#houseplanttips

Why Your Spider Plant Leaves Aren’t Curling

6 Tricks to Grow the Curliest Spider Plant Ever

Want a fuller spider plant with beautifully curled leaves? Discover six practical tricks for growing a curly spider plant, including the right variety, placement and simple training ideas that encourage dramatic, flowing foliage. 

Let's settle a common plant aisle debate once and for all. That plump, drought-tolerant plant on your shelf—is it a succulent or a cactus? Here’s the secret: All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. The defining difference isn't just the presence of spines, but where they come from.

Enter The Spine Test. Don't just look for pokey bits; look for areoles.

Areoles are the small, cushioned, fuzzy bumps unique to the cactus family. Think of them as tiny modular factories: all a cactus's spines, hairs, and flowers grow from these specific spots. If a plant has spines that emerge directly from the skin or stem without a distinct, padded base, it's likely a different type of succulent (like an Agave or Aloe).

Your Quick Guide:

Cactus: Has spines emerging from fuzzy, distinct areoles.

Other Succulent: Has spines, thorns, or sharp tips that are modified parts of the leaf or stem itself, with no fuzzy base.

Why does this matter? Care! Many true cacti need intense, direct sun and very infrequent water. Other spiky succulents, like Haworthias, often prefer bright indirect light. Poking at the base of a spine is the best way to know what you're dealing with.

More Water Isn’t Always Better 🌿

Many plants don’t fail from neglect—they fail from too much love. Watering twice a day can drown roots and block airflow in the soil. Instead, let the plant guide you. Moist soil is healthy soil.

Good plant care is about balance, not routine.

Every Plant Needs the Right Light 🌿

After repotting, plants need time to settle. Placing them in gentle, indirect light for a few days helps reduce shock and encourages healthy growth. Light isn’t just brightness—it’s balance.

Thoughtful placement leads to thriving plants.

Spider plants are beginner-friendly, fast-growing, and perfect for brightening up any home. But like all houseplants, they can sometimes attract unwanted pests. The good news? You don’t need harsh chemicals to keep them healthy!

In this guide, I share a simple garlic hack that naturally repels pests and helps your spider plant thrive. 🧄💚 It’s safe, eco-friendly, and super easy to try — perfect for plant parents who want to keep their green babies strong and pest-free.