BLESSINGS IN BLOOM: Spider Plant

By Kerry Peetz

It’s October and our nights are much cooler and our days are getting shorter. Before long we will have our first freeze and another growing season will be a distant memory. This time of year, even spiders are looking for a warmer place to live for the winter. While the interior of our home is off-limits to these creepy arachnids there is one “spider” that is beneficial to invite inside.

Spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum, is a well-known houseplant. It is popular with beginners, being easy to grow and propagate. It doesn’t need a lot of attention and is able to thrive in almost any environment. It gets its common name from the small plantlets produced on long trailing stems that vaguely resemble spiders dangling on a single thread of web.

Spider plant is native to South and West Africa. It’s exact introduction to Europe is not well documented but by the end of the 18th century it is said that the plant explorer Carl Peter Thunberg (1743-1828) was responsible. Thunberg was a student of Linnaeus who traveled in South Africa during 1772 and 1773. He was responsible for collecting seeds, bulbs and dried plant specimens for his botanical work.

This clump-forming perennial has narrow, strap-shaped leaves arising from a central point. The leaves can be solid green or variegated with lengthwise stripes of white or yellow. The leaves appear channeled or folded down the middle. Plants grow 12-15” tall. The thick, fleshy roots and rhizomes are excellent for storing water, allowing it to survive for extended periods of time and an inconsistent watering schedule.

Long, wiry stems up to 2 feet long are present, sometimes with a few small leaves. Small white, star-shaped flowers are produced at the ends of the stems. After flowering, more leaves are produced at the end of the stems, forming small plantlets. If a flower is pollinated, a leathery, 3-angled capsule-type fruit is produced that contains flat black seeds.

Spider plant thrives in medium to bright light. It does well with average humidity and cool to average temperature. Because our Colorado homes can be dry, a misting of leaves every once in a while may help prevent brown tips. Use a general-purpose potting soil when potting and keep in mind this plant does best when it’s slightly root-bound.

Allow soil to dry slightly between thorough waterings. Fertilizing every 3-4 months is usually sufficient, or feed more frequently using half strength fertilizer solution. Be aware that over-fertilized plants may not form as many plantlets and can also lead to tip browning.

Spider plant generally has few pest problems other than scale insects and mealybugs. Tip burn on the leaves is a common issue and can be caused from low humidity, excessively dry soil, salt accumulation and/or chemicals, particularly fluoride or chlorine, found in tap water. Using distilled or rainwater is also a practice that will help prevent tip browning.

This plant can be moved outdoors during summer months. Direct sunlight should be avoided as the sun will scorch the leaves. In our warmer climate, it makes a nice ground cover in partly shaded areas in the garden. It does well in most well-drained soils and should be brought indoors before the last frost. Spider plant is a good addition to containers with its grass-like foliage that provide a nice contrast to other foliage. It is quite beautiful in a hanging basket, where the long stems can hang down.

Spider plants are extremely easy to propagate by planting the “baby spiders” or plantlets that succeed the flowers in their own pots. Set the plantlet, still attached to the mother plant, on the surface of a pot filled with potting medium and allow it to root before severing the stem connecting it to the mother plant. A bent paper clip or piece of wire can be used to hold the plantlet in contact with the soil until it develops roots.

NASA studies have shown that spider plant is quite effective in cleaning indoor air by absorbing chemicals including formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and carbon monoxide. So, bring this “spider” inside and enjoy the fresh air!