Growing Spider Plants Indoors - In Pots At Home

Introduction to Growing Spider Plants Indoors

Growing Spider plants indoors is easy and it is considered one of the most adaptable of houseplants. Spider plants are also be called Airplane plants, produce a rosette of long, thin, arched foliage that is solid green or variegated with white. In this article we also discuss the following topics;

How to make Spider plant bushier
How big of a pot does a Spider plant need
How to care for a Spider plant
How often should you water indoor Spider plant
Do Spider plants need sun or shade
Best Spider plant care tips
Spider plant growing indoors
How many Spider plants per pot
Does a Spider plant need direct sunlight

A Step By Step Guide to Growing Spider Plants Indoors

Different Types of Spider Plant Varieties

The three types of Spider plant varieties are Variegated, Green, and Curly.

The common plant variety is the variegated plant, which can be a spectacular-looking plant with lots of off-shoots.
The green variety is not easy to find and many nurseries do not carry it.
Curly Spider plant looks like a variegated plant with curly plant leaves. The off-shoot it forms remains curly too. This attractive Spider plant variety is not as easy to find either, but an online search can give you favourable results.

Soil Preparation for Growing Spider Plants

Spider plants can be planted in a soil-based, well-draining potting mix. Spider plants like even moisture and they don’t like to be too dry or too wet.
The regular store-bought potting mix works fine for this Spider plant. You can also use an organic mixture of compost, peat, loam, and coarse sand at home.
Spider plant likes being root-bound in a small pot. So don’t rush to transplant the plants into a bigger pot.
For growing Spider plants indoors, choose soil that is light and drains well. Choose well-draining soil or potting medium for this plant. If your Spider plant growing in a pot, select a potting medium like vermiculite or coco coir.
In the spring and summer months, keep the soil moist to encourage plant growth.

Choose a Pot for Growing Spider Plants Indoors

Spider plant can be a beautiful hanging basket or a normal pot, whatever type of pot you select, choose based on plant size. Since these plants like to grow in pots, you will need to choose one that is 4 to 6 inches in diameter for a young plant. Clay pots are not optimal options because these plants will have no place for the roots to grow, which can lead to a broken pot.

Conditions for Growing Spider Plants Indoors

Spider plants require a fast-draining and well-aerated potting mix. Feed the plants weekly during the summer with liquid fertilizer or use pellets at the beginning of the growing season.
Spider plants grow in conditions ranging from semi-shady to partial direct sun.
You should water the plants liberally through the summer and mist them occasionally. During the winter season, cut watering back. When it comes to temperature requirements, do not let them fall below 10°C or expose them to cold drafts.
Spider plant mostly likes a moist soil or potting mix that drains well, but it can also tolerate periods of dryness.
Place your Spider plants in a location that receives bright indirect sunlight. Regular direct sunlight burns the leaves, so keep it at least 10 to 12 inches away from South or West facing windows.

What kind of Sunlight And Climate Does a Spider Plant need?

Spider plants prefer light shade and well-draining soil. But indoors, they aren’t low-light plants. The plants thrive in lots of indirect light, between 12 and 26°C, and they love humidity. So the perfect spot for growing this plant is near a sunny window in a steamy bathroom, but as long as they have access to some sunlight.

How to Propagate Spider Plants

Propagation is simple with the Spider plant. There are 3 ways to propagate Spider plants;

Spider plants are very easy to propagate. Make sure the young plantlets have developed plant roots. Alternatively, mature Spider plants can be divided during repotting. There are three main methods for propagating Spider plants, and they are all easy. The propagating methods are rooting Spider plant babies, propagating by division, or growing the Spider plants from seed.

You can cut the Spider babies off the mother plant and root them in water. Propagating Spider plants in the soil is the easiest and most tolerated method for little plants. You can leave the Spider babies attached to the mother plant, and then simply place the babies in soil. Or you can snip off the Spider babies and then place them in new pots of soil.

Process of Growing Spider Plants Indoors

Step 1) Grow Spider plant in a soil-based, well-draining potting mix.

Step 2) Keep Spider plants in bright to moderate indirect sunlight.

Step 3) Spider plants like even moisture and the plants don’t like to be too dry or too wet. Keep plants in bright to moderate indirect sunlight.

Step 4) Spider plants grow fairly quickly and can easily become pot bound. Then, plan to repot a Spider plant about every other year.

Step 5) Spider plants can be grown outdoors as annuals during the summer season. Spider plants look especially good along the edge of a container, as long as they are kept out of direct sunlight.

Step 6) Caring for Spider plants is very easy. Provide the plants with well-drained soil and bright, indirect light and they will flourish. Water the spider plants well but do not allow the plants to become too soggy, which can lead to root rot. Plants prefer to dry out some between watering.

Step 7) Caring for Spider plants also take into account that they enjoy cooler temperature levels around 13-18°C. Spider plants can benefit from occasional pruning, cutting them back to the base. Repot the plants only when their large, fleshy roots are highly visible and watering is difficult.

Water Requirement for Growing Spider Plant

Spider plants have a reputation for being impossible to kill, and while they don’t require much attention, they’re not invincible. Follow these tips to keep your Spider plant healthy and happy;

Over-watering is the common reason Spider plants die, so be sure to mark when you last watered your plant to avoid this.
Spider plants are susceptible to root rot if waterlogged, so the plants need to be planted in a pot with drainage holes.
For growing spider plants, allow the soil to dry before watering (once a week is usually enough).
If the Spider plant has lots of brown tips on its leaves, you can use distilled water to help flush out minerals, salts, and fertilizer.
Water your Spider plant with distilled water or purified water. Tap water not helpful for growing your Spider plant, so it’s important to use distilled or purified water. The water must be kept at room temperature, as cold or hot water can shock your plants and weaken them.

How to Prune Spider Plant

Any foliage being pruned should be cut at the base of the Spider plant. Always use sharp pruners or scissors when pruning your plants. Also, remove all discolored, diseased, or dead foliage as needed. For overgrown or pot-bound plants, repotting in addition to pruning can be necessary. After pruning, repot the plant, giving it a good root pruning as well before returning it to the pot of fresh soil. Normally, it’s a good idea to include root pruning at least once every year or two.

Temperature and Humidity for Growing Spider Plants

Spider plants growing well in low humidity environments. Brown leaf tips may indicate the air is too dry, so mist Spider Plant regularly.
Your plant prefers temperatures between 15-26°C during the day and above 12°C at night.
Maintain average room temperature and humidity. Spider plants prefer temperature levels between 13-27°C, which makes them a great indoor houseplant.

Fertilizer Requirement for Growing Spider Plants

Fertilize up to twice a month in the spring and summer season; however, avoid over-fertilization, which can lead to brown leaf tips. No need to feed Spider plant in the autumn or winter when plant growth naturally slows. Make sure the soil is damp before applying any fertilizer. Carefully apply fertilizer to Spider plants, as over-fertilization will result in brown leaf tips just as chemically laden water. There is no specific Spider plant fertilizer are available in the market. Any all-purpose, complete, water-soluble, or granular time-release fertilizer suitable for indoor plants is acceptable.

Fertilize Spider plants about 1 to 2 times per month during the spring and summer. During the growing season, use a general liquid fertilizer to feed Spider plants. Liquid fertilizers will give better results than granular fertilizers. Carefully follow the directions on the fertilizer to know how much of the solution to apply to the soil at the base of the plant. Avoid fertilizing plants during the winter if they are outgrowing their pots. Fertilize up to twice a month in the spring and summer, and avoid over-fertilization.

Common Problems for Growing Spider Plants

Spider Plant Leaves Browning

If you begin to notice plant leaves browning, there’s no need for worry. Browning of leaf tips in Spider plants is quite normal and will not harm the plant. This is the result of fluoride found in water, which causes a salt buildup in the soil. And, be sure to allow the water to drain out. It helps to use distilled water on Spider plants instead of that from the kitchen or outside spigot.

Dead Leaves or Brown Leaf Tips

Spruce up a Spider plant with yellowed or dead plant leaves or leaves with browned tips by cutting off or pulling out leaves that are completely dead. And use sharp scissors to cut off the tips of plant leaves that are brown. Cut at an angle to mimic the natural sharp point of the plant leaves. Spider plants are prone to tip burn, causing the tips of the plant leaves to turn brown. Then, this can be caused by over-fertilization, dry soil, low humidity, or a buildup of salt and minerals that are found in some public tap water. To fix the problem and bring your Spider plant back to health, place the container in a sink or tub and flush the soil with distilled water to leach the salts and chemicals from the soil. Cut the brown tips off with a pair by using sharp scissors.

Mealybugs on Spider Plant

Mealybugs are a major pest that Spider plants occasionally have. These pests are tiny and are covered with white, mealy wax secretions. The accurate methods to eliminate mealybugs in Spider plant is to the sink of a tub and wash them off with a weak mixture of mild baby shampoo and water. Mix about 1 teaspoon of the baby shampoo into a quart of water. Pour into a spray bottle and spray the plant thoroughly, pick and rub mealy bugs off leaves. Then, rinse the plant with distilled water and allow drip dry.

Common Pests of Sider Plants

Spider plants are hardy, but there are a few insects that love to turn them into dinner. Aphids, Mealybugs, Whiteflies, and of course, Spider mites can all major problems for your houseplants. Rinsing the plants with water is an effective method to combat pests such as aphids and Spider mites. Though, when it comes to Spider mites, rubbing your plant down with a miticide is a good idea and other pests respond well to the use of insecticides. If you’re worried about using harsh chemicals around your yard, particularly if you have pets or young children, you may want to try an all-natural insecticide first. A few natural insecticides can be made with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry like vinegar.

Spider plants are tough to grow when it comes to pests, but they are susceptible to some pest infestations. Some pests like Aphids, Mealybugs, Whiteflies, and Spider mites can eat your plant, but this can be avoided by misting your plants. For this, you may use natural insecticides made with vinegar to get rid of them. The most common problem for Spider plants is the tips of the plant leaves can shrivel and turn brown or black. The overwatering plant is usually the problem, not under-watering. Be sure to let the soil dry out totally before watering again.

Spider plants are from the tropical rainforest, so the plants prefer humidity. Placing a Spider plant in a more humid room will encourage your plant to flourish and avoid brown or black tips.

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Commonly Asked Questions about Growing Spider Plants Indoors

Why is my Spider plant turning yellow?

Yellow leaves in Spider plants often mean there are excess minerals or fertilizer in the soil, meaning you may need to repot the plant in more neutral soil. Spider plant leaves also turn yellow due to lack of light.

Can you cut brown tips off Spider plants?

You may cut off the brown tips of Spider plants by few precautions. First, make sure to use sharp scissors to make cutting carefully. Second, if most of the leaf is brown colour, it’s best to cut off the full leaf. Lastly, when cutting, replicate the shape of the plant leaf with your cuts and leave a small amount of brown tip behind to avoid opening a fresh wound.

How do you save an overwatered Spider plant?

Move your Spider plant to a shady area, even though Spider plants prefer sun. Then remove all dead or dying plant leaves. Next, check if the pot has proper drainage and if possible, creates air space between plant roots. Remove any dead or dying plant roots as well. Lastly, water the soil once dry to touch. Then, you may treat with fungicide if needed.

Why Spider plant leaves turning pale or yellow?

When your Spider plant leaves turn pale or yellow, it is most likely because your plant is not getting enough light. The easy solution is to move your Spider plant somewhere where it gets plenty of bright, indirect light. Or treat yourself and your Spider plant to a grow light. In the past, these were often large and expensive. Nowadays there are plenty of small, affordable lights available for growing plants.

How much sun does a Spider plant need?

Spider plants prefer mostly bright light and tend toward scorching in direct sunlight.

Why Spider plant leaves turning black?

If you notice the Spider plant leaves turn black or dark brown, this almost always is a sign of root rot because of overwatering.

First, make sure the soil you use is fast-draining, and second, watch that you are not watering your plant so often that the roots drown in all that water. Remove the damaged plant leaves and let the soil dry out before watering again.

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Growing Spider Plants Indoors – In Pots At Home

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