The spider plant is one of the most adaptable houseplants around - and that is just part of the reason why they have become so popular. In many parts of the world they are grown outdoors, but here in the UK, they have become a staple indoor plant.
It's easy to see why they are loved all over the world - they seem to fuse together a feeling of the exotic, but there is also something homely and comforting about them. The ribbony green leaves, with a yellow or white stripe, and you may even be rewarded with tiny white flowers. They just look great in any home., and have done for decades
In this blog we are going to tell you everything you need to know about how to care for a spider plant, so one of these wonderful indoor plants can thrive in your home.
Are Spider Plants easy to care for?
Despite their delicate, yet striking, looks, indoor spider plants are surprisingly easy to care for. In fact there aren't many houseplants around that are easier to care for - they can cope with neglect, can go for up to several weeks without any water.
What we want to do in this guide, though, is not just help you keep your spider plants alive, we want to help you really make the most out of them. Get them looking their best and help you deal with any problems that may arise.
What are Spider Plants?
Spider plants were originally found in the coastal regions of Southern Africa. It's easy to see where their name came from - their long spindly leaves that stretch out a bit like spider's legs. Their scientific name is chlorophytum comosum, but it also has been called the airplane plant, the ribbon plant, spider ivy and 'hen and chickens' - which apparently refers to how easy it is for the parent plant (the hen) to propagate new plants (the chickens).
They have been popular as houseplants for a long time now, indeed they are seen as retro by many. Spider plants, like this curly spider plant, are perfect for keeping indoors because the look great, they thrive inside and they are incredibly easy to care for - which we will see now! Spider plant flowers usually appear as the plant matures - tiny white flowers that appear on the vines.
How to care for spider plants
You don't need much experience to be able to successfully care for a spider plant. If you have even a passing interest in plants, then you probably already know everything you need to know about spider plant care. Let's run through the key factors now:
We'll start with how often to water spider plants - while they need water, like all living things, they can go for a long time without any at all. In fact, they would much prefer to have no water than to have too much, so if you are unsure whether to water or not, it's probably best to leave it for another few days.
They way to check is to put your finger on the soil - if the soil is bone dry, it's time to give it a bit of water, just to make the soil moist. Avoid letting any water pool on top, and any that goes through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot should be removed from the saucer, or you run the risk of root rot.
When it comes to light, like many other indoor plants, the spider plant prefers bright, indirect light. Too much light may cause the leaves to turn yellow.
You'll probably want to place it on a shelf, to really show off the cascading leaves - the highlight of the plant's appearance.
The only other thing you should be aware of is humidity - the spider plants prefer a little moisture in the air. If it gets too dry, you may notice brown tips on the leaves. A little mist with water, and making sure they are away from your radiators should solve that problem.
Finally, as fast growing plants, you may need to repot your spider plant every now and then - move up to a slightly larger pot.
Here are the main points concerning spider plant care:
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Origins: Southern Africa
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How much light: Indirect light in a bright room, away from direct sunlight
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Water requirements: When the top soil is dry - won't require as much in the winter when it grows at a slower rate, outside of growing season
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Humidity requirements: Not too dry, a little mist every now and then could help
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Soil requirements: Slightly damp compost
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Temperature requirements: Around 14°C to 25°C, minimum 10°C
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Pruning requirements: Prune a little in early spring to control growth - remove any brown leaf tips or dead leaves.
Spider Plant Propagation
It is surprisingly easy to grow spider plants. They produce flowers, which act as small baby 'spiderettes', on the end of the stems. All you need to do is remove these spider plant babies from the mother plant, and leave them in water until roots develop. When that happens, put your baby plants in moist compost - and your new plant will start to grow!
You can leave the spidettes on mature plants if you have the space - you can put the baby spider plants in soil while still attached to the mother plant, and remove it once you see that roots have developed.
Create your own indoor jungle with Prickle
A spider plant is just one of the amazing indoor plants that you can use to create your dream setup at home - we have a whole host of other plant collections that come in all shapes and sizes, and plenty of plant pots too! Have a look through and pick our some of your favourites.
For more gardening tips, or if you have any questions for us, you can ask us anything gardening related via social media @prickplantsuk or email contact@prickleplants.co.uk - we'd love to hear from you.