Question
You may not believe this but in college (1980-81)I bought a tiny spider plant from a grocery store for $.50. I brought it back to my dorm room where I had both powerful air conditioning and radiator/steam heat. I had no control over the steam radiator but usually kept my room icy cold. A friend at the time brought in a half glass of orange juice. She dumped it into my plant's pot (it had grown to about 5" and I planted it in a aluminium coffee container). I proceeded to freak a bit and she told me it was good for the plant because of the acid. Now, here's the incredible part. I never put OJ in that plant again, but it continued to grow until well into the 1990's and I grew about twenty generations (one or two off the long shoots with the baby plants on the ends and middles and then one or two or ?? off THOSE long stems, etc. and etc.)and all were so hardy, I had to plant them everywhere around my dry arid 'desert' yard. It was a literal profusion. The only reason I have none of them now, is that my sister hated them and systematically killed most of them but not the mother plant. Eventually she did manage to trash that one. I know this is hard to believe but it is true. Could that OJ have been responsible for the incredible life of that mother plant and all babies? I would like to buy another tiny one like that first one but cannot find any small or cheap enough. Also, now in our house I have gas heat and again no control over it. The room in which I would put it would be dry and warm half the time and very dry and cold the other half. Do you think I should try with another one or would I need the same conditions as my dorm room over 20 years ago?

Answer
Hi Patricia,

Fascinating story about your spider plant. Spider plants are quite hardy and can withstand a wide range of conditions. A single dose of OJ would not have any effect on the plant, one way or the other. Had you continued to add OJ regularly, eventually the soil would have become too acidic and the plant would have died.

I encourage you to try another spider plant. As long as temps stay above 40 degrees and below 95 degrees, temperature is not a problem. Spiders also thrive in either low or high humidity, so your current environment should be fine, as long as you can provide good light.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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