The Watering Trick That'll Help Spider Plants Thrive

You might not want a house full of spiders, but spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are a different story. This popular houseplant is a low maintenance beauty that adds style to your home as it purifies the air. While it takes care of you, why not return the favor with a simple watering trick that can give your spider plant the nutrients it needs to thrive? We're talking about using rice water as a way to feed the potted foliage. In an exclusive House Digest interview, we spoke to Hilton Carter, houseplant influencer and author of "Living Wild: How to Plant Style Your Home and Cultivate Happiness," to get his take on the rice water hack.

"Rice water is great for plants because it contains three key nutrients all plants need for overall vitality: phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium," Carter shared. It is an interesting way rice can serve as fertilizer in your garden. Plus, it is an all-natural ingredient and eco-friendly solution to give your spider plants nutrients. Carter shared how to use the solution as a fertilizer and precautions when using the mix to avoid harming your beloved houseplant.

You can use rice water much like other liquid fertilizer to grow and care for a spider plant. "A good rule of thumb is to fertilize every other watering during the growing season (spring and summer)," Hilton Carter exclusively told House Digest. "I would do the same when using rice water. If you water your plants once a week, then fertilizing with rice water every two weeks would be a good start." 

While rice water has been shown to benefit plants, you always want to take things easy when you're introducing new elements to your greenery. Start with a small amount and gradually build up if necessary. It's especially best to start slowly if you've never spiked your spider plant's water with rice before. The phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium in rice water is great for your spider plant, but you don't want to overdo it. "If you use too much, your plants could be exposed to harmful bacterias and pests," Carter explained. "It is also possible that your plant could get root rot and deteriorate the root system." As you start the new routine, watch out for pests, mold, or root rot. Carter says to stop using the rice water if you encounter any of these side effects. 

"Not all rice water is created equal," Hilton Carter exclusively told House Digest. "Unfermented rice water can contain starch, which can encourage harmful bacterial growth." To avoid this, Carter suggests using fermented rice water instead. "Fermented rice water has significantly less starch content, and will generally provide better results than unfermented rice water." So, after making your rice water, you want to ferment it for your spider plant to get the most benefits.

If you're wondering whether or not you should start using rice water to keep your spider plant healthy, which may seem like an uncommon household use for rice, Carter explains why it's a good idea to start. "All potted plants can benefit from fertilization, including spider plants," he said. "Because they are confined to a container, they can't absorb infinite nutrients through the ground like they could in their natural environment." And just because spider plants are considered low maintenance, Carter emphasizes on the importance of ensuring they're always getting enough sunlight and are always properly watered.