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Spider Plants
Almost everyone knows Spider plants. They are one of the first plants most beginners try. They are so popular because they are easy to grow, have very few problems, and have those fascinating baby spiders dangling overboard as if they were letting themselves down on a web. Many people never notice that the little plantlets begin as small white flowers. Spider plants are botanically known asChlorophytum comosum, and from studies done by NASA, we know that they are very good at taking pollutants out of indoor air and adding oxygen. They come in plain green and two types of variegation, green with white margins and green with a white central stripe. At the Como Conservatory they are used as a ground cover under
many of the tropical plants. This is the way they grow in their natural habitat which is moist woodlands on every continent except North America and Europe. One potbound basket with a large collection of "babies" could furnish a wealth of free plantlets to do the job. They are vigorous and usually free of problems, but they do have one requirement that you should know about: they do not like treated tap water. They are sensitive to the chemicals and show it by developing brown tips on the leaves. Many people believe these brown tips are due to lack of water, but that is not so. They have roots adapted to water storage and prefer to dry out between waterings.
Tips for Growing Spider Plants
What are the light requirements for spider plants? They prefer medium to high light, but no direct afternoon sunlight. The variegated spider plants need more light than the plain green ones.
How much water do they need? Spider plants need to dry out between waterings. They have large, fleshy storage roots that store water, so don't overwater them. It can lead to rot.
Do they have any special temperature requirements? They are happiest in the same temperatures that make you comfortable. Just don't let the temperature go below 40ºF or they will be damaged.
Do spider plants need much humidity? Spider plants find our homes too dry in winter and need to be misted frequently indoors to prevent attacks by spider mites.
How much fertilizer do they require? They need to be fed during the spring and summer growing season with a liquid or water-soluble fertilizer such as Bachman's Excel Gro™.
What type of soil do they prefer? Spider plants need a good peat-based potting soil with some added loam for plant stability such as Bachman's Exeloam.
When should I repot my spider plant? It should be repotted whenever the fat whiteroots fill the pot and make watering difficult. Sometimes this might even be twice a year.
Will they need any grooming? Put the plant in the bathtub and give it a shower occasionally to refresh it.
Avoid leafshine. It will damage the leaves.
How are they propagated? Spider plants can be propagated by dividing the mother plant or planting the plantlets. Set a pot near the mother plant and pin a plantlet to the surface of its soil, water it and then treat it the same as the mother plant. When new leaves form on the plantlet, cut it free. If the mother plant is in a hanging basket, cut off a plantlet, pin it to the soil of the pot that will be its home. Water it well and put the pot in a plastic bag or under a plastic dome to preserve the humidity. Keep the new plant out of direct sun and ventilate it briefly each day to prevent fungus problems. When new leaves form, remove the cover.
Troubleshooting Problems with Spider Plants
My spider plant gets brown tips on the leaves no matter what I do. What is wrong? Spider plants are sensitive to the chemicals in tap water. They should always be watered with distilled water, rain water, reverse osmosis water, melted snow or water collected from a dehumidifier. Once you have changed the water source, all the new leaves should be normal, but you will have to trim the brown tips off the old leaves.
There are webs under the leaves of my plant and the leaves look dull and rough. What's happening to it?Your plant has spider mites. They attack when the air is hot and dry. Spray the plant with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. You may have to repeat the process after 3 or 4 days, and maybe a third time to regain control. Mist the plant more often to discourage their return.
Why are there brown scorch marks on the leaves? This is usually the result of using leafshine products on spider plants. They do not tolerate these products well.
My plant looks floppy and weak. What will help? It may need to be fertilized. When it is producing flowers or plantlets it should be fed every two weeks with a water soluble fertilizer such as Bachman's Excel Gro™.
Something has been eating the edges of the leaves. What can I do? The culprit is probably greenfly. Spray the plant with insecticidal soap or pyrethrum and repeat in two weeks. Cut off the damaged leaves at the soil line.
The plant is rotting in the center. Does it have a disease? Rot is caused by overwatering. Spider plants should be allowed to dry out before being re-watered. If rot has begun, the plant may die. You can try to salvage the plant by removing it from its container and dividing it. Discard the rotten part and repot the healthy parts in a clean container with new soil.
My spider plant is losing its variegation. How can I stop it? It needs more light. Move it to a brighter spot without direct sunlight. If you are using artificial light for the plant, lengthen the number of hours the lights are on to 12 or more.
Why have the leaves suddenly become transparent and soft? The plant has become too cold. Move it to a warmer area. If the roots didn't freeze, you may be able to trim off the damaged foliage and let it regrow.
All the baby spiders are on one side of the plant and the basket won't hang straight. What should I do?You could repot the plant and arrange the plantlets more evenly around it. Or you could simply cut off a number of the plantlets and turn the pot around so that flowering stalks will grow toward the other side. Once they are growing, turn the plant a quarter turn each week to prevent its becoming one-sided again.
Additional Bachman's Information
General Care for Indoor Plants
Watering Basics for Indoor Plants
Indoor Insect and Disease Problems
Signs of Trouble with Indoor Plants
Moving Plants In or Out
Potting Indoor Plants
Propagation of Indoor Plants
Recommended Products
Bachman's Excel Gro™
Bachman's Exeloam
Quallity Bachman's-Grown Plants
Bachman's 2008
