlight cannot reach directly throughout the day.
The temperature in which the plant is placed should not be below 10 degrees Celsius, as it would cause the leaves to start drying out and dying. For that, it is important to make sure the temperature is at least above 20 degrees Celsius.
In conclusion, the plant should be planted in compost-rich sandy soil in a large pot with drainage holes, placed away from the sun in indirect light in an ideally warmer climate with temperatures ranging between 20 to 30 degrees Celsius.
General Care and Maintenance
Secondly, we will focus on the ongoing actions one has to take throughout the existence of the plant to make sure the desired result is achieved, and a healthier plant is grown. These include the provision of water, fertilizers, pesticides, and general pruning and cutting.
After the seed is planted in the proper conditions given above, the following guidelines should be considered to achieve healthy leaves.
The plant should be watered when the soil is dry, about thrice a week. Although, during the growing season, the plant should be watered regularly to keep the soil moist.
Moreover, if the climate gets drier, the plant should be watered regularly, so the leaves don’t dry out. Otherwise, the plant should not be over-watered as the plant does not require a lot of water.
Fertilizers for the Spider Plant include fertilizer pellets or fertilizer mixed with water.
The fertilizer mixed with water should provide it with a way to distribute the proper nutrients throughout the plant easily, while pellets can be used by mixing with the soil and watering the plant, this provides it with “food” in the form of essential nutrients.
The plants should be provided with these fertilizers during the growing phase every week, however as the plant matures, the plant should be fertilized twice a month only to avoid over-fertilization.
Pesticides are necessary depending on where the plant is placed. If the plant is grown indoors, then spraying a mist of water should clean the leaves of the plant.
However, outside the house, the plant can attract pests such as spider mite, which should be dealt with immediately by applying miticide to the leaves of the plant in addition to spraying a mist of water.
Alternatively, homemade solutions can be used to kill these pests and protect the plant.
The leaves of the plant may brown because of different reasons such as exposure to sunlight, over-fertilization, or over-watering. In this case, the leaves should be carefully cut, so the damage is not propagated.
The leaves can be mixed with the soil for nutrient enrichment. Moreover, brown discs may form on the leaves, which can be easily cleaned with a cloth.
In addition to taking care of the leaves, the plant may sprout small buds, which are seeds. It is best to leave them be until the mature that is when new buds start growing around one. These seeds can be planted using the same method.
Conclusion
The spider plant lists high among the plants that are essential if you want a greener aesthetic.
They come in different shades of green and can easily populate the tighter corners of your house, in addition to being hung, if you prefer a grander approach to decorate your casa.
Whether your climate anxiety has put you on the path to waging war or you find that the green color gives your living room the perfect vibe, this plant is essential.
As we say, all plants need care and diligent maintenance to grow successfully, and the Spider Plant is not an exception.
It is important to follow the guide to reap the benefits of the plant; otherwise living things tend to adapt to their environment causing the plant not to function as desired. The leaves may not be as green and healthy making it may be harder to purify the air.
The spider plant does require one to be deliberate with their choices as like goldilocks it needs conditions that are just right, not too much and not too less.
Things like these often require a bit of experimentation on the grower’s part to suit to conditions in which the plant is being grown in, so being disheartened at your first go is a bit too extreme when the plant asks for conditions being just right.
We wish we could say the same for humans adapting to the changing climate; unfortunately adapting would come at the highly invaluable cost of human lives, while prevention would come at the cost rapidly dispensable money.
There are infinite solutions developed and tested over many years, which could be implemented to save us from impending doom, which, unfortunately only some of us seem to realize.
It is high time that we take steps to counter our decidedly ruinous actions of the past on any level ranging from our countries to our rooms. Thus we bid you happy toxin hunting, and may the odds turn in our favor.