"Seems like spider plants handle temperature swings better, plus they love humidity too."
Yeah, spider plants are pretty forgiving. Just a heads-up though—if your bathroom gets really steamy, make sure the pot drains well. Had one get waterlogged once... not pretty.
Spider plants are pretty hardy, but I've noticed mine sometimes get brown tips when the humidity fluctuates too much. Wonder if that's from humidity swings or maybe something else like water quality? I've heard tap water can cause issues sometimes... Has anyone tried filtered or rainwater instead? Curious if it made a noticeable difference.
I've been wondering about this too, actually. Tap water quality can definitely vary depending on where you live—mine's pretty hard, and I've noticed similar brown tips on my spider plants. Have you checked if your water has a lot of minerals or chlorine? I tried filtered water for a few weeks, and honestly, I didn't see a huge difference. But rainwater might be worth a shot... anyone here actually tried it long-term and noticed improvements?
I've seen a lot of people swear by rainwater, but honestly, I'm a bit skeptical. Sure, tap water quality varies a ton depending on your location—hard water can definitely cause mineral buildup and those brown tips you're seeing. But before you start collecting rainwater in buckets (which, let's be real, can be a hassle), have you considered installing a simple water softener or even just using distilled water occasionally?
In my experience, hard water is usually the culprit behind plant issues like this. Chlorine can evaporate if you let the water sit out overnight, but minerals like calcium or magnesium stick around. A small under-sink filter or softener can help reduce these minerals significantly. I've installed plenty of these for customers who were having similar problems—not just with plants, but also with fixtures and appliances getting crusty buildup—and they've generally been pretty satisfied.
As for rainwater... yeah, it's naturally soft and free from chlorine, but you've got to be careful about pollutants depending on where you live. If you're in the city or near industrial areas, your rain might not be as clean as you'd hope. Plus, storing it properly to avoid algae growth or contamination can be tricky. I know some gardeners swear by it long-term, but personally, I'd recommend trying something easier first.
Maybe try distilled or filtered water for a bit longer than a few weeks? Sometimes plants take a while to bounce back visibly. Or if you're really curious about rainwater, give it a shot—but keep an eye out for any unexpected issues.
"Plus, storing it properly to avoid algae growth or contamination can be tricky."
Yeah, I learned this the hard way when I first moved into my place. Thought I'd be all eco-friendly and started collecting rainwater in a big barrel out back. Fast forward a month, and I had myself a lovely green slime farm instead of pristine plant water... not exactly what I was going for.
Ended up installing one of those small under-sink filters you mentioned, and honestly, it's been great—not just for the plants but also for my coffee maker (no more weird mineral flakes floating around). Definitely easier than lugging buckets around or scrubbing algae off barrels every weekend. If you're on the fence, I'd say give the filter route a shot first—your plants (and sanity) might thank you later.
