The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Spider Plants

The Amazing Spider Plant: A Gardener’s Best Friend

If you’re a gardener looking for a hardy, easy-to-care-for houseplant that will bring life to any room of your home, the spider plant is your perfect choice. Not only are they beautiful and resilient, but they are also incredibly useful – they filter toxins from the air and help improve air quality. Let’s explore why the spider plant is the ideal houseplant for any gardener.

A NASA Clean Air Study determined that this plant was effective at removing common household air toxins formaldehyde and xylene.

Spider plants were shown to reduce indoor air pollutants (formaldehyde and xylene) you would need around 70 plants to neutralize the formaldehyde released by materials in a 167 m2 [1,800 sq ft]) energy-efficient house, assuming each plant occupies a 3.8 L (0.84 imp gal; 1.0 US gal) pot.

What is a Spider Plant?

The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is one of the most popular houseplants available and it’s no surprise why! A spider plant is a type of houseplant known for its long, cascading leaves and its ability to propagate really easily. It is a native of tropical and southern Africa, but has become popular worldwide as an easy-to-care-for houseplant. The spider plant is known by many common names including ribbon plant, airplane plant, St. Bernard’s lily, and hen and chickens. They can tolerate low light levels, require minimal water and fertilizer. In addition to being an aesthetically pleasing addition to any room in your home, they are also considered a healthy pot plant because they can remove toxins from the air. This makes them a great choice for anyone wanting to bring some greenery into their space without having to worry about maintenance or upkeep.

Spider plants are not considered to be toxic to humans or pets like cats and dogs, so considered to be safe for use in the home. However, as with any plant in your house, it is always a good idea to keep them out of reach of children and pets, especially if they are prone to chewing on things. If eaten, spider plants could cause mild stomach upset, so it is best to err on the side of caution and keep them out of reach.

The Best Spider Plant Varieties for Your Home

Chlorophytum comosum ‘Vittatum’ – This plant has variegated leaves with white stripes, making it a beautiful addition to any home.
Chlorophytum comosum ‘Bonnie’ – A variety with long, narrow leaves that are slightly twisted, giving it a unique appearance.
Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’ – Has bright green leaves with white edges, making it a standout among other spider plants.
Chlorophytum comosum ‘Crocodile’ – Unusual type that has dark green leaves with a distinctive pattern that resembles the scales of a crocodile.
Chlorophytum comosum ‘Lemon’ – A pretty spider plant with bright yellow leaves, making it a great choice for adding a pop of color to your home.

Looking for a Pink Spider Plant?

If you’re looking for a plant in other colours such as pink, purple, orange or blue. You’re out of luck. Spider plants are known for their green and white variegated leaves, and it’s not possible to change their color. A plant’s leaf colour is determined by the presence of pigments, which are produced by the plant’s genes. Since the color of a spider plant’s leaves is determined by its genetic makeup, it is not possible to change the color of its leaves through any type of treatment or care like adding dyes to water. That said, some varieties of spider plant can produce small, white or pale pink flowers. However, these flowers are relatively rare and aren’t present on all spider plants. If you want to add a pop of color to your home, you may want to consider choosing a different plant variety that has colorful leaves, such as a calathea or a croton.

Caring for Your Spider Plant

Spider plants are easy to keep happy, being able to do well in a wide range of climate conditions. They will tolerate temperatures down to 2 °C (35 °F), but grow best at temperatures between 18 °C (65 °F) and 32 °C (90 °F).

Caring for your spider plant couldn’t be easier – just make sure to keep it away from direct sunlight or drafts, water when the top inch or so of soil dries out, avoid over-watering (which can lead to root rot), give it a fun pot to live in and fertilize regularly during its growing season. If you want to add some color to your space while still keeping things low maintenance, try adding some colorful stones around its base or using decorative planters – this will really bring out its beauty while still allowing you to reap all of its benefits.

Spider plants are also known for their ability to produce pretty white, star-shaped flowers on long stalks. The key to getting your spider plant to bloom is providing it with the right environment and care.

Spider plant spiderettes with rootlets to make more plants.

Propagating Your Spider Plant

Want Spider plant babies? One of the best things about having a spider plant is that it can be easily propagated by simply snipping off one of its baby plants (known as “spiderettes” or “pups”) and planting it in its own pot. As long as you provide it with plenty of indirect sunlight and keep the soil moist but not soggy, these little babies will quickly take root and soon enough you will have multiple spider plants in your home.

How to Grow Spider Plant From Seed

Spider plants are so easy to grow from a mother plant there really isn’t much point growing from seed unless it’s the only way you can source a hard-to-get variety. But growing a plant from seed is still a fun and rewarding experience. Here is a simple guide to help you get started:

Start with fresh, high-quality seeds. Spider plant seeds are small and delicate, so it’s important to choose seeds that are fresh and have a high germination rate. You can purchase seeds from a reputable seller or collect them from a healthy, mature spider plant.
Prepare the soil. Spider plants prefer a well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. You can use a commercial potting mix or create your own mixture using equal parts peat moss, perlite, and compost.
Sow the seeds. Fill a small container with your prepared soil and sprinkle the seeds over the surface. Gently press the seeds into the soil, but do not cover them with soil, as spider plant seeds need light to germinate.
Water the seeds. Mist the soil lightly to moisten it, don’t saturate and place the container in a warm, bright location. Spider plants prefer temperatures of around 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit, so a spot near a sunny window is ideal.
Keep the soil moist. Check the soil daily and mist it as needed to keep it moist. Avoid overwatering, as this can cause the seeds to rot.
Once they have germinated, thin out any overcrowded seedlings so that each plant has enough room to grow. This will also help prevent fungal problems from developing due to too much moisture being trapped around a group of plants.
Transplant the seedlings. Once the seedlings have developed several leaves, they are ready to be transplanted into individual pots. Carefully transplant each seedling into a small pot filled with fresh potting mix and water them well.

With proper care, your spider plant seeds should germinate within a few weeks and grow into healthy, vibrant plants.

Spider Plant Care Tips for blooms

1. Don’t forget to water your spider plant regularly. Spider plants are tough but they do still need to be watered ideally once a week, keeping the soil moist but not soggy.

2. For healthy plants fertilize your spider plant every two weeks during the spring and summer months with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half-strength.

3. Put your spider plant in a bright location but away from direct sunlight. Too much sun can burn the delicate leaves of the plant and give them a washed out look.

4. For a bushy spider plant, allow the plant to clump or to trim a spider plant, use a sharp, sterilized pair of scissors or gardening shears to cut off any brown or yellowing leaves. You can also trim off any long, leggy shoots that are growing out of the plant to encourage new growth. Be sure to make the cuts cleanly, and avoid cutting off any healthy leaves or shoots.

4. Prune off any yellow or brown leaves on your spider plant – these indicate it is not receiving enough light or water, so do something about it. It’s also a good idea to trim the plant in the spring or summer, when it is actively growing, to help it maintain its shape and encourage healthy growth.

5. Use a pot with drainage holes in the bottom when planting your spider plant to stop root rot from happening due to overwatering.

6. Repot your spider plant every two years into a slightly larger container filled with fresh potting soil that is well-draining and rich in organic matter, such as peat moss or composted manure.

Common Problems of Spider Plants

Yellowing Leaves: Yellow or pale leaves on a spider plant are usually caused by too much direct sunlight or insufficient water. Move the plant to a spot with indirect light (partial shade if in the garden) and make sure you’re watering it regularly.

Brown Tips: Brown tips on spider plants can be caused by too much fertilizer, underwatering, or hard water (high mineral content). Cut off the brown tips and try watering with distilled water or rainwater if your tap water is particularly hard.

Fungus Gnats: Fungus gnats are tiny black bugs that often appear in houseplant soil. They feed on the decaying organic matter in the soil and can damage roots if they become abundant. Fungus gnats are harmless to humans, but they can be a nuisance and can damage plants if their populations become too large. To get rid of them, it is important to keep the soil in your plants well-drained and to avoid overwatering, let the top inch of soil dry out between watering. You can also use insecticides or sticky traps to control their population or cover the surface with sand or diatomaceous earth to create an hostile environment for them.

10 Creative Ways to Decorate with Spider Plants

Create a unique, hanging display by suspending a spider plant from a woven macramé plant hanger.
Use spider plants to fill in empty corners or spaces in a room, or to add a touch of greenery to a bookshelf or desk.
Place a spider plant in a hanging orb or sphere-shaped planter for a modern, spherical look.
Use spider plants to create a living privacy screen or divider in an outdoor space.
Plant several spider plants in a wooden barrel planter for a rustic, country-chic look.
Suspend a spider plant from the ceiling in a glass terrarium or other transparent container to create a floating garden effect.
Group several spider plants together in a hanging planter and hang it from a tree branch for a whimsical, enchanted forest look.
Use a spider plant as the centrepiece of a coffee table or dining table arrangement, surrounded by candles, stones, or other decorative accents.
Plant a spider plant in a tall, narrow planter and place it in a corner to add a touch of greenery without taking up too much space.
Hang several small spider plants in a row to create a curtain or wall of greenery.

All in all, the spider plant is an ideal houseplant for gardeners because of how easy it is to care for while still providing many benefits such as filtering toxins from the air and helping improve air quality. So if you’re looking for something hardy yet beautiful that won’t require too much attention or maintenance on your part the amazing spider plant might just be what you’re looking for. With proper care and attention this incredible houseplant can become an integral part of any gardener’s home décor adding life, color, and freshness all year round. Now that’s my kind of plant!