How to Care for Spider Plant?

Spider plant grows well in almost any environment and any climate. It does not matter in the bathroom, bedroom, on the table, bookshelf or even the kitchen! If you are new and do not have enough experience in caring for plants, choose spider plants. Continue reading this article in TooPlant in order to learn more about how to grow and care for Spider plant.

Introduction of Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Before addressing how to care for spider plant, please allow us to give you a brief introduction about this houseplant.

Spider plant is one of the most adaptable houseplants. The important thing about spider ivy is that it is easy and hassle-free to maintain. This houseplant is also very popular due to its purifying properties. The spider plant is one of the air purifying plants. This issue has made choosing this houseplant a choice for the benefit of the health of the people in the house.

Spider Plant is native to tropical and southern Africa. In addition to all the benefits of the plant, it also grows fast. So if you want to have a plant that you can clearly feel the change over the days, the beautiful spider plant is right for you.

In this article, we want to provide you with information about how to care for spider plant, so stay tuned with Tooplant.

Types of Spider Plant: How many varieties of spider plants are there?

There are different species of Spider plant including:

Chlorophytum comosum ‘Vittatum’

It is one of the most common species of spider plant. The middle part of the leaves is white and the edges are green.

Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’

It is one of the most popular species of spider plant. This species has green leaves with white margins. Variegatum and Vittatum are similar and their leaves are inverted.

Chlorophytum comosum ‘Zebra’

The zebra species is quite similar to Variegatum; But it has a much lighter yellow color on the leaves.

Care for Spider Plant

In this part, we will focus on the most important aspects which you need to take into consideration while treating this houseplant. The best methods of how to look after a spider plant include as follows:

Spider Plant Light Requirements: What light is best for Spider plant?

Light is among the first important issues to care for spider plant. As we said, the spider plant can tolerate light fluctuations, but in general, the spider plant prefers indirect and bright sunlight to be fresh.

With enough light, the streaks on the surface of the leaves become more beautiful and prominent. Never expose the spider plant to direct sunlight, as it will burn its leaves.

Spider plant is a happy and lush plant that grows in both harsh and excellent conditions.

So, as shown above, light plays a significant role to care for spider plant.

Spider Plant Watering: How often should you water a spider plant?

In the rest, concerning the tips of caring for a spider plant, it is better to know that water the plant well enough, but be careful not to overwhelm it. Excessive wetting of the soil will cause root rot. Allow the soil to dry well between each watering of the spider plant. Therefore, watering is another important aspect in order to care for spider plant.

If you notice that the tips of the leaves turn brown, the water you use to water the plant is probably high in a fluid. Excess fluoride can accumulate in the soil and interfere with plant function. If this happens, let the water stand overnight in a container without a lid to remove excess chlorine and fluoride.

If the leaf surface veins fade, meaning the plant is thirsty, water it well until excess water comes out from under the pot, in which case the spider plant will regenerate quickly.

Spider plant is a thirsty plant, but it can make you forget about watering, and it is not a hardy plant. Normally this plant needs watering once a week but this time may be more or less in different seasons and climatic conditions.

Water the Spider plant in proportion to the temperature and incoming light. Like most houseplants, this plant hates overwatering. Pay attention to the soil of the plant to know the exact time of watering. Before watering, pay attention to the plant soil. If the soil is still wet or damp, it should not be re-watered. Instead, you should wait for the soil to dry, and then it is time to re-water.

In this way, to care for spider plant, watering is considered to be of great significance.

Spider Plant Soil: What is the best soil for a spider plant?

Intending to care for spider plant, the other crucial matter is soil. This plant can be planted and grown in different soils. Spider plant needs heavier soil due to its plump and fleshy roots. The point that is important for the soil of this plant is its proper drainage.

For this houseplant, a mixture of 50% garden soil and 50% sand and compost soil is the most suitable soil. For better soil drainage, some sand can be added. Alkaline soil will be very useful for the growth of this plant.

Thus, it can be said that, soil is another basic and important issue so as to care for spider plant.

Spider Plant Temperature Tolerance

Now, we come to temperature which is assumed to be principal to care for spider plant in addition to light, watering and soil that are mentioned above.

Spider plant prefers daily temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees. At night, temperatures above 12 degrees are ideal for it.

Spider Plant Humidity: Does Spider Plants like humidity?

Moisture is another thing which we need to inevitably pay attention to when talking about how to look after a spider plant.

Humid environments are ideal for this plant, and low-humidity environment causes the Spider plant not to perform well. Sometimes a little more moisture is enough to get this plant back to normal.

The tips of the leaves turning brown is also a sign of excessive dryness of the air. To combat dry air, wet the plant regularly with a spray full of water. You can also use a water tray with pebbles and place the pot exactly on the pebbles (not water). Using humidifiers or placing plants in the bathroom are other ways to increase humidity.

Therefore, please do not forget to take humidity into consideration in order to care for spider plant in the best way.

Spider Plant Fertilizer: What is the best fertilizer for a spider plant?

When you want to care for spider plant, one of the important questions that may come to your mind is “what is the best fertilizer?” In what follows, we will address how to fertilize this plant:

In spring and summer, fertilize the plant more than twice a month. Of course, be careful not to confuse the plant with too much fertilizer. Excessive fertilization causes the leaves to turn brown.

In autumn and winter, the growth rate of the plant naturally slows down, so you do not need to fertilize the plant in these seasons.

Always make sure the soil is moist before fertilizing the plant. Fertilizing the plant will burn the roots if the soil is dry. For more freshness of the plant, it is better to strengthen it with liquid fertilizer for houseplants.

As a result, we could say that fertilizer is regarded as one of the fundamental issues when someone wants to care for spider plant.

Spider Plant Toxicity: Is spider plant poisonous to cats, dogs and humans?

In order to care for spider plant, toxicity is considered to be a major issue because it directly relates to your health especially children.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, spider plant is non-toxic to dogs, cats and humans. So, you can safely keep this plant at home because no danger threatens you and your pets.

This plant does not contain toxins or dangerous elements that are harmful to animals or humans. In any case, this plant is not edible, and of course, it is obvious that eating a large number of its leaves can cause problems in the digestive system.

Spider Plant Repotting: How to repot spider plant?

If you want to know how to repot a spider plant, it is necessary to know that spider plant grows rapidly, and it is recommended to change the pot to a larger size annually from late winter to early spring. When moving, be careful not to damage the roots of the plant. As mentioned, the best time to repot is spring, when you can do all kinds of spider plant propagation methods at the same time.

If you notice the spider plant growing too much and the roots coming out of the holes in the bottom of the pot you will need to repot and use a larger pot. Do this gently in the spring so that the plant does not receive a mechanical shock from the displacement. When repotting, make sure there are enough holes in the bottom of the new pot to drain excess water and drain properly.

In the above section, we sought to provide you with the necessary information on how to repot a spider plant point by point, hoping that it could be useful.

Spider Plant Pruning: How to prune spider plant?

Another thing to keep in mind when caring for a spider plant is pruning it. If for some reason the leaves of the Spider plant turn completely brown, you should act immediately. Remove all these leaves from the plant. Do not waste time, because these leaves will no longer turn green.

Do this with sharp scissors. Clean the blades with alcohol between each time you cut. If the number of these leaves is large, it is better to remove them in several steps to prevent shock to the plant. At each stage, separate about 20% of them from the Spider plant so that the leaves are fresher, more and better.

Spider Plant Propagating: How to propagate spider plant?

When you want to care for spider plant, another important question that may come to your mind is “how to propagate it.”

A mature Spider plant produces sprouts in the lower part of its stem. If you want to have another spider plant, you have to carefully cut these small sprouts with a sharp knife and put them in a pot with moist soil. After planting, water the young plant well.

Another way is to put this sprout in a glass full of water. After one to two weeks, the bud will take root and you can transfer it to a pot full of fresh soil.

Propagation of spider plant by Seeds

1. Prepare cup pots for the number of small seedlings that have appeared on the old flowering stems.
2. Pour the appropriate soil mixture into these pots.
3. Place pots containing suitable soil next to the mother plant and place the ends of the seedlings on the soil surface of the pots.
4. Pour a little soil on the connection of the seedling to the flowering stem.
5. After germination, cut the rooted seedling from the mother plant.
6. Now, place the pots containing the seedlings in a cool shade for 10 to 15 days.
7. Then move to the main location in your home.

Propagation of spider plant by cuttings

1. Remove the mother plant from the pot.
2. Divide the plant into several sections from the crown, with a sharp knife or garden shears.
3. Plant each part in a pot with the right soil composition.
4. Place the pots in a cool, shady place for 10 to 15 days.
5. Finally, move your plant to its original location at home and enjoy it.

Common Pests and Diseases

Some pests and diseases attack the spider plant, which we have described in this section:

Common Pests

Spider mites are sometimes seen on this plant, which results in yellow leaves and spider webs under them. The warmth and dryness of the air contribute to the spread of spider mites.

Bedbugs and aphids can also sometimes attack this plant, both of which feed on the sap of the plant, causing the leaves to turn yellow and weaken, and if the activity of the plant leaves fall intensely. These two insects also produce honeydew, which makes the surface of the leaf sticky. The bedbugs are most active on the surface below the leaves and near the roots.

Thrips is another pest that feeds on different parts of the leaf, causing the leaves to deform and tangle, forming silver or white spots on the leaf area.

Treatment: Systemic pesticides can be used for pests.

Common Diseases

Bacterial and fungal leaf spot diseases are among the diseases of this plant that cause brown or black spots on the leaves.

Root rot caused by Pythium and Rhizoctonia are other diseases of this plant that lead to wilting of leaves and the whole plant and eventually its destruction.

Treatment: In the case of diseases, prevention is better than cure. The soil should be well-drained and never wet or waterlogged. Do not wet the leaves of the plant during watering.

Systemic pesticides can be used for fungal diseases.

Caring for Spider plant: Common Problems With Spider plant

After a description of taking care of a spider plant, we will explain the problems and their solutions:

Why Are Spider Plant Leaves Turning Yellow?

As “leaves turning yellow” is one of the common problems that you may face when you want to care for spider plant, we will try to describe the reasons and the ways to solve it in details.

The most important reason for the yellowing of the spider plant leaves is improper light. If the plant lives in very little light and does not receive the amount it needs, its leaves will start to turn yellow.

Why Is My Spider Plant Losing Color?

Over-fertilization or over-supply of nutrients to the plant can cause the leaves of the spider plant to discolor.

Why Are Spider Plant Leaves Turning Brown?

The spider plant does not like being in too wet soil or too wet or too dry space and is damaged. One of the signs of this damage is the browning of the plant leaves. In this case, the leaves of the plant become soft, dark and brown and cause the death of the plant in the long run.

The most common cause of spider plant leaves turning brown is overwatering of the plant, because with overwatering, the oxygen supply to the roots will decrease and the plant roots will rot over time. As the roots die, the absorbance of water and nutrients, and their transfer to other parts of the plant become difficult. On the other hand, if the amount of watering is very low, again, not enough water reaches the leaves, and this does not always mean that you are watering your plant less. For example, if the plant pot is exposed to the house heating, the soil moisture evaporates faster and the soil in the pot dries quickly.

What to do about Spider Plant leaves turning brown

If your plant suffers from overwatering, reduce the amount of watering and water the plant whenever 10 cm of the soil surface dries. To be more sure, remove the plant completely from the pot and check its roots, and if the roots are rotten, prune them to a healthy point. When removing the plant, if you see that the soil is very wet and does not perform well in draining, it is recommended to change the soil of the pot. Make sure the plant pot has drainage holes to prevent excess water from accumulating. If your plant has leaves with brown tips due to lack of water, you only need to show a little more love to your plant and water it at the right time. The best way to water houseplants is when the upper half of the soil surface is dry (watering time), and as soon as excess water comes out of the bottom of the pot (watering volume), the watering process should be stopped immediately (excess water exit). It will take about 20 to 25 seconds for excess water to drain from the bottom of the pot. Thus, if you are faced with the spider plant brown leaves, there is no need to worry because you can easily solve the problem by watering properly.

Since spider plant brown leaves is another common problem that you may face when you want to care for spider plant, we tried to describe the reasons and the ways to solve it in details.

How do you treat leaf rot on a spider plant?

Sometimes the middle of the plant may start to rot from the base of the leaves. The cause of this rot is excessive watering.

For treatment, stop watering immediately and resume watering after the soil dries. Note that this time do the watering at longer intervals and in smaller amounts so that the plant does not rot.

Why do my Spider plant’s tips of leaves burn?

One cause of burning the Spider plant’s leaf tips is direct and intense light. If the plant is exposed to direct light, move it to a bright place with indirect light.

Poor watering can also cause this disease. Water the plant three times a week in summer and once a week in winter. Of course, this number is a limit and you can determine the watering time by examining the plant soil. Drying of the soil shows you that your plant needs watering.

Why is my spider plant turning transparent?

This complication occurs due to the cold weather. Move the plant pot to a warmer environment to solve the problem.

Why did my spider plant lose its stripes?

This problem occurs due to the low light environment. Move the plant to a bright place away from direct sunlight.

Why are the tips of the leaves of my spider plant dying?

It may be due to the high temperature. Move the pot to a cooler place. Before transferring, you can place the pot in a pan of water for a quarter.

Does Spider plant bloom?

Yes, Spider plant can produce small white flowers. This plant has long and slender stems that sometimes reach up to one meter, sometimes with small leaves on which small white flowers bloom. Under suitable conditions, these flowers can remain on the plant for up to three weeks.

Why do Spider plants not bloom (How to get spider plant to bloom)?

If your spider plant does not bloom, you probably blame the poor lighting. High light or low light can prevent flowering in spider plant. This plant needs different light in different seasons to be able to flower.

Therefore, it should stay in the light longer in summer and shorter in winter.

Can you grow spider plants in water?

Many plants grow easily in water for a period of time like Pothos and spider plant. Propagating plants by cuttings is an easy way to grow your favorite plants. These cuttings quickly take root in just a glass of water. After rooting, the new plant needs nutrients to grow.

Water alone is unlikely to support the growth of cuttings for a long time. The main nutrients come from fertilizer. However, when the plant is grown in water, the risk of burning the roots from the salts in the fertilizers may occur.

Growing spider plant in water is the first step in growing a new plant, but it is not a sustainable system. Spider plants produce small seedlings at the end of their stems. These seedlings can be separated from the main plant and rooted as separate plants. The best way to propagate the spider plant is to cut the seedlings with clean, sharp scissors from the main plant. Before placing the seedlings in water, use unsalted water or put the water in a glass for a day to settle the salts, then put the spider ivy in it.

Fill a glass with chlorine-free water and put the seedling in water so that its leaves are out of the water. Place the seedlings in indirect light to form roots. This is a relatively fast process. Frequent water changes are essential for the growth of the spider plant.

Spider plant does not need fertilizer when the seedling has small roots in water. However, as the root system expands, the plant will have needs. You can use liquid fertilizers such as fish emulsion or diluted fertilizer for houseplants. Fertilize the spider plant every month, but be careful to change the water every week to prevent the plant from absorbing salt.

Growing spider plant in water can be a bit tricky. It must be well taken care of. If the leaves of the spider plant are immersed in water, it will cause them to rot. The stem may also loosen and not grow further.

Instead of planting the Spider plant in water, it is better to plant it in soil. Putting the spider plant in water limits its growth potential. If you are determined to plant the spider plant in water, use two wooden sticks to prevent the leaves from falling into the water.

You can also use narrow-mouthed glasses to prevent the leaves from entering the water. The only part that needs to be in the water is the roots.

Change the water regularly, but do not use tap water because it contains salts. Rainwater is a good option to protect the sensitive roots of the spider plant against excessively acidic or mineral waters. Remove the rooted plants and place a thick layer of washed pebbles at the bottom of your container.

Fertilize the plant every month, but wash the glass and the pebbles inside it weekly to prevent the plant from absorbing the salts.

If the spider plant turns yellow, take it out of the water, wash the root system, and plant the roots in good soil. By doing this, the plant will continue to grow easily and without any trouble.

Do Spider plants really clean the air of pollutants?

The Spider plant purifies the air well and cleans it of pollutants such as formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.

Do you agree with us that this plant is the best in the world?!

Infographic Of How To Care For Spider Plant

In this article, we tried to explain to you in an infographic the essential tips on how to look after a spider plant, so that you can briefly and usefully learn the methods of caring for this plant.

In The End

In this article, we tried to provide you with the necessary information about the methods of caring for a Spider plant.

However, if you have any questions regarding this indoor plant or you need to get advice from our houseplant experts, please share your questions with us through the comments section below.