Spider Plants - No Green Thumb Required!
- Chlorophytum comosum
The definitive choice for novice houseplant owners, the Spider Plant is almost foolproof. A truly adaptable plant, the Spider Plant brightens any room with its lush, grasslike leaves and long tendrils (called 'racemes') of trailing "plantlets".
Identifying Several Popular Varieties of Spider Plant
Spider Plants are actually members of the lily (Liliaceae) family.
- comosum itself has all green leaves
- Mandaianum - green leaves with yellow center stripe
- Vittatum - recurved green leaves with a creamy, white center stripe
- Variegatum - green leaves edged in creamy white
Spider Plant Care
Spider Plants require minimal care. For optimal results, place Spider Plants in bright, indirect light. They are somewhat sensitive to fertilizer, so a few drops of a general liquid houseplant fertilizer (such a Miracle-Gro) in their water every couple of months is sufficient. As Spider Plants have a tuberous root system which effectively stores water, let the soil dry out a bit between waterings. Brown leaf tips may indicate too much watering and/or excessive fertilizer - adjust accordingly.
Propagating Spider Plants
Spider Plants are made for sharing and make a
lovely
housewarming
gift. To root your plantlets, simply place a pot of fresh, moist soil
next to your existing
plant. Press a baby plantlet from your main plant into the soil, but do
not break its connection to the "mother" plant. Keep the soil moist.
Within a couple of weeks your little plantlet should be firmly rooted
and you may now snip the connecting stalk.
Additional Information on Spider Plants
- Spider Plants are very effective at cleansing indoor air of pollutants. A great reason to cultivate several varieties!
- In zones 9-11, Spider Plants are actually grown outside and make an excellent choice for border plantings within your landscape.
If you've never had a houseplant, consider the Spider Plant as a first choice. You certainly won't be disappointed.
Please refer to our Houseplants Archive for additonal articles.