Spider Plant Care – 8 Things You Need to Know

Growing spider plants is surprisingly easy. That is why I like them so much. However, I’ve included a few tips and tricks that I’ve learned over the years on spider plant care. These make the Chlorophytum Comosum even easier to grow, and they will look better too.

Indoor Spider Plant Care for Growing Spider Plants Indoors

Easy Spider Plant Care: How to Keep Your Spider Plants Healthy

Spider Plant Light Requirements:

According to Bodie V Pennisi, Floriculture Specialist at the University of Georgia, adequate light is the most important factor to growing healthy plants indoors.

Spider plants prefer bright, indirect light. However, you want to keep them away from direct sunlight. Artificial light is OK.

In the right light conditions, you’ll notice that the variegation is more pronounced. Personally, I have observed that my outdoor plants in filtered light have a much brighter green color than the ones that sit on my kitchen windowsill, which receives less light.

What Temperature & Humidity is Best for Your Plants?

Temperature is another important factor. Between approximately 70 and 80 degrees F is ideal. That said, keep in mind that spider plants are quite tolerant and can do well in variety of different temperature ranges.

Virtually all houseplants do better with some level of humidity. Keep indoor plants away from heating vents and locate them near kitchen sinks or bathroom showers if possible. If you find that your plant is getting to dry, consider getting a spray bottle and occasionally misting it.

Watering Spider Plants…

Green Metal Watering Can

Watering needs will depend on the size of your plant as well as the light and humidity in your home. Typically, once a week is fine, but check your plant to make sure this is adequate. Also, spider plants prefer moist soil but also like the soil to dry out between waterings. Hence, don’t keep them waterlogged.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends a more frequent watering schedule as the spider plant is in its growth phase (the first year). After that, they suggest a more moderate watering schedule.

Best Soil Conditions for Plant Roots:

Pile of Potting Soil for Growing Healthy Spider Plants

Choose a potting medium that provides good aeration as well as hold water. This can often mean a combining a mixture. I often add perlite and/or peat moss to gardening soil when I am planting new off-shoots.

That said, I have successfully grown plantlets in organic tree & shrub soil without any problems. Just make sure that they have significant root growth before transplanting, and they should do fine.

How to Grow Spider Plants with Food/Fertilizer

The Spider Plant Product Guide from the Central Florida Research and Education Center states that fertilization is important with spider plants, yet not as crucial as with other species.

It suggests a fertilizer with a 3-1-2 ratio or a 19-6-12 fertilizer. I’ve also found that the Schultz All-Purpose Liquid Plant food works well too (and you can use it with other plants too). Fertilizer should not contain fluoride or boron.

Can Spider Plants Live in Water?

Spider plants are one of the species that can grow in water. However, they don’t do do well in water alone for long periods because they need additional nutrients.

Spider Plants in Shot Glasses

I’ve had some spider plant babies “planted” in water for several months, and they have done fine. If you decide to grow your spider plants in a vase of water, be aware that there will be maintenance required in concerning feeding and rinsing.

According to GardeningKnowHow.com, the key to successful “water growing” is to occasionally add liquid houseplant fertilizer or fish food, and then drain the water weekly to prevent salt build-up.

How to Divide/Repot a Spider Plant

Most people ask about propagating baby spider plants. But did you know that you can also split and repot adult spider plants to create additional plants?

Once again, the spider plant is very forgiving. It is not a problem if you end up cutting off some of the roots in the process.

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