Here is the response to your question from my friend. Busy man of few words.
"they need to be at least half grown either on or off the mother to reach their full color."
You do see some white and cream (champagne ) in the first picture. They were new plantlets I got from someone who I trust knows what they have. Do you notice how green the plantlet is on the stock plant? It is on there longer than usual but I just neglected to remove it. I really must because I can use more stocks and this is a healthy half mature one already.
I am so reluctant to buy from just anyone anymore when it comes to the spiders. I wanted the 'Ocean' spider and Hirt had it up on eBay. When it arrived it was with some other plants and I did not pay attention to the order because I was busy doing something else and did open it to let them rest and breathe but did not unpack them where I could check the contents. When I did, I realized Hirt had not sent me the plant they advertised in fact it was the' vittatum' which I have dozens of and do not need anymore, but I told them there was an error in shipping and they said they would re-send the order. It arrived days later....same thing. Vittatum' NOT 'Ocean' I then told them if they can not send the 'Ocean' to cancel the order and take down the listing on eBay and Amazon. I got a full refund and now have four more Vittatum plants I do not really want. I refused to return them unless Hirt paid the shipping since I do not really want them and it was not my fault. I am not sure if they are just being stupid in the shipping dept. or do they not know the difference. The 'Ocean' looks like the Variegatum (or reverse variegated as some call it), It hasa whie margined green leaves and the leaves are shorter and broader then others They tend to have brighter white margins with less yellow/cream coloration. It does not flower as well as the Variegatum. The lesson I learned is to unpack them immediately and be sure you got the one you ordered. I was able to get a real 'ocean' from another source later and they are beautiful little plants.
If you decide to continue your collection of spiders, let me know and maybe I can help you find what you are looking for. There is so much on ebay but again, unless you know who you are getting from you can be wasting your money.
