#clorophytum comosum

[isthataleaf]

Are you under-watering your Spider Plants?

They are one of the most common houseplants and allegedly some of the easiest to care for. They thrive in many different light levels, so there’s not just one watering schedule that’s going to work for everyone. It’s also way easier to underwater them than to overwater, since they enjoy moisture. Here’s what to look out for!

1. Soil

A good indicator is always the soil moisture. Just poke your finger in there and see how it feels. Is there a dried out layer at the top and wetter on the bottom? that’s ok for low-light or winter, but a good time to water if it’s summer. Is it fully dried out? Water immediately! This shouldn’t be happening and is probably going to impact the growth and appearance of your plant! During summer or with direct light, the top layer of soil should always be slightly moist.

2. Leaf color

These two plants used to be one and have been split and kept in two different locations. The first one hangs next to an east/south window front and is out of sight and out of mind. Meaning that it gets a lot of light and not a lot of water, because I keep forgetting about it. The second one stands about 3 Meters away from an eastern window and is regularly watered.

You can see the discoloration in the first plant, since the lack of water inhibits proper levels of photosynthesis and therefore also chlorophyll levels. Spider plants get pale when they are thirsty, long before they start dropping leaves like this one is. Pay attention to how vibrant they are, it might tell you that it’s watering time and they wont get as scraggly as this one!

3. Spiky or drooping leaves

A healthy spider plant will (depending on the different types) have its central leaves grow upwards and the outer leaves grow down and around the pot. chronically underwatered spider plants will look extremely spikey and their leaves will most likely become thinner and more angled on themselves.

I’ve also noticed that the “Bonnie” variety (the two plants pictured above) lose their characteristic curls when they aren’t receiving enough water.

4. Repotting?

Lastly, if you see that your plant is drying out much faster than it used to, or disproportionately fast to the amount of light it is receiving, you might want to consider repotting it. Check if the roots are breaking out of the pot, and what kind of soil you are using. They might do better with some extra space to store water in the pot.

5. A pinch of salt

All of this is just from my personal experience with spider plants and the observations I have made along the way. I am not a professional horticulturalist or botanist. If you have any tips or corrections, feel free to add them on!

[isthataleaf]

here's another example of color changes when your spider plant dries out! It can be subtle, but it's a rly good indicator that you need to water them!

[isthataleaf]

Spider Plant Care Sheet

IMPORTANT BASICS:

1. Light

They prefer bright indirect light, so if the plant can see the sky at all times, it'll grow best.

It's better to avoid direct sun but they really aren't picky and will thrive even further away from a window.

2. Water

In the summer the top layer of the soil should stay pretty moist, so about once or twice a week at least!

In the winter they need less water since there is less light, and the plant will absorb and consume less water. Once a week is enough.

It should be enough water so that it comes out of the drainage holes*

Bigger plants obviously need more water, but probably less often than a smaller one.

When spider plants are thirsty, they get paler, so you can actually tell when your friend needs a sip! They'll go back to a deeper green once they’re thoroughly watered.

3. Soil and Fertilizer

Normal garden compost earth is fine, you can mix in some perlite for better drainage but it's not strictly necessary. Try and see what works best for you!

*Make sure your pot has drainage holes at the bottom though!!! This is very important so as to not drown your plants.

Fertilize them when they look like they need it. They don't need a lot of it and will grow well if they have good light and water. Of course they'll still be thankful for some extra nutrients!

PROPAGATION

When your plant is big enough, it will start sprouting long flower shoots from its core. Those will then produce little baby spider plants!

The best way to get these babies to root is to place them in water (not fully submerged, only the bottom parts should be getting wet. That’s where the roots come out). Leave the babies attached to the mother plant, so that they can still get their nutrients from them and have an easier time rooting.

Once the roots are about 10cm / 3inch long you can plant them!

This method works very well and little spider babies make wonderful gifts!

Splitting the plant is also an option, but it requires repotting and a lot of damage to the roots.

REPOTTING

Once you've put a baby spider plant in some soil, it's gonna grow very fast. I repot mine about every two to three months until they're decently sized.

When they are bigger they do not need to be repotted as often, once a year at most. You can tell when they need repotting if the roots are showing through the drainage holes or on the top layer of soil.

Small tips:

Spider plants are virtually unkillable and they’re very forgiving if you forget to water them, etc.

If you’re following all these “instructions” and still don’t see your plant thriving, mix things up a little bit! What works for me might not necessarily work best for you!

That being said, if my spiders are looking bad or dull, it’s usually cause they need to be repotted or the soil is too compact.

~Best of luck on your journey as a Spider Parent!~

[isthataleaf]

these two bad boys went home with my grandma!

[isthataleaf]

uuhhh... two weeks of root growth can be pretty heavy on a spider plant wow...