Spider Plants, also known as a Ribbon Plant, are stunning plants that reproduce themselves in a decorative form. This guide will teach you how to grow Spider Plants as well as how to care for them. Everything you need to know to grow a beautiful Spider Plant is listed below.
Scientific Name:
Chlorophytum
Common Names:
Spider Plant
Green Spider Plant
Ribbon Plant
Description:
Spider Plants are beautiful easy to grow plants that are most commonly grown indoors. Their strong, foliage arches to create spreading, green leaves,. Spider Plants are loved for their beautiful foliage as well as there production of stolons which will develop plantlet clusters that can either be snipped and planted or left on the plant for many years. The plant is very attractive with or with out the plantlets.
Spider Plants come in green or variegated. Variegated is the most common, sought after Spider Plant. Nearly anyone can grow Spider Plants because they are easy to grow, will tolerate drought, cold, heat and are easy to maintain. Not to mention they grow rapidly. Best of all they are effective in freshening and purifying the air.
Flowers:
Spider Plants do grow flowers occasionally but, are better known for their attractive plantlets. Allow multiple stolons and plantlets to drop for a very desirable effect.
Elements:
Light: Prefers some shade or diffused light. Does well indoors. No direct sunlight.
Temperatures: Does well in day temperatures of 60-75 degrees F and nights as cool as 45 degrees F.
Water: Partly dry to dry. Allow soil to dry in between waterings.
Care and Maintenance:
Spider Plants are great for beginners or even the most experienced growers. There are a few things to keep in mind when growing Spider Plants. Spider Plants will tolerate many elements. Heat, cold, and drought are all tolerable but Spider Plants should still be cared for properly when possible.
Be sure to water Spider Plants often during rapid growing seasons. They will tolerate drought but will cease dropping plantlets until proper watering reoccurs. Using water with Fluorides can cause leaf tip damage so if you are using city water you may want to use rain water collected in a bucket ourdoors for watering.
Avoid direct sunlight when growing Spider Plants as the leaves will burn. Fertilize every 4-8 weeks to insure proper nutrients for growth. Spray with tepid water occasionally to clean the plant.
Repot as needed using and potting soil that does not contain perlite. Limestone can be added to reduce acidity. If Spider Plants are not as needed. If left in a small container, their roots will burst the container.
Fertilizing:
Fertilize every 4-8 weeks at recommended strength.
Propagation:
Propagate by dividing or planting plantlets. When planting plantlets use potting soil that does not contain perlite.
Common Pests, Problems and Diseases:
Leaf tip damage: Caused by Fluorides in soil.
Whitefly
Spider mites
Scale insects
