Giving away spider plants on Facebook, such fun!

[Croney]

Now that we've had to bring in all the green tomatoes for ripening on the cold porch, and that takes up a LOT of room, I'm giving away spider babies on the two "Buy Nothing" Facebook groups I'm in.

People really, really want plants nowadays. I've seen some offers get 50 replies! I shut my offer down when I've got enough takers; I don't have time or enthusiasm for doing a raffle.

I think some lucky person is going to get a big mother (!) spider plant. I always look at the poster's info since I'm not sending my babies to any MAGA house! Luckily those are rare in my Cambridge neighborhood.

[Frustratedlady]

1. Are you talking about airplane plants? I love those. I've also heard them called spider plants.

I will pass on a bit of info I learned years ago. In one of the women's magazines in the 60-70s like Women's Day/Family Circle I read where airplane plants were a good indicator of carbon monoxide from furnaces. Shortly after reading that warning, I noticed an airplane plant I had just purchased kept having brown leaves, even though I was watering it faithfully. I remembered that article and had our furnace checked. There was a cracked heat exchanger that was allowing carbon monoxide to escape. The inspector immediately shut down the furnace. The crack was hard to see until they took the part out and showed us where it was. The furnace was a good brand and only 9 years old, so we didn't expect any problem with it.

Since then, I've always had an airplane plant in my house.

[Croney]

2. I've never heard airplane, just spider; must be a regional thing.

Thanks for the info about the carbon monoxide!

[NJCher]

3. that is fascinating

and how fortunate that you read that helpful bit in a woman's magazine.

It is all the more extraordinary that the furnace was a good brand and not that old.

I have Boston ferns in my bedroom--three of them--as I understand they purify the air.

[demigoddess]

4. I offered my spider to my neighbor but she turned me down. I have a prayer plant that I

am going to take cutting and root them. I already did one and gave it away, but would love to have a whole row of prayer plants in one window! Wish me luck I am a beginner in this.