Chlorophytum amaniense, more commonly known as the orange mandarin spider plant, is known for its beautiful orange-streaked foliage. This plant care guide will turn you into an expert.
Mandarin Plant
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Native to East Africa, the mandarin plant produces lush variegated foliage. It loves moderate to bright light and moderate watering. It is an evergreen flowering perennial that doesn’t grow that tall.
Cousin to the common spider plant, the orange mandarin spider plant is also a great air-purifying plant. Staying about a foot tall, it’s the perfect plant for your coffee table or window.
Toxicity
Unlike most tropical plants, the mandarin plant is non-toxic to pets and children. That means you can place them anywhere in the house.
Green leaves with bright orange streaks grow directly from the ground without stems.
Orange Spider Plant Care Guide
Here’s an orange mandarin spider plant guide.
Light
Like all spider plants, the chlorophytum amaniense, mandarin plant, or fire flash can survive in many situations. While it tolerates low light, it thrives in moderate to bright light.
Its large but delicate leaves are susceptible to burn from direct sunlight. It can tolerate the tiniest bit of sunlight in the morning, but you should avoid sunlight for the rest of the day. It will appreciate indirect or dappled sunlight much better.
Consider Using Grow Lights
To get the most from your plant, consider artificial lighting instead of keeping it in a low-light environment. Artificial lighting is just as good and entirely under your control.
If you have or plan to get many plants in your home, getting artificial lighting would be a worthy investment. It will ensure your plants always have access to bright light.
Watering
Orange mandarin spider plants love moist soil. With regular watering, they will grow well. However, they would survive a missed watering or two, so don’t fret.
Before watering your mandarin plant, wait until the top of the soil is dry. Then water it generously until you see it trickle out of its drainage holes. You can water your mandarin plant as often as every week.
Rainwater is pure from most minerals and bacteria. That’s why you shouldn’t use tap water for your plant. Depending on where you live, the tap water may be chlorinated, fluorinated, or provide hard water.
Humidity
The chlorophytum amaniense or mandarin plant comes from the tropical and subtropical jungles in East Africa. These jungles enjoy regular rainfall all year round.
Therefore, the orange-streaked beauty likes high humidity. Anywhere between 60% and 70 % humidity.
They will do fine in environments where the humidity level is above 50% and might even tolerate lower. However, you can improve the humidity level for the finest striking foliage.
Improve Humidity
You can use a humidifier or place a pebble tray under the pot. Take a tray and fill it with decorative pebbles. Then pour some water into it.
The pebbles prevent the pot from sitting in water. The water in the tray turns to vapors over time. The tray also catches any drippings from drainage holes in the pot.
Temperatures
Just like they like If you want them to look their best, keep the temperatures around twenty to twenty-two degrees. Any lower will cause its leaves to wilt.
If it gets cold where you live, protect it from cold drafts.
Fertilizer
The mandarin plant from the rainforest expects the soil to be rich in nutrients. To ensure it makes the most of its growing season, you should fertilize it regularly.
The growing season starts in the early summer and lasts until fall. We recommend adding liquid fertilizer to your plant from May through September to see your mandarin plant thrive.
fertilizer NPK Ratio
Like most foliar plants, Fire Flash pairs best with a fertilizer with a 20-20-20 NPK ratio.
As winter sets in, the orange mandarin spider plant’s growth slows.
Then it doesn’t need that much fertilization. Observe your plant during the winter months. It might not need any fertilization at all until spring.
Soil and Drainage
In the wild, the mandarin plant gets lots of rainwater. They love moist but well-drained soil. The soil should be rich in nutrients with excellent water retention.
Mix something like perlite or orchid bark into the soil to ensure the soil remains moist while still draining out excess water.
Ready Made Potting Mix
If you are unsure, buy ready-made spider plant soil. You don’t need to worry much if you plant them in the garden outside.
The excess water will sink lower and lower into the earth so the roots won’t develop any rot. However, in a container, drainage is important.
Inflorescence
The orange mandarin spider plant is a flowering plant. It develops flowers when it becomes a bit root bound.
Its flowers grow from a stem springing from the center of the leaves, usually where new leaves grow. They are a sign your mandarin spider plant needs your attention.
Pruning Mandarin plant Inflorescence
It would help if you pruned the flowers. Pruning is essential because it prevents the plant from focusing its energy on the flowers and producing seeds.
This practice ensures that the leaves get adequate energy. You should do it before they bloom.
Remove the stems and the leaves under them with a sharp knife.
Health Issues
You care about your plant health a lot. No matter what we do, sometimes our plants face problems.
Root Rot
Caused by overwatering, root rot makes the beautiful leaves turn brown over time. Be careful while adding water so it doesn’t sit on the lower parts of the plant.
Root Bound
After a certain amount of time, plants outgrow their containers. You need to move them every year or two to a larger pot to accommodate their growth.
Rotting Outer Leaves
Sometimes a lower leaf, sitting close to the ground, stay damp and begins to rot. Remove drooping or dying old leaves on your mandarin spider plant before they develop any rot.
Propagation
A fun part of spider plant care is reproducing it. You can propagate your plant from its seeds.
Harvest the seeds, plant them in pots in early summer, and watch them grow until September. Give them plenty of light from the sun, don’t stick them in the shade.
Conclusion
This a great plant to decorate your home and clean your air simultaneously. Good luck!
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