Spider Plants are iconic. They're undoubtedly one of the most popular indoor plants around, and it's easy to see why. Those wonderfully cascading green and white striped leaves that arch over gracefully will add plenty of colour and interest to any home or office.
Spider Plants are iconic. They're undoubtedly one of the most popular indoor plants around, and it's easy to see why. Those wonderfully cascading green and white striped leaves that arch over gracefully will add plenty of colour and interest to any home or office. They even have air purifying qualities as well, so they help to make your home healthier, not just more beautiful!
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We thought it would be a good idea to focus this article on Spider Plant care, so that you can help these fantastic little plants really live their best life in your home. You can bring out that luscious green colour on the leaves. There isn't a huge amount to know about caring for a Spider Plant, but everything you need is right here. Let's get into it.
All about Spider Plants
Spider Plants are part of the Chlorophytum genus of plants - the Chlorophytum Comosum and the Chlorophytum Bonnie tend to be the most common forms that we have in our homes. They originally hail from the tropical, and subtropical, areas of Southern Africa, usually found in forested areas. They grow low to the ground, so often have to compete for light and water with larger plants and trees. As such, they have developed a robust nature, and are now one of the most adaptable houseplants around - which is just another reason to love them!
During the 19th century, European explorers began bringing Spider Plants back home with them, and they became incredibly popular houseplants almost immediately. Their long, spangly leaves were so exotic to the Victorian population, and they proudly showed them off to visitors. The fact that they survived in homes back then emphasises how easy they are to look after!
It's not difficult to work out how they got the name Spider Plant, but it is known by a few other names as well, like ribbon plant, spider ivy and airplane plant. One of the more obscure is the 'Hen and Chickens' plant, which is a reference to how easy it is to propagate - the mother plant (or hen), produces plenty of Spider Plant babies (or chickens). We'll cover exactly how simple this is later in the blog.
You may be lucky enough to see Spider plant flowers in more mature plants - pretty little small white flowers that complement the foliage perfectly.
Caring for a Spider Plant
We don't just want you to keep your Spider Plant alive - we want to help you get it to thrive in your home. So we're going to run through all of the key factors so you know exactly how to care for a Spider Plant, starting with light:
How much light does a Spider Plant need?
As you'll see throughout this section, caring for a Spider Plant is largely about recreating the natural environment that they originally come from. So with regards to light, Spider Plants prefer bright, indirect light. They are used to partial shade, but the brighter spot, the better.
Avoid putting a Spider Plant in direct sunlight, though - this can scorch those beautiful leaves, and lessen the impact of the plant's appearance. If you see the foliage start to crisp around the edges, it may be because it has been exposed to too much direct sun.
Spider Plant Watering
There's a sure-fire test to ascertain whether your Spider Plant needs a drink - dip your finger into the soil. If the soil is completely dry, then it's worth giving it a little drink, and if it is wet, then it's best to leave it for a while. Spider Plants don't like to sit in water for long periods, as this can cause root rot, so if you are unsure, it's best to err on the side of caution and leave it another day or two.
As a rough guide as to how often to water a Spider Plant, they tend to need a drink every week or so during the growing season, and less often in the cooler months. Spider plant care in Winter is very similar to care in the growing season, it just requires less water and keeping out of the way of cold drafts.
When it comes to humidity, Spider Plants absolutely love a little spray with a water mist every now and then. This will really help those leaves look their best, and stop them from drying out. If you see brown leaf tips, it may indicate that the air is too dry, so try to mist more regularly.Â
Repotting a Spider Plant
If you ever see any roots start to emerge from below the soil level, this is an indication that your plant is getting too big for the pot, and it's time to give it a new home. It's best to do this in the Spring, just as it's about to embark on its growing season.
All you need to do is carefully remove it from its existing pot, trim off any excess roots, pop it in a larger pot and fill in with some more well draining soil or fresh potting mix. Just make sure the new pot has decent drainage holes, so the water can pass through easily.
Spider Plant Pests
You shouldn't experience too many pest issues on you Spider Plant, they are relatively pest-resistant. You may see some Spider Mites, which could be seen away with water mist, mealybugs, which can be rubbed off with some alcohol, or aphids, which you can remove with some water spray mixed with dish soap.
Propagating a Spider Plant
As we mentioned earlier, Spider Plants are famous for being easy to propagate. You can grow Spider Plants, or Spider Plant Babies, from a parent plant by simply cutting off these pups, or spiderettes, that develop from the centre of the plant. Look for the little brown nodes - these are where roots develop on your new plants.
All you need to do then is plant the baby plant in a small pot with some potting mix, and your new plant will grow from there.
- Conclusion
As you can see, there isn't a great deal to know when it comes to Spider Plant care - just a few key factors that you need to consider. This is one of the reasons they make great gifts for people, almost anyone could look after one of these lovely plants.
Have a look through our range; you can search all indoor plants, or hone in one specific plant like the adorable Chlorophytum Spider Plant. And if you have any questions about Spider Plants, we'd love to hear from you!
