Wednesday 15 December 2021

House plant I...

      Last month I scribed the post ‘Not of this time’, found here, in which I tried to describe the  my internal feelings of being from an earlier era and how this, and other factors  has led to both mine and G’s interest with some of the aspects of the Victorian era. I briefly described our desire  to bring a ‘Victorian’ feel to our small abode as we proceed to make it and its garden our little haven. As with many of us this is destined to be a long process, to be carried out as and when a small budget and very little spare time dictates.

      But sometimes a little something falls into place that just gives a tiny step towards the long term goal. Take the other day, we had taken in a parcel in for neighbours whilst they were away over the weekend. I called around to drop it off and obviously stayed for the compulsory hot drink and catch-up. I noticed they owned a particular plant in their porch that was a throw back to my childhood and I pinched (after asking damnit, oh you people!) a couple of cuttings to grow on for myself. The particular plant in question?....


Chlorophytum comosum


      Yep a Spider plant, it was one of those plants that seemed to be in everybody’s household back in the day. Its popularity was probably due to the fact it was as damn near as indestructible a houseplant as you could get then, rivalled probably only by the Aspidistra in its toughness. It popularity has waned over years but it is still a very versatile and reliable houseplant and can add a touch of greenery to most rooms.

     The plant was first introduced to the shores of this country from darkest southern Africa by those plant hunting Victorians, the pesky blighters. In its native land it can be found as ground cover within several different situations. The fact that it once was found in many a Victorian home makes it an ideal candidate for what we would like to introduce into our own home. 

   It has several commonly found variations of leaf colour:- green with an inner white strip, green with outer white strips and all green. Not only does the plant’s foliage  make for attractive viewing but the plant may also produce clusters of small, creamy white flowers. It does not depend though upon the flowers being fertilised for reproduction as it produces masses of small plantlets upon runners that hang downwards from the pot allowing the plant to be utilised in a hanging situation. These small plantlets are where the plant gets its common name from as they are said to resemble spiders hanging down on their silken threads. Though perhaps a little bit of poetic license has been used here as the runners are a tad thicker than a spiders silken thread and they’re the weirdest looking spiders that I have ever seen m’thinks.

     As I mentioned earlier, a Spider plant is a tough little bugger and is very undemanding in its care. Once established it may tolerate all but the lowest and the brightest of light levels  and will survive forgetfulness in watering to the extreme. Its only probably weakness in general care is that it does like being overwatered and requires a reasonably well draining substrate. They are a relatively disease free plant with their most common ailments coming from overwatering which may lead to the roots rotting away and over fertilisation which can cause the leaves to ‘burn’ and die off leaving a papery brown remnant.

     Another benefit of giving a home to a Spider plant is that studies have found them to be very effective at absorbing airborne pollutants. So not only do they improve the look & feel of a room, bring in a little nature, produce lots of mini plants to give as gifts, are easy to care for they also improve your air quality, hell it’s a no brainer m’thinks.

     So the very first, albeit very small, step has been taken to enhance our little abode and bring to us that peaceful refuge that we both so need. Just need to find a suitable pot for the bloody thing now.....

23 comments:

  1. Were the Victorians big on espalier or were those earlier? I don't know what your outside space looks like but it would be cool to create some microclimates to optimize for a step-ladder of sequentially ripening fruit. Especially some of the more luscious, exotic fruits.

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    1. Hi Joe,
      I believe that ‘espalier’ tree origins can be traced back to the Roman era, I think that they were indeed poplar with the Victorians along with ‘Cordoned’ fruit trees.
      Funny you mention microclimate, with regards to my own small garden my intention is to build a high wall along one side (the other being mixed hedge) reminiscent of Victorian walled gardens. As we live in one of the highest villages within Wales our temperature is usually a few degrees lower than the rest of the country and also we are quite exposed to wind. Without outlining my whole garden layout it is hoped that the wall’s height and position will indeed help produce the garden’s own microclimate enabling me to grow more tender plants than is the norm up here.

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    2. “Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough,
      A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse - and Thou
      Beside me singing in the Wilderness -
      And Wilderness is Paradise enow.” ― Omar Khayyám, Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

      "Paradise" was Farsi for a sunken or walled garden.

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    3. Very apt Joe, thank you for the sharing.

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  3. Hah - that sounds like something even Middle Daughter wouldn't destroy in a hurry. She has some lovely plants in her house but the smaller ones get forgotten about when it comes to watering and the extra Christmas present is soon dessicated!

    As for Victorian touches to your home, car boot sales will yield all sorts of goodies!

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    1. It sounds the perfect plant for Middle Daughter m'dear, alongside an Aspidistra perhaps? (they are not called the 'cast iron plant' for nothing).
      I truly enjoy scouring around car boot sales, charity shops and even 'marketplace' on the dreaded Facebook. Its a nice sense of satisfaction when you come across a true gem for a bargain basement price.

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  4. I knew what it was even before you named it. I've had many over the years. Another indestructible house plant is the Pathos. We have one on the mantel above the fireplace. It started as a 4" potted plant and has been cut and replanted several times over the years and it still grows like a champ. One thing I didn't see you mention is where the plant is happiest. We have a Croton that was all of about 4 leaves for the longest time. We moved it onto the sideboard where it has muted morning sun. It is now over 4 feet tall and growing.

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    1. Hi Mark, I think your Pathos plant is one that I know as Goose Foot Ivy, or sometimes Devils Ivy. Quite a rapidly growing climber if I remember correctly?
      Although the Spider plant is happy in most locations ideally I would place it in a bright location but out of direct sunlight, allow it to dry out between watering and generally just repot when the bulbous roots are pushing up right through the surface soil. I have read that they benefit from being cut right back from time to time but I am not sure that I will be trying this out. Hope this helps old lad?

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  5. I have three in my house and they are all thriving. I love them. X

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    1. Until visiting my neighbour I had quite forgotten about this gem of a plant Jules, that it fits in with our future plans for the house is a bonus.

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  6. How interesting John. I believe at at least on or two of Na Clann have these in their rooms. I am great believer in anything that is hard to kill.

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    1. Thank you TB, indeed they are tough little buggers.

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  7. I can definitely relate to feeling like I was born in the wrong era. And I can also relate to spider plants! I had them too and loved them. So easy to care for. I didn't realize about helping with pollutants, though. That's a good thing to know.

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    1. M'thinks you may be renewing your acquaintance with the humble spider plant once more Leigh. It is a funny, almost surreal feeling of been of the wrong time is it no m'dear?

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  8. I have several hanging around my home after discovering macrame.., I made loads of plant hangers and then needed something to put in them.

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    1. I think that spider plants would suit a macramé plant hanger very nicely Cherie, m'thinks I shall have to find one for my plant as the combination will suit the aesthetic we are aiming for m'dear, thank you for the idea.

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  9. That Cherie ^^^ is very nifty with her macrame crafts - tres en vogue at the moment.

    Loved this post John, hearing about spider plant history, and I love Spider Plants too! Managed to get some babies from a big sprawling mama at the library - asked the nice lady at the desk - she even gave me a bag for them!

    Found this article some time ago that you may enjoy -
    https://susanrushton.net/2020/02/17/giant-houseplant-takeover-a-review/comment-page-2/

    Lulu x

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    1. Indeed Lulu, the 'past' does seem in vogue at the moment, though one has to be careful with rose tinted glasses at times.
      Glad that you enjoyed the post m'dear, that is the beauty of them how easy they are to propagate, free gifts for life m'thinks.
      Absolutely love the shared link Lulu, had me hooked on the first picture so thank you for sharing.

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  10. I DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS WHERE YOU WERE HISDING!!!
    Our house had loads of spider plants dotted about and don't forget the one hanging down from the hall in a macrame pot holder! There was also one on the telephone table that I used to bend the leaves in half and split them down the middle with my nails. My mum used to go mad!!

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    1. Damn n blast you have discovered my secret liar Rachel, I'm so glad to see you commenting on here m'dear. Macramé pot holders seem the way forward from the past for Spider plants m'thinks. I can can just imagine you annoying your mum like that, I would put money on you doing the same now ;-)

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  11. * Hiding

    For some reason you had disappeared off my blog reading list. I'm following again.

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    1. I do have a habit of disappearing m'dear...poof and he's gone!

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