Growing a new spider plant in the house? Here’s a few care tips to help you get started with your Chlorophytum Comosum! First, it’s important to say that spider plants are very particular about how much water they are around on a daily basis. They don’t like their soil too moist, nor too wet in order to keep them happy. Tricky stuff, right? These plants are native to the coastal areas of South Africa, and do quite well when grown indoors and out. They can be planted directly into the ground and grown as perennials in the garden, but personally, I like to see how big I can grow them in their pot.
A popular plant in the late 1800s, spider plants have been around for a long, long time. They are ready growers that will shoot off runners with little “spiders” on them, thus coining their name. They produce long, thin leaves that can reach up to 2 feet long! They come in both a variegated version with white banding on the leaves, and a regular one that is completely green. The roots grow very readily, and can sometimes require frequent repotting.
These plants can do well with medium to bright light when grown indoors. Fertilize about two to three times during the growing season, one right as it’s getting warmer outside, and one at the end of the season to take it through winter. If your growth starts slowing down, it may need to be topped off with another feed towards the middle of the season to get it going again. It’s important not to over fertilize though, as it may cause leaves to scar and yellow if it’s left untreated.
A great plant to have, and the real fun with these is watching the ‘spiders’ grow out from the edge of the pot. All-in-all, it is one of the plants I least worry about, and seems to do fine on a weekly watering basis in a 4” pot. My 10” pot seems to need water about once every two to three weeks. If it’s any indication, I keep them about 2.5 feet from an eastern window. No wonder this plant has been around for so long, it’s incredibly adaptable to different growing situations, and with the detailed history of its cultivation it is one of the most interesting plants on the market to date.
If you feel like you just can’t get enough of your spider plant, propagation is quite easy! Simply find yourself a runner with a few ‘spiders’ on it, and take a cutting, plant it in some well draining potting mix, and maybe along with some perlite to help with soil compaction and aeration. Once planted, water it in and keep the soil lightly moist until you start seeing some growth out of the middle. It will start small, but in about a year you’ll notice it starting to get to the edges of its container!!
They typically will need to be repotted about every other year. Sometimes, if it’s growing well, it will need it once a year! This plant enjoys only a slight increase in pot size, as the extra soil can make the root systems too wet, causing rot. However, these plants can tolerate inconsistent watering, as they have thick roots that help them survive drier conditions. If you’re experiencing browning of the leaves, it may be caused by lack of humidity, too little water, but it can also indicate the plant has been over-fertilized.