All About Spider Plants

Spider Plants (Chlorophytum) are one of the most popular houseplants in the world. They are quick growing and very attractive. The long arching leaves come in various cream and deep green variations and produce baby plants at their ends. These “babies” can be pegged down into pots of their own, where they will quickly root, making spider plants one of the easiest to propagate houseplants. Spider Plants look their best as a hanging plant, which allows their long leaves and babies to look their best.

Spiders are easy to care for. They’ll grow in sunny or shady spots and don’t mind warm or cool air. Be sure and keep them from getting more than a couple of hours of direct sunlight a day as the leaves are delicate and prone to sunburn. They like well draining soil and light fertilizer-not more than once a month or so-and for this plant, being root bound is a good thing! Once a spider becomes root bound it will begin to produce its famous babies. As mentioned above, the baby plants can be pinned into small pots of soil and will root quickly. Once they do they can be snipped off the mother plant. These babies can be left to develop into new adults or can be given as gifts.

Spiders are not only attractive, easy to grow, and down right fun, they also help clean the air you breathe. NASA performed a study where they filled a sealed Plexiglas chamber with formaldehyde and measured the air cleaning performance of three popular houseplants. Spider Plants were the winners, removing over 95% of it within 24 hours. To reap the air cleaning benefits of plants, the rule of thumb is 2 or 3 for every 100 square feet of space.

While Spider Plants are generally easy to care for and problem free, like all houseplants, there are a few issues that may arise:

Brown Tips on Leaves– This is usually a sign the plant needs to be fed. Fertilize it once a month with a food specifically formulated for houseplants. The brown tips can be snipped off.

Yellow Tips on Leaves– This is a sign of either low humidity or chemical damage. For low humidity, mist the plant occasionally and consider using a humidifer. The leaves of Spider Plants are sensitive to the chemicals in tap water, especially chlorine and salts. To prevent, water only with distilled water.

Curled Up Leaves With Brown Spots and/or Yellowing– This is a classic sign of under watering.

Insects– Spider Plants are generally pest free.

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