Spider Plants
Plants that Detoxify the Air
The Spider Plants are one of the most common houseplants, as they are easy to grow and propagate. This plant is very tolerant of neglect, being able to thrive in nearly any type of condition. Spider plants have also been shown to improve the indoor air qality by removing toxins / heavy metals from the air.
Safety Around Pets:
Common Name: Ribbon Plant, Airplane Plant, Spider Plant
Toxic Principle: Non-toxic
(Ref.: OSU Center for Veternary Health Sciences)
Description:
Spider plants have long narrow leaves that are 8–15 in (20 - 40 cm) long and 0.2 - 0.8 in (5–20 mm) broad, which grow from a central rosette. Spider plants grow quickly to 2 to 2½ feet wide and 2 to 3 feet long when grown in a hanging basket. The Spider Plant also produces branched stolons with small white flowers and baby plantlets.
The long, grassy leaves are available in green or striped yellow or white. Long wiry stems appear on healthy plants with many small white flowers and miniature plantlets. If these new plantlets touch soil, they will root. The plantlets can be either detached to produce new plants, or left on to create a very full basket.
Planting & Care:
- Propagation: They can be propagated by splitting its main rosette, or more easily by removing plantlets from the stolons and potting them separately or putting them in a glass of water.
- Light: Spider plants grow best with bright indirect light. They can tolerate some direct sunlight, but midday light may scorch leaves.
- Feeding: Feed plants during periods of active growth with a water-soluble or a time release houseplant fertilizer. Follow the label recommendations.
- Temperatures: Temperatures should be between 65 and 75 ° F during the day and 50 to 55 °F at night are ideal. Move spider plants a few feet from windows to protect them from drafts during the winter.
- Watering: Spider plants should dry out briefly between waterings. Check their soil daily. A general-purpose potting soil is suitable for spider plants.
Problems:
- Indoors, plant diseases are very rarely a problem. Too much or too little water plus insects and mites are the main problems.
- Root rot usually results from a soil mix that does not drain quickly or overly frequent watering.
- Leaf tip burn is caused by too much fertilizer or water that is high in soluble salts.
- Low humidity and excessively dry soil may also cause brown leaf tips.
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