Despite being acclimated to dry climates, the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is not a real succulent. Its roots are designed to draw in water and…
What does a spider plant entail?
The Chlorophytum comosum, sometimes known as the spider plant, is one of the most popular and well-known indoor plants. It is especially well-liked by beginners because it is simple to grow and propagate, tolerant of neglect, and able to flourish in almost any environment. It gets its common name from the little plantlets produced on long trailing stalks that loosely resemble spiders.
The narrow, strap-shaped leaves of this clump-forming, perennial, herbaceous plant are produced from a central point and are indigenous to coastal South African regions. The leaves might be pure green or variegated with white or yellow streaks running lengthwise. The leaves don’t appear to be flat; rather, they have a channel or fold along the centre. Plants get 12–15 inches tall. It can withstand irregular watering thanks to the rhizomes and large, fleshy roots that adapted to store water.
Although they can appear at any time of year indoors, long, wiry stems up to 2 feet long are sometimes generated, along with a few small leaves, especially in response to short days and long, uninterrupted nights for at least three weeks. At the terminals of the stalks, little white, star-shaped flowers are produced. More leaves are formed at the ends of the stems after flowering, creating tiny plantlets. If a flower is pollinated, a leathery, triangular capsule-shaped fruit with flat, black seeds develops.
In homes or businesses, formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and carbon monoxide can all be removed from the air by using spider plants, according to studies.
In a year-round indoor environment with medium to bright light, spider plants are relatively simple to grow. Despite being able to handle warmer circumstances, it thrives in settings of average humidity and cool to average temperature. Use a general-purpose potting soil or soilless medium. When slightly pot-bound, plants thrive and produce plantlets at their best. They require periodic repotting because they grow swiftly and the roots can easily get overly crowded.
Between thorough waterings, let the soil slightly dry out. It’s normally sufficient to fertilize every three to four months, or you can feed more regularly by using a fertilizer solution that is only half as strong. Be mindful that plants that receive a lot of fertilizer might not produce as many plantlets and that too much fertilizer might cause tip browning.
Other than scale insects and mealybugs, spider plants rarely suffer from pest issues. Tip burn of the leaves is a frequent issue with numerous potential causes. Brown leaf tips can be caused by low humidity, overly dry soil, salt buildup, and/or pollutants, particularly fluoride or chlorine, in tap water. Avoiding tip browning by using distilled or rainwater is a good idea. Root rot can be caused by overwatering or planting in soil that is poorly drained.
In cool climes, this plant can also be grown outside as an annual. After the last frost, it should be bedded out because it thrives in most well-drained soils. With its grass-like foliage that contrasts nicely with other foliage types, spider plants make a fantastic accent to containers. Because the stems can hang down, it works pretty nicely in a hanging basket. They require intense light when growing outside, but too much sun could cause sunburn. They create a beautiful ground cover in partially shaded garden spaces in warmer regions.
By placing the “spiders” or plantlets that succeed the flowers in their own pots, spider plants can be propagated quite easily. When the plantlet has rooted in a pot filled with soilless potting medium while still attached to the mother plant, cut the stem that connects the plantlet to the mother plant. The plantlet can be kept in contact with the soil until it forms roots by using a wire or a bent paper clip. Alternately, choose a plantlet that has already begun to form roots and pot it. Furthermore, larger plants can be divided. They can also be produced from seeds, but the seedlings won’t always have the parent plant’s exact leaf color.
Several types include:
- ‘Milky Way’ has leaves with large, white to cream centers and green edges, giving it a noticeably lighter appearance than other cultivars.
- The dark green leaves of “Vittatum” have a broad, creamy white stripe running down the middle of each leaf. Compared to green varieties, it often grows more slowly.
- The somewhat broad, green leaves on “Variegatum” have white edges. Compared to other cultivars, this one often produces fewer plantlets.
- The middle leaf vein of the plant known as “White Stripe” has a thin white to cream line that gets thinner with age. Instead of being green as they usually are, the flower stems are cream to yellowish.
Do spider plants require soil with succulents?
The best potting soil for spider plants is one that retains moisture but also drains effectively. They favor a soil mixture with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0, which is slightly acidic. Spider plants grow well in a soil mixture made up of 4 parts pine bark fines, 1 part perlite, and 1 part peat moss/coco coir.
What classifies as a succulent?
Looking to expand your collection of plants with curly leaves? The Curly Spider Plant is surprisingly just the beginning! Here are some more plants to add some swirls to your house.
- Ponytail Palm: Technically, this palm tree is neither a palm nor a tree. It belongs to the succulent plant family and is a well-liked indoor plant. This plant has a bulbous trunk that collects water and long, hair-like leaves that emerge like a “ponytail” from the trunk.
- The Crassula Undulata, often known as the curly jade plant, is a distinctive succulent with wavy blue-green leaves. This plant is small and compact and requires little maintenance. No matter where they are planted, it may thrive in a variety of situations and will always draw attention.
- String of Pearls is a succulent that cascades over the sides of hanging baskets and planters with long, trailing stalks. On the stems are sphere-shaped leaves. This plant is extremely unique in every way.
- Watermelon Peperomia: The name comes from the fleshy leaves, which resemble watermelons. This describes something spherical and green with lighter green (and occasionally white) stripes. They have purple stems as well. Wherever it sits in the house, this plant always looks beautiful and is simple to grow.
Should I remove my spider plant’s young ones?
Spider plants can grow to a maximum diameter and length of 2 1/2 to 3 feet (up to 1 m) under ideal conditions. Consequently, trimming spider plants on occasion is beneficial. This is typically carried out in the spring or, more frequently, the summer.
Spider plants can be kept at a more desirable and controllable size and have their general health and vigor restored through pruning. Additionally, when the plant expends a lot of energy producing more offspring, the more fertilizer and water it needs. Consequently, the spiderettes had to be eliminated as well. These can then be used to create more plants, which root in a few of weeks when placed in moist soil or water.
How should an indoor spider plant be cared for?
One of the simplest indoor plants to grow, even for beginners, is the spider plant. Additionally, it’s one of the most fascinating. With the additional benefit of even longer branches producing plantlets that can be rooted and divided from the parent plant, it has long, narrow leaves that grow in rosettes and hang over the edge of the pot.
Simple requirements for spider plants include:
- Place the plant in a room with bright to moderate light and a temperature that is cozy for everyone.
- Keep the soil just moist enough. In the spring and summer, watering once a week is adequate; throughout the winter, let the soil dry out a bit more before watering. Spider plants are among the houseplants that are susceptible to fluoride in tap water. For the plants, think about utilizing rainwater or distilled water.
- Utilize a balanced houseplant fertilizer as directed by the manufacturer every two to three weeks.
Are coffee grounds palatable to spider plants?
The spider plant benefits from occasional watering with dilute coffee, which helps them achieve their ideal soil pH of 6.1 to 6.5. One part coffee to three parts water is the suggested ratio for coffee and water.
Should I prune my spider plant’s brown tips?
No, you are not required to remove the brown tips, but you are welcome to do so. The plant is not harmed or damaged by brown tips on their own. They are just dried-out, sometimes papery to the touch, dead plant tissue that falls off when touched. The fundamental problem that is causing this can be resolved, but the old leaves won’t magically disappear.
Cut off the brown tips, borrowing a phrase from those who take care of office plants. Cut while doing so at an angle that resembles the leaves’ natural tip. The ends will dry out similarly to a wound that has been closed, although the amount of browning won’t be as obvious as the initially burnt tips.
What advantages does owning a spider plant offer?
Although they are simple to grow, spider plants still require a lot of light. They can also be grown in hanging baskets without any soil at all and typically only need water once or twice a month. Due to its incredible advantages, growing them not only makes your home beautiful but also cleaner.
The advantages of spider plants are as follows:
Air purification
You can use spider plants to purify the air in your house or place of business. They function by eliminating formaldehyde, a pollutant released from furnishings and construction materials.
This dangerous chemical is changed into safe carbon dioxide by the spider plant. A NASA study found that spider plants are among the finest plants for purifying the air.
According to studies, spider plants may remove up to 95% of pollutants that are frequently present in houses, including fuming solvents, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylenes, and ammonia.
When compared to other typical houseplants, the spider plant was first identified by NASA as being particularly excellent at absorbing airborne contaminants like formaldehyde.
Weeping figs (Ficus benjamina), peace lilies, English ivy, snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata), mother-in-tongue law’s cactus mosses, and two species of philodendrons were evaluated by NASA scientists in 1989, and they found that it outperformed all nine of them (Beaucarnea recurvate).
Increase humidity
Due to its ability to boost humidity in your area, spider plants are a fantastic addition to any home or business.
You’ll find that the windows have more condensation if spider plants are positioned close to an open window.
When they evaporate, the water droplets left behind after this plant has been watered create humidity for up to 12 hours. Spider plants frequently have a large number of leaves that offer shade over heated surfaces, which reduces moisture loss throughout the summer.
When indoor humidity is between 40% and 60%, the plant thrives, which is perfect for maintaining a humid environment in your house.
Indoor decoration
The addition of color and life to indoor environments is another fantastic advantage of spider plants.
A thick rosette of long, thin, arching leaves that are either green or white, or both, distinguishes spider plants. The plant looks bold and attractive, especially when it is hung in bouquets of flowers, due to the variegation of the leaves. It was typical in Victorian-era homes because of this.
By hanging spider plants from the ceiling, windows, or shelves in pots, they can be used to embellish indoor places like a living room or bedroom. They are also great for using as tabletop decorations.
Spider plants are edible
Because they are edible, spider plants are excellent for both indoor and outdoor gardens. Spider plants get their name from the way their roots spread outward from a central location. In low-moisture conditions, they develop fleshy, upright roots that spread outward and retain more water and nutrients.
Despite being uncommon among American farmers, the roots and leaves are both tasty. Spider plant leaves can be cooked as a side dish or added to salads. Furthermore, they have a mild flavor, which makes them ideal for blending raw into dishes like stir-fries, egg bakes, lasagna casserole recipes, green smoothies, and more.
Spider plants are therapeutic
According to one study, introducing spider plants to hospital wards helped patients feel less stressed. According to the study, patients who had a spider plant for at least two weeks experienced mood improvements and a decrease in cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone.
Because they have so many advantages, such as lowering stress, depression, and anxiety, spider plants are therapeutic. This benefit is related to the plant’s capacity to purge pollutants and absorb carbon dioxide as well as toxins like formaldehyde and xylene, thereby promoting a healthy living environment.
Clear airborne irritants
The spider plant can help remove airborne allergens including dust mites, pollen, mold spores, pet dander, and more, making it beneficial for persons with allergies or hay fever.
These poisons no longer produce allergy reactions when they are eliminated from the air. In this approach, spider plants function as air purifiers for the tiniest airborne pollutants that the majority of air purifiers and scrubbers are unable to eliminate from the atmosphere.
Spider plants absorb ozone
Three oxygen atoms make up the colorless gas known as ozone, which is produced when sunlight, water vapor, NOx (nitrogen oxide), and SOx (sulfur oxide), also known as oxides of nitrogen, react.
If breathed in at high amounts for a long time, it may be detrimental to human health. Ozone is not dangerous to people unless it is absorbed into water droplets, where it is then broken down.
Because they can breathe via their leaves and have a porous structure that allows for gas exchange, spider plants are able to collect ozone from the air. By creating brown stains on the leaves of the plant, ozone harms spider plants and lessens their capacity to photosynthesize.
In order for spider plants to adapt to their new environment and develop a tolerance for these dangerous chemicals, it is better if they had been nurtured in an ozone-free environment.
How frequently do I need to water my spider plant?
Because they are thirsty plants, spider plants are very understanding when you accidently overwater them. You should typically water your spider plants once a week. Check to ensure if the soil is dry before watering the plants. Wait another day and repeat this process until the soil is dry if it’s still wet. Even though the plant may be thirsty, it occasionally prefers for the soil to get dry.
In order to prevent overwatering your spider plant, it’s crucial to examine the soil. The spider plant bounces back swiftly after being damaged once, but continuing to do so will kill it. By keeping an eye on the soil’s moisture content, you may allow the spider plant to absorb the nutrients at its own rate.
When watering your spider plant, there is a very simple rule to keep in mind: first let it dry out a little, then water liberally.
Symptoms of overwatering your spider plant
Your spider plant will let you know right away if you unintentionally watered it excessively. Your spider plant will display a few signs of overwatering, which are pretty straightforward: the leaves will start to turn brown and slowly wither. If you notice this happening, stop watering, let the soil dry out, and then start up the irrigation system again. Within a few days, the plant should resume where it left off. It usually bounces back quite quickly.
Symptoms of underwatering your spider plant
Make sure the plant doesn’t go for days without water before letting the soil dry out. Your spider plant’s leaves will begin to turn a lighter shade if it doesn’t receive enough water. When your plant doesn’t get enough water, the leaves will lighten from their normal deep green color. This makes it very simple to determine whether your plant needs water.
Another sign of underwatering is when your spider plant’s leaves begin to curl up along their length.
If you’ve just watered your plant, wait at least another day before checking to see if it has unfurled its leaves once more.