Spider plant Chlorophytum comosum

The spider plant is a rewarding plant which, as well as looking fresh and luxuriant with its apple-green colouring, also has good air-purifying properties. It is particularly suitable for growing in hanging pots or on a pedestal. The spider plant will do fine almost regardless of growing conditions, though it does take some care to get it to really thrive and provide you with small plantlets, or spiderettes, from the tips of long shoots. Left on the parent plant, spiderettes will in turn produce their own runners and plantlets, but they can also be removed and propagated.

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The spider plant likes half-shade or partial sunlight, but avoid direct sunlight as this will burn the tips of the leaves.

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It likes regular moisture, but leave to dry out a little between waterings. Give it a light mist from time to time, especially when the indoor air is dry during the colder months.

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Use ordinary potting compost with a layer of leca balls in the bottom. You can also mix leca balls in with the soil for really good drainage.

Image FEEDING

Feed with liquid organic plant food a few times during the spring and summer months.

Image ORIGIN

The spider plant is native to Southern Africa.

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If you’re looking for a hardy, green feature for your home, spider plants can also cope with low temperatures – even as low as 5°C (41°F) for a few weeks at a time (but they will not tolerate frost).

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