Spider plants produce a rosette of long, thin, arched foliage that is solid green or variegated with white. These easy-to-grow houseplants look especially nice in a hanging basket and were a favorite in Victorian-era households.
During the summer, spider plants may produce tiny white flowers on long stems, as well as baby spider plants (offsets) called “pups.” The pups look like tiny spiders, hence the plant’s name!
Spider plants were once highlighted by NASA for their reported air-purifying ability, though a large number of plants would be required to reap any benefits in the home. Nonetheless, they are a classic and attractive plant to add to your space.
Despite the creepy-crawly name, the spider plant is among the most popular (and easiest to grow) of all hanging or trailing houseplants. While these exceptionally hardy plants will survive in less than perfect conditions, in perfect conditions they are stunning. A mature plant will form tight rosettes of arching leaves with a profusion of hanging plantlets on long stems, up to three feet, somewhat like a bushy green mane. Although there is a pure green variety, the most common variety seen in garden centers in the green-and-white striped ‘Variegatum.’ Mature plants have small white flowers.
PLANTING
- Grow in a soil-based, well-draining potting mix. Spider plants like even moisture; they don’t like to be too dry or too wet.
- Keep plants in bright to moderate indirect sunlight. Spider plants do not appreciate direct, hot sunlight, which can burn their leaves, causing brown tips and spots.
- Spider plants grow fairly quickly and can easily become pot bound. Plan to repot a spider plant about every other year.
- Spider plants can be grown outdoors as annuals during the summer. They look especially good along the edge of a container or bed, as long as they are kept out of direct sunlight.
How to Grow Spider Plants from Seeds
To successfully grow a spider plant from a seed, you will need to know when you can collect the seeds. Once the blooms start dying out, you will notice that they have been replaced with small green pods. These pods carry the seeds but don’t attempt to collect them until they have had some time to dry out. The best way to make sure that you can collect the seeds is to place a few paper towels under the plant. Once the pod dries up and begins to crack, the seeds will fall to the area that you prepared.
The seeds look like small flat seeds like those that you would find in a dash of pepper, but they will be black in color. Once you have the seeds, don’t wait to plant them because they will not keep well. Use a starter pot to place the seed about ½ an inch deep, cover it with the organic soil mix I mentioned, and wait for it to grow. Spider seedlings are fragile, so do not attempt to move them until they have three or four leaves.
CARE
- During initial growth, water occasionally; once fully developed (within one year), water moderately.
- In the spring and summer months, keep the soil moist to encourage growth. Do not let the soil dry out too much.
- Maintain average room temperature and humidity. Spider plants prefer temperatures between 55 and 80°F (13–27°C), which makes them a great indoor houseplant.
- Fertilize up to twice a month in the spring and summer, however, avoid overfertilization.
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