Spider Plant

Chlorophytum Comosum     Origin: South Africa

With long, thin green leaves that spiral out in rosette form, these South Africa natives look like small, bushy palms. Spider Plants are known for being easy to care for, and they’re also great air purifiers, absorbing common toxins like formaldehyde and xylene.

Common Issues

Leaf discoloration: Most often a result of improper watering or very low humidity. This is not reversible damage but can be removed with scissors and a careful hand.
Reddish-brown tips: This may be an issue of excess fluoride in your water. Consider using distilled water or collected rainwater moving forward.

Light: These plants grow best in bright indirect light and will favor eastern or western exposures in the home. That being said, they are quite resilient and can survive for years in low light as long as watering is reduced accordingly.

Water: These plants have minimal, slow-growing roots that need to dry out slightly between waterings. Water your plant only when the top two inches of soil are dry to prevent root rot.

Humidity: High humidity keeps the Spider Plant's foliage looking lush. Consider boosting the humidity around yours with a humidifier or pebble tray.

Growth: These bushy plants are around 1.5 feet tall and 2 feet wide when fully mature. Their leaves grow in tight rosettes, with long branches that carry small white flowers and “pups” for propagation.

Soil: These plants do best with good drainage, so adding bark or perlite to a general potting mix is best. Spider Plants have a small root ball and are almost constantly growing, so a mild slow-release fertilizer should only be used once or twice a year.

Temperature: Keep temperatures between 65-85°F for best growth.

Repotting: Gently tip your Spider Plant on its side and remove as much of the old soil as possible from its roots. Make sure that the new pot is the same size or only slightly larger than the old one.

Extra TLC: Keep your plant away from chilly drafts and windows. Spider Plants are from the tropics of Africa and will be damaged by the cold.