Spider Plant: Perfect for Hanging Baskets and Pedestals

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum Variegatum) is a beautiful decorative plant with long arching narrow leaves coming from the center. These leaves have green edges with white stripes down the middle and some have white edges with green central stripes.

This plant also shoots out long arching stems that produce small, white star-shaped flowers and then plantlets that can be easily propagated or allowed to dangle from the stems.   These stems can grow as long as 40 inches, and the plant blooms throughout the summer months.

The Chlorophytum comosum Variegatum is extremely attractive when grown in hanging baskets or placed on a pedestal.

Natural Air Cleaning Spider Plant

The spider plant is a natural defense tool against indoor air pollution. It improves the air quality by getting rid of toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde.

Many of the items that we use every day such as plastic wallpaper, carpeting and rug pads, insulation, laminated counters, veneer furniture, cleaning supplies, air fresheners, adhesives, printers and copy machines contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) which are synthetic materials that "off-gas" toxins which can cause "Sick Building Syndrome."

You cannot avoid VOCs because they are found in such a wide variety of the products in our indoor environment; however, you can take steps to make your air healthier by having this plant in your home. Place 2 mature specimen plants in a 100 sq ft room to remove toxins from the air where you spend time.

Plant Care Tips

Light: Prefers moderate to bright light (near bright east or south window).

Temperature: 55 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, but can tolerate temperatures as low as 40 degrees without damage. Keep plant away from heating vents or cold drafts.

Humidity: The plant likes average humidity. Mist daily with lukewarm water during warm months and twice a week during winter when the temperature is over 60 degrees F.

Watering: water thoroughly, then allow the soil to drain and empty excess water; then allow the top one inch of soil to dry slightly to touch between waterings. A well-draining potting mixture should be used. This is necessary to prevent root rot which can kill your plant.

NOTE: Plant is fluoride-sensitive. Use distilled water or water that has sat for at least 24 hours. If you have an aquarium, it thrives on that water. This is necessary to prevent brown tips.

Fertilizer: All-purpose plant food during the growing season.

Propagation: Propagation can be done by division or with plantlets separated from the parent plant.

Repotting: Plant likes to be pot bound. Repot with well-aerated potting mixture when repotting.

You will find the spider plant to be ideal because it needs no special room temperature and it can grow in both light and shade.  In addition, this easy-to-grow plant is as good for the indoor environment as it is beautiful.