Spider plant: The foolproof houseplant anyone can grow
The spider plant is an easy-care, pretty houseplant that propagates effortlessly from its baby plantlets. This home-brightening beauty thrives in normal room temperature with minimal fuss.
Spider plants (Chlorophytum) are fuss-free houseplants that adapt easily to different environments, which makes them great for beginners and experienced plant lovers alike. The most common variety is the variegated spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), though the solid green spider plant (Chlorophytum capense) is also popular.
The variegated spider plant originates from and is native to South Africa. It has white-and-green striped leaves that grow in dense clumps. Long arching stems sprout from the plant’s base, blooming with small white flowers. After flowering, these stems develop baby plantlets that you can either snip off and plant or leave attached to create a cascading effect.
How to care for a spider plant
Planting
Plant your spider plant in a medium to large pot and standard, fertilized potting mix. Any quality houseplant or flower soil will work well.
Spider plants are happy in normal room temperatures but can handle cooler spots in winter—just keep them above 12°C (54°F).
Light conditions
Bright, indirect light brings out the best in spider plants. While they tolerate some shade, too little light leads to leggy, weak growth. On the flip side, harsh direct sunlight can scorch their leaves.
Watering
Give your spider plant a generous amount of water, then let it dry between waterings. The top inch of the soil should feel dry before you water again, especially during the winter months.
Fertilizing
Add slow-release fertilizer pellets or horn shavings to the soil, or feed with liquid fertilizer in the water. During the growing season (spring through fall), you can fertilize with each watering if you like, though this will speed up growth considerably.
Repotting
Spider plants grow quickly, with thick roots that soon fill their containers. When leaf tips start browning, it’s usually a sign your plant needs a bigger home.
Propagation
When repotting, you can divide the root ball into smaller chunks to create new plants. Even easier: simply snip off the baby plantlets that form on the stems and pot them up.
Read more:
How to care for Chinese money plant [in Finnish]
