How to Care for Spider Plants

Spider Plant is another well-known houseplant that is perfect for those who are just new plant parents. They are fast-growing plants that are best placed in hanging pots so their leaves can grow and hang freely. 

Its scientific name is Chlorophytum comosum, they belong to the Asparagaceae family of the Plantae kingdom. They are characterized by green narrow leaves that can grow up to 8-18 inches tall and 0.2-1 inches wide. The entire plant itself can grow up to 24 inches tall.  

It is native to South Africa that has been naturalized to other parts of the world. This plant also has different types. And with that, their leaves vary as well. Some spider plants have green and white variegation, some have green and yellow leaves while some leaves are curly in texture. 

Spider plants are beautiful plants that are best placed in hanging baskets or pots. Aside from that, they are also great air purifiers that can surely remove pollutants in your home. 

These plants are also fast growers so they are easy to propagate. They produce spiderettes or spider plant babies that we can use for propagation and keep in our homes. More spider plants mean more air purifiers. 

Aside from this plant being a great air-purifying agent, they are also easy to take care of which means you will have no problem when you keep around 20 of them in your home. 

1. For Sunlight

The Spider Plant enjoys some nice bright indirect light. They can do well in consistent low indirect light as well, but the most color and variegation will come when the spider plant has more sun. If you put the spide plant in strong direct light the leaves will burn.

2. Humidity/Temperature

Spider plants are easygoing. They will be happiest in temps between 70-90F. They can grow in cooler temps if possible, but the healthies plants seem to be grown in this temp range.

3. Watering

When watering the spider plant, give the leaves and the soil a healthy drink. The roots of the spider plant can hold water for a long time, so it’s best to wait for it to dry before watering. Of course water it more when it is getting more light, and vice versa with low light. Since the roots hold a lot of water it can be easy to get root rot if you overwater them. So keep them in mind before watering them again.

4. Soil

Spider plants should be grown in a soil-based and well-draining potting mix. These plants do not like to be too dry or too wet. The best pot to be used in this type of plant are plastic pots for they are flexible and can quickly adapt to the growing roots of the plant. 

5. Fertilizer

The best time to give food to your plants is during the growing season. Although these plants don’t usually need much fertilizer, it is also good to give them some for healthier growth. 

6. Propagating

Spider plants are very easy to propagate, and it is simply to let the spider babies grow out until they heave grown roots that are at least two inches long.

7. Repotting

These plants may require repotting after a few years, one way to check is when you have seen that the roots are coming out of the drainage holes. A best practice is to put them in a pot that is slightly larger than their size to give them more space for their roots to grow. 

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