Spider Plant

The Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is considered one of the most adaptable houseplants and the easiest to grow. This plant can grow in a wide range of conditions and suffers from few problems, other than brown tips. It is named because of its spider-like plants, or spiderettes, which dangle down from the mother plant like spiders on a web. Available in green or variegated varieties, these spiderettes often start out as small white flowers.

Common Spider Plant Issues

Browning leaf tips or edges – Finding the direct cause is somewhat tricky, as it’ll range from too much direct sunlight with too little watering, a much-needed transplant, over-fertilisation, or excessive fluoride found in tap water. Spider Plants must not endure more than three hours of on-peak sunlight, especially if the soil is kept too dry, as sun-scorch may arise.

Yellowing leaves – this is a tell-tale sign of too little sunlight or over-watering, which go hand in hand.

My spider plant has collapsed – If a spider plant has collapsed, but still appears healthy, it could be down to the lack of light. Again, situate it in a brighter location with no direct sunlight to prevent further stress.

The final issue is the surrounding temperature. Spider plants cannot tolerate temperatures below 10℃ (50℉) as their natural environment wouldn’t dip below this threshold during the year. Typical symptoms include the yellowing of leaves and foliage decline, along with a general deterioration of health. Remove the affected leaves and immediately present a location with an adequate amount of warmth. Avoid persistent droughts and intense sunlight to prevent further issues.

What do Spider Plants Clean from the air?

Spider plants are most effective in removing carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. The effective reduction of indoor carbon monoxide level helps in decreasing fatigue, headaches, colds, sore throats, and flu-like symptoms caused by CO exposure. Discover more about plant benefits.