The Affordable Item That Makes A Simple Spider Plant Look Breathtaking

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Happy, healthy houseplants need little more than a pretty pot — if that — to brighten a space. But still, there's a steady stream of cool ideas for displaying plants that even minimalist indoor gardeners can get excited about. But stunning houseplant displays aren't often centered around lighting. Cool-burning, inexpensive LED string lights make the full foliage of spider plants look enchanting in a way you wouldn't expect. A spider plant's thick greenery is ideal for masking string lights when they're off while also hiding the wire between each bulb when the lights are on. Alternatively, why not lean into wire's bendy qualities? Loop the lights loosely among the fronds, letting them hover above and around the plant for more of a firefly effect.

Spider plants aren't the only growing things that look magical glowing with points of light. Ferns, pothos, philodendrons, begonias, and other bushy or cascading plants could look equally enchanting with this budget-friendly light treatment. If you have a plant in need of interesting illumination but it's a bit too thin to make this trick work, we have some workarounds. A budget-friendly way to make your spider plant look full and bushy is by planting its baby "spiderettes" into the same pot. If you have droopy vines, you can make climbing plants look fuller by giving them extra support, either with wire, stakes, or a small trellis.

LED string light bulbs stay pretty cool, so you won't have to worry about the bulbs' heat damaging the plant. However, there are a few other considerations worth making, both for your plants' and your own protection. One thing to be cautious about when decorating a living plant with lights is "light burn"; when parts of a plant receive too much light, or when a light source is too close to the plant tissue, the leaves may show yellowing, spots, or brown edges.

As common as batteries are, we might take for granted the possible perils of using them incorrectly. Certain types of batteries can be dangerous if they get wet, and with plants needing regular watering, make life easier for yourself by only using waterproof LED fairy lights like these Brightown LED Fairy Lights. As for the risks of light burn, limiting the amount of time you keep the string lit should prevent harming the plant. However, do monitor the plant after using the lights for a while to make sure no leaf damage is happening. It's also wise only to run the lights while you're in the room to prevent fires. They're unlikely, but still possible.