Spider plants are amazingly easy to care for and great for interior decorating. I had one from 5th grade until I was in my late 20s- early 30s. You do the math. In all seriousness, they are a great plant to have! I want to say if it can live through my antics it is a great plant for those of you who might be apt to kill plants like I am.
Spider plants also grow tons of babies over time when they are properly taken care of. The babies make for excellent gifts to your friends and family for any occasion. Take one of the “pups” off that is ready to grow roots, put it in water, and it will sprout nice and long roots. It usually takes about a couple of weeks for roots to grow in water. Once the roots are nice and long they are ready for planting in fertile soil.
Spider plants also need low indirect light. Too much direct light can scorch the leaves. The more indirect light they have the stronger the stripes will show up on the leaves. Spider plants often have an off-white colored stripe on each side of each leaf. Your plant will tell you how much water is needed or if it was overwatered by the different shades of brown the leaf tips will turn. Let’s look at three interesting facts about the Spider Plant!
Spider Plants: Fact 1: When to Water and Fertilize
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The spider plant, as we said before, is very easy to take care of. But did you know that when the end of the leaves turns dry and crispy, it points to underwatering? That’s right, you need to water your plant when this happens. Preferably before this happens. However, the spider plant needs to be watered when about 50-75% of soil volume is dry. Overwatering your plant tends to lead to the leaves getting dark brown and floppy.
If you’re new at taking care of spider plants and are just now potting one, make sure you plant it in moist soil with good drainage. It is not picky on soil so long as it can drain. Put a saucer underneath the pot so water can drain out of it.
How frequently you water it should be based on the internal humidity and heat already in the house. Adjust as needed. Make sure one inch of soil is left to get dry to prevent root rot which happens when it stays too moist. A spider plant will thrive under tropical conditions
The growing season is from spring to fall so make sure to regularly water and fertilize your plant. A spider plant needs loamy, well-draining with a slight acidity to the soil. The pH balance should be between 6.0 and 7.2 to prevent root diseases. Use an all-purpose granular or water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season.
Spider Plants: Fact 2: Air Purifiers
Most of us know that trees help to give us oxygen but did you know that the spider plant is a natural air purifier? That’s right, a single plant can purify the air up to 80 square feet! That’s a lot of purifying. That’s not all! Scientific studies show spider plants can absorb chemicals such as formaldehyde and xylene from the air. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to inhale potentially harmful chemicals.
Spider plants are not the only plants known for purifying the air. Many plants can help purify the air in your home. Plants such as orchids, snake plants, Devil’s ivy, Chinese evergreen, and peace lily. These are just some of the plants. Other indoor plants that require low bedroom or bathroom lighting are bamboo palms, weeping figs, banana plants, and aloe vera plants that also purify the air.
Air purifying is essential to our well-being. Just imagine how much purer the air could be with several plants all at once! And it can all come from one plant, too. These “pups” as they are sometimes called, can be potted or it can be left on the vine until roots grow and then you can pot them.
As I said above when you can put the pups in water, that is only if you haven’t been able to leave the pups on the vine to grow roots. Put several around your house and breathe in the fresh air!
Spider Plants: Fact 3: Different Types of Plant
I found out in my research that there are different types of spider plants. The five most common types are listed below.
The Chlorophytum Comosum “Vittatum” or spider ivy is one type. This is the type that I have owned since the 5th grade and have had several children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It has been popular since the late 1990s. The most noticeable characteristics of it are light green striped leaves and a broad central stripe.
The second most common form of the spider plant is called “Bonnie” and has green leaves with a white stripe down the middle but the main difference is that the leaves curl and bend. Then you have a version called Chlorophytum Comosum “Variegatum,” which is a newer type of plant. The leaves tend to be green without a stripe and are thicker and wider.
The last two types are Chlorophytum Comosum which may have been the original spider plant, also known as the Hawaiian Spider Plant. The second and last type of plant is Chlorophytum Orchidastrum ‘Green Orange’ or “Fire Flash.”
However, this last one is not actually a spider plant! It is actually a different species although sold with the other spider plants. It is often taken care of like one and is in the same genus. So pick yourself out a plant and enjoy it!
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