Spider plant becomes one of the most favorite houseplants for your space. The creepy-crawly name resembles the appearance of the plant, not entirely.
Furthermore, the scientific name is Chlorophytum Comosum.
These plants are hardy ones. Therefore, they can handle certain conditions which are less than perfect.
You can create a situation like the native tropical condition of the spider plants. They will grow stunningly.
Many people considered spider plants as the most adaptable of houseplants. You can plant and grow them easily in any condition.
Thus, this article will provide a lot of knowledge you should know before growing spider plants.
Contents
About Spider Plants
These plants produce a rosette of thin, arched, and long foliage. Also, the solid green leaf can be variegated with white.
Hence, grow the plants in a hanging basket as part of your indoor or semi-outdoor decoration to evoke a great look.
They were the popular houseplant in Victorian-era households.
Additionally, in the summer season, you will witness some tiny white flowers on the long stems of spider plants.
There are also some tiny plants or spider plant babies called pups which look like spiders. That is the reason it is called as such.
These cool plants have a special ability. It is once reported by NASA that spider plants have the air-purifying ability.
Although, you do not need it as an air purifier since they will be a large number of plants needed.
Thereupon, just have it for your house as a classic and attractive plant.
Planting Tips
- Spider plants like the soil to have a balanced condition, not too wet or too dry. So, it is important to have them growing in a soil-based, well-draining mix.
- The plants are sensitive to direct and hot sun. It will burn the leaves and there will be brown tips and spots as a result.
- Spider plants grow quickly and easily. They can become pot-bound without a fuzz. So, do the repotting once a year.
- As annual plants for the summer, you can grow spider plants outdoors. Prevent them from direct sunlight to stay healthy.
Propagating the Plants
Propagating spider plants is so easy to do. You can just simply leave the small plantlets on the stem. Wait until it gets some roots at least one or two-inch long.
Then, cut them off the stem gently. Do it carefully to keep the roots intact.
Make sure the pots for propagating are having good drainage. The soil should be moist, not soggy until they are established.
Moreover, aim for the mature plants since you can dig up and divide them. Thus, the process could be easier.
Potting and Repotting
Most people would love to have the spider plants grown in containers. If you have a plant for repotting, a bigger container is preferable.
Besides drainage holes, you should also get the loose potting mix.
When spring comes, this time is perfect for repotting. You should plan it well, so those spider plants would be there safely.
To begin repotting, separate the plant from the old pot. Then, position the plants at the same depth of soil.
The container should be slightly bigger since it is a new one.
Spider Plant Babies
They are also called Spider Plant Spiderettes because their appearance looks like a bunch of spiders.
Those things appear when the plants begin producing flowers. After that, they get developed into babies.
Spiderettes can only appear when the mature plants have enough stored energy. The plants can have spiderettes in water.
However, the soil is an ideal medium to form a stronger root system.
Furthermore, the best method to grow spiderettes is by letting the plantlet get attached to the mother plant.
Additionally, try some other ways that you feel best about.
There is an option to cut the babies or spiderettes of the plant. If you plant to grow new plants, you need to cut off the babies as the seed to grow new spider plants.
Make sure to remove or take off the “babies” properly.
Spider Plant Spiderette can also make a great choice of plant to fill up the pot you have in your garden.
Plant Care for Spider Plants
These plants are often grown in hanging pots or containers. That is because of their cascading foliage and long stems with plantlets.
Some households choose to have them grown atop columns. In this case, you should check whether those stems do not get so heavy.
In locations with warm climates, you can have spider plants as outdoor planters. This plant needs regular water.
Also, you have to fertilize them regularly from spring to fall season.
Those times are the plants’ growing season. So, it should be completed well. Repotting the plants once they have outgrown roots.
Light Requirement
For outdoor conditions, spider plants like to stand under light shade. They also can handle heavy shade but the growth will not be the same.
As said before, direct sunlight will scorch the leaves. The ideal place for indoor growing is next to a bright window with indirect sun.
The Soil Mix
There are a lot of soil types to choose from for growing spider plants. However, these plants prefer a fairly neutral soil pH.
You can give them the other types with slightly acidic or alkaline according to the needs and budget. The plants can still tolerate it.
Pay attention to the level of salt, do not be too high.
Watering
This is the most time-consuming part of growing spider plants. Do not go overwatering because it will get to root rot conditions and kill the plant.
Spider plants are prone to water with fluoride and chlorine. If you grow them in containers, distilled water or rainwater is better.
Temperatures and Humidity
The ideal conditions of soil for spider plants are warm and humid. Hence, temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit are not recommended for growing them.
Therefore, protect the plants from AC vents and drafts when growing indoor.
If the humidity is low in the location, you should know by checking the brown leaf tips. Mist the plant regularly to maintain enough humidity for the plant.
Fertilizer
A moderate amount of fertilization is what spider plants need. There will be a problem with the growth.
Choose to have an all-purpose granular fertilizer. Remember to read the label instructions so you can apply them properly.
The Varieties of Spider Plant
- Chlorophytum comosum “Vittatum”: The leaves come with a center white stripe.
They have medium green margins surround the foliage. The long stems are in white. - Chlorophytum comosum “Variegatum”: It is a variety that has cream or white margins on the leaves.
The middle parts are combined with the dark green stripe. Then, the green long stems are pretty common, right? - Chlorophytum Comosum “Bonnie”: It is a compact version of spider plants. The leaves are present in a loosely curled form.
This form comes with green margins and cream-colored stripes in the middle. You can see yellow a spider plant flower during the blooming time. - Chlorophytum Orchidastrum “Green Orange”: The deep green lance-shaped leaves are what make this variety so special.
It provides a sharp contrast compared to other spider plants. The color closely resembles the Chinese evergreen. - Chlorophytum Comosum “Reverse Variegatum”: It has the polar opposite of the Variegatum variety.
The leaf comes with a soft yellow edge with the center in the color of green. It can get larger. Therefore, it is quite common with many gardeners. - Chlorophytum Laxum “Zebra”: It looks pretty similar to the previous variety but has a much brighter outline on the leaves.
Common Pests / Diseases
Generally, spider plants are healthy species. There are a few common pests that they might deal with.
That includes aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. Those pests can impact spider plants. The common symptom is depreciated foliage.
Therefore, the effective effort to deal with the infestations is to rinse them all with enough water.
For a more serious infestation, apply an insecticide. However, do not use it if the problem is not serious.
Make sure to always clean the leaves of spider plants. Besides water, a soft microfiber cloth can also be used to clean up the leaves for dust, dirt, and bugs.
Clean it from top to bottom. Removing hard debris will require water to wet the cloth.
Moreover, these varieties are vulnerable to tip burn. That is because of the low humidity, dry soil, or problematic tap water.
The soil should be moist. When you see some brown tips, cut them off.
Besides, if you find some brown discs on leaves, scrape off the residue every several days. Importantly, check it regularly as part of spider plant care and maintenance.
Final Words
For those who want to have an easy tropical houseplant, a spider plant can be a great choice. With all of that knowledge, planting it will be even easier.