Spider Plant Care Guide
About Spider Plants
Spider plants are great additions to any green space or garden. This pet-friendly plant is perfect for beginner plant parents that are ready to throw their hat in the green ring. Keep the spider plant out of direct sunlight and make sure not to over water it and you will set yourself up for success. This guide will bring you through all the steps of taking care of your spider plant.
-
Spider Plant, Airplane Plant
-
Chlorophytum Comosum
-
Asparagaceae family
-
Ornamental, Perennial
-
Great for Beginners
-
12-15” tall
-
Bright indirect light
-
Well-draining loamy soil
-
White flowers
-
Zones 9-11
-
Sub-tropical Areas in Africa, Asia, and Australia
-
Non-toxic to dogs and cats
Varieties of Spider Plants
There are around 200 species of spider plants in the Asparagaceae family. Most of them vary in size, color, and stripes. Some have curly leaves while others remain straight. The most common type of spider plant is the airplane plant. Below are some of Growthopedia’s picks for the best types of spider plants to have.
Pink Spider Plant
has beautiful pink flowers with pink outlined green leaves.
Hawaiian Spider Plant
this variation of spider plant is known for its darker green outlined leaves with yellow highlights.
Curly Spider Plant
known for its unique curly leaves that have hints of yellow and variegated white.
Airplane Plant
most popular type of spider plant with its flowering stems and green and white striped leaves.
Sunlight Requirements
Spider plants prefer to be in indirect sunlight, they do not tolerate direct sunlight very well. Symptoms of intense sun exposure include brown leaf spots, wilting leaves, and bacterial leaf blight. Always remember to avoid direct sunlight to keep those pesky bugs and unwanted diseases away!
Temperature Requirements
If you live in an area where temperatures are really cool or if you like to keep your air conditioning around 65 degrees, this may not be the plant for you. Spider plants prefer higher temperatures around 70 and 90°F. When temperatures drop outside of that range, your spider plant may experience stunted growth. If you have a love for spider plants and can’t sacrifice the A/C usage, maybe it's time to invest in a heat lamp.
Watering Requirements
When it comes to spider plants, you should always wait until the top few inches of soil are completely dry before watering. It’s important to maintain watering requirements of your spider plant to avoid browning, yellowing, and wilting leaves. Improper watering also leads to many unwanted pests and diseases.
Best Soil Type for Spider Plants
The perfect soil mix for spider plants is well-draining and loamy with a pH of 6.0-7.0. To make your own homemade potting soil for your spider plant, combine coconut coir, peat moss, perlite, pine park, and vermiculite for a perfectly nutrient enriched soil. Any potting mix that has peat moss from the store should also be good if you do not want to mix your own.
Can I keep my spider plant indoors or outdoors?
-
Maintain room temperature & humidity and you should be good to go. It’s much easier to control the climate for your spider plant indoors than outdoors, place your plant in an area that will receive moderate amounts of light.
-
Be weary if you live in an area where temperatures drop below 65 degrees. If you live in an area where temperatures do not fluctuate between seasons, it's best to keep your spider plant in an area that will receive indirect sunlight. Don’t forget to allow the soil to dry out in between waterings.
Re-potting Spider Plants
Spider plants grow relatively fast, so it's important to keep an eye out on when your plant needs to grow into a new pot. When re-potting follow these simple steps:
Trim off Dead Leaves: it's always good practice to remove any dying or dead leaves before transporting to a new pot, this will help limit the chances of attracting any pest or diseases.
Grab the New Pot: find a pot that is 2-4 inches in diameter larger than your existing pot.
Mix New Soil: grab potting mix or your homemade soil and place two inches of soil in the new pot.
Remove Spider Plant From Old Pot: gently grasp your hands around the base of the plant itself, flip it upside down and remove from the original pot while securely holding the plant.
Replant & Fill in The Gaps: place the naked spider plant on top of the two inches of dirt that you placed earlier and fill in the gaps with fresh potting soil. Never pack the soil and always keep it aerated.
Water Thoroughly: after any major change, you always want to water the plant to avoid shock or stunted growth.
Repeat the Process: spider plants tend to grow faster than other plants, so it's likely you will have to repeat this process for many years to come.
Spider Plant Propagation
The cutest thing about propagating spider plants is that baby spider plants are called “spiderettes”. There are many different methods to propagate spider plants, however, we’ve found best success with propagating newly cut spiderettes; in soil or in water.
The Soil Propagation Method
Grab a small pot with a drainage hole and some well draining soil. Use sanitized shears to safely remove a few leaves off your existing spider plant. Place the newly cut spider plant leaves in the soil and water until the soil is moist, not wet. Unlike a fully mature spider plant, a propagated spiderette requires consistently moist soil. Within a few weeks you will have a newly propagated plant.
The Water Propagation Method
This is a traditional way of propagating and it's one of my favorites because you get to watch the roots grow right before your eyes. With sanitized shears, safely remove a few leaves off your existing spider plant. Then grab a mason jar and place the cutting in the water. Replace the water every 4-5 days. Once you see root growth, you can then plant in a small pot with well draining soil.
Susceptible Diseases & Pests
Spider plants are susceptible to many pests and diseases, some of which include the following:
Root Rot
Leaf Burn
Bacterial Leaf Blight
Powdery Mildew
Thrips
White Flies
Frequently Asked Questions
-
According to the ASPCA, spider plants are non-toxic to dogs and cats.
Please visit the ASPCA for more information or talk to your vet for more information. -
Yes, spider plants are known to produce small white flowers depending on the time of year.
-
Brown tips mean that your spider plant is getting too much or not enough water. Always cut off the dying leaves and adjust your watering frequency.
-
Some researchers claim that spider plants clean indoor air by absorbing formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and carbon monoxide.
If you or any other person has a medical concern, you should consult with your health care provider or seek other professional medical treatment immediately.