You don’t need to be good at gardening to grow spider plants inside. Spider plants are one of the most famous houseplants in the world. They are easy to take care of and have long, spiky, striped leaves. They also have runners that hold spider-like baby plants (technically called “offsets”) in the air.
A gardener gives you spider plant care tips, such as how to repot it and how to deal with common issues, so your plant can grow well.
What Is A Spider Plants
It is also called “spider ivy,” “airplane plant,” and “ribbon plant” around the world. The spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum, is a tropical evergreen herbaceous annual. It was first found in Africa, growing in a large area that stretched from South Africa to Cameroon and Ethiopia in the north.
Agate, hosta, sansevieria, yucca, and monkey grass (Liriope) are all famous landscape plants in the same family as the spider plant.
Types Of Spider Plant
Spider plants come in a number of different types, such as:
- Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’: The edges of this type of leaf are cream or white, and there is a dark green stripe running down the middle. It has green, long roots.
- Chlorophytum comosum ‘Vittatum’: The leaves of this plant have a white stripe in the middle and medium-green edges. It has white, long roots.
- Chlorophytum comosum ‘Bonnie’: This type is denser than the main species plant and has leaves that are lightly curled and have a cream stripe in the middle. It has flowers that are yellow.
Why Spider Plants Are So Easy To Care For?
Spider plants have been well-liked for a long time. This pretty houseplant doesn’t need much care.
Spider plants don’t need much water, and you don’t have to prune or fertilize them to make them grow well; those things are just bonuses.
Since spider plants are safe for pets and kids, you don’t have to worry about having them in your home.
Propagate Your Spider Plant
New long, viney stems will grow out of the middle of your spider plant for baby plants, or spidettes. This means the plant is doing well.
It’s very simple to grow spider plant kids. All you have to do is cut the spidettes off of the stem and put them in clean, damp soil.
Before you start cutting, look under the leaves. You’ll see brown bumps growing. Add a few of these when you split the baby plant because they will be the roots for your new plant.
Common Problems With Spider Plant
Spider plants don’t generally cause big problems, and when they do, they’re usually pretty easy to fix:
Plant Is Too Sparse
- Taking off some of the “plantlets” can help because it moves the plant’s energy to making more shoots. You could also repot and split a plant whose roots are getting too crowded. After months of being healthy, if all of a sudden your spider plant starts to have trouble, it probably needs more room for its roots.
- Burning Leaves
- Some houseplants, like spider plants, are very sensitive to the chemicals or salts that are in cleaned tap water. These chemicals or salts can turn the tips of the leaves brown. If these burned tips start to show up on your plant, you should stop watering it and start using rainwater or bottled water that hasn’t been treated.
If a spider plant gets too much direct sunlight, its leaves can also get burned. Keep in mind that these plants like dark or indirect light.
Browning Leaves
A spider plant’s leaves going brown could be caused by a number of things. The color can also change because of too much fertilizer or too much fluoride and chlorine in the water. Root rot, which makes the leaves turn brown, can happen if you water the spider plant too much. If the temperature is too low, the leaf tips can also turn brown.
How Much Sun Does A Spider Plant Need?
The best light for spider plants is bright light that comes from the side. As with any houseplant, you should make sure your spider plant gets enough light.
If you see that the Spider plant leaves are going yellow or getting damaged, it means that they are getting too much light. You might want to move the plant to a spot with more shade.
Getting eight to ten hours of sunlight every day is important for your spider plant. The spider plant comes from the tropical jungles of South Africa. It grows under the trees there.
So, in its original state, the plant got medium to bright indirect light and some shade from the branches of the trees. For the spider plant to do well, we need to create a climate that is similar to the one it does well in.
Does Spider Plant Grow With Artificial Light?
Light from a light bulb can help spider plants grow. It is important to pick the right kind of artificial light and give the plant the right amount of it, though. You need to give the plant enough light for it to grow well.
As you probably already know, spider plants can grow in a lot of different conditions. They can grow in most lighting conditions, but not in direct sunlight for long stretches of time.
It is important to know that artificial lighting is meant to make up for the lack of visible light and weather. Spider plants can photosynthesize with electric light bulbs, LEDs, and grow lights even when they don’t get enough natural light.
FAQ
What Is The Best Place To Put A Spider Plant?
In warm areas (zones 9–11), spider plant can be grown outside as a garden plant. In colder climates, it is sometimes grown outside as an annual. This plant is usually grown outside in window boxes, raised beds, or as a border around a garden bed.
Does Spider Plant Clean The Indoor Air?
Yes, spider plants have been shown to clean the air inside by getting rid of formaldehyde and other pollution. Some figures say that as many as 700 plants would be needed for a very large indoor garden to completely clean the air in a whole house.
However, a home with a lot of houseplants will be a little healthier. And four or five spider plants in a small office will make a difference.
How Long Does A Spider Plant Live?
Most perennial plants that have a good image as houseplants do so because they live a long time. The spider plant is no different. Spider plants that are well taken care of and are moved around and split up often are often passed down from one generation to the next.
How Often Should I Water My Spider Plant?
Your spider plant only needs a light drink about once a week. In the fall and winter, water it less often. You just want to add water to the compost. Up to the second knuckle of your finger should go into the dirt to see if it needs water. It’s time to water your plant if your finger comes out clean.
How Much Light Does My Spider Plant Need?
Most kinds of light will work for spider plants, but they will do best in brighter areas of your home. Keep your spider plant out of direct sunlight. He will like being on a desk or hanging from a wall.
What’S The Best Temperature For My Spider Plant?
Your spider plant can handle almost any temperature as long as it’s not in the direct sun during the middle of the day or left out in the cold.
Does My Spider Plant Need Any Extra Love?
There’s not much you need to do to take care of your spider plant. Just cut off any brown tips, mist it occasionally, and wipe the leaves clean of dust. Feed your spider plant liquid fertilizer once a month when it’s warmer. This will give it a push.