Photo by Danae Horst for The Jungalow
The spider plant- which definitely had a big moment in the late 70’s / early 80’s — may remind you of your grandmother’s living room, but we’re calling it — it’s about to make a comeback. With fun striped leaves on several cultivars, and it’s ability to produce off shoot babies, it’s the perfect plant to add a little whimsy. What’s more, the spider plant tolerates a range of light conditions, is on NASA’s list of air purifier plants, and it’s non-toxic to pets. Winning all around!
Photo by Justina Blakeney
GET THE GREEN: Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
WATER: Plant in pot with good drainage. Water when top half of soil is dry to the touch. Make sure to drain any excess water from saucers or cache pots.
SUNLIGHT: Bright indirect light. It will tolerate lower light, but leaves will lose some color.
PLACEMENT: Looks best as a hanging plant with room to spread out, but will also work on top of a tall shelf or other piece of furniture.
EXTRA CREDIT: The ‘baby’ offshoots can be rooted in soil or water. To root in soil, place the baby in a pot with soil near the mother plant. Water and cut off from the mother plant once roots form.
WORD OF CAUTION: According to the ASPCA, Spider plants are non-toxic to cats and dogs!
Is there a plant you want to learn more about? Leave a comment and you may find it in a future Plant-o-Pedia!
Having lived through the ’70s and ’80s, I wouldn’t mind if I never saw another spider plant. ;-) But I’ve been looking and looking for another dangly one, string of pearls, as well as a maidenhair fern. Can’t seem to find either of them in any nearby nursery. If/when I do, how much light do they need?
I have a string of pearls plant at home. They are a succulent, so very easy to look after. Mine gets about 2-3 hours of direct afternoon sun and is doing just fine. Water it the same as any succulent and you shouldn’t have any problems.
I didn’t have much luck with my first fern but my current one lives in the bathroom in the windowsill.
Ferns love humidity and moisture so the bathroom is the best indoor place for them. Mine gets bright, indirect light throughout most of the day and is growing really well.
Hope that helped a little.
Thank you so much for posting these! I love adding green to my rooms, but want to make sure it’s a successful fit! If it’s pet friendly, does that also make it kid-friendly?
Just bought one of these about a month ago, they are sprouting lots of babies but the mother plants leaves are dying quickly. What am I doing wrong? ??? I’m pretty much already following instructions you’ve already given. Help!
I love it! In Chile they’re called “bad mothers” because they throw away their children LOL
I have one of these in my dinning room receiving a lot of indirect light all year long, but even though it’s growing it doesn’t produce any babies. got any clue about what might be wrong with it?
PS: I love plant-o-pedia
Is yours fairly young? Mine only put out pups once it was fairly established. Now it puts out babies in the summer, when I move it from my bright kitchen to my porch – it really thrives with that seasonal change of location! I also rarely repot, since it likes to be pot bound. Just some fertilizer and top off the soil once a year.
it’s favorite of mine :)
yeah spider plants are great, but where are those coasters from in the first shot???
I used to have one of these until I killed it… Not the best plant caretaker in the world. But I definitely agree that they are fun plants to have around!
I love spider plants but my keeps eating mine! Needs to be moved to a higher shelf…
I absolutely love the babies that come from them!
Aren’t they so cute and fun?!
I am usually really good with these plants but the one I bought a few weeks ago from Lowes refuses to live and I don’t know why.
It was nice an full when I first got it but almost every leaf got a brown streak down the middle then went limp…so I have cut almost the entire plant back to little short stalks!
What is wrong with my plant?
Hi-
I was hoping you could highlight some plants that do well in low light situations. I have a couple of rooms that don’t get very much indirect sun but could still use some nice plants! I have one peace lily, but I’m pretty down on her after all her flowering bits died off months ago.
This is a really amazing thing.