Belonging to the Asparagaceae family, Spider Plants, less commonly known by their botanical name; Chlorophytum Comosum, are a superbly versatile, quick-growing and low-maintenance house plant. It is undoubtedly these traits, as well as their distinctive good looks that have made them a long-standing popular choice for house plant enthusiasts and newbie plant parents alike. Spider plants are native to the African tropics and southern Africa and are known for their characteristic, long arching foliage which is commonly variegated. This week we are bringing you our top tips for Spider Plant Care as well as some interesting facts about these retro beauties. Read on to discover more.

Spider plants are famously and fabulously super easy to look after, just perfect if you are new to plant parenthood, time poor or both! They don’t require water very often and are pretty unfussy about light and temperature too. Read on for the specifics but if you are looking for an indoor house plant that will add a gorgeous splash of colour without much effort required from you, then the laidback, easy-going Spider Plant is the perfect choice!

Spider Plants enjoy damp but not soggy soil, they will typically need more water in the spring and summer than in the autumn and winter. Give your Spider Plant water about once a week, ensuring that the top layers of soil have dried out in between each watering. To check, push your thumb an inch or so into the soil, if it is dry, it’s time to give him another drink. It’s important to ensure your Spider Plant isn’t sitting in water as this can cause root rot.

In keeping with their low maintenance, easygoing reputation, Spider Plants will tolerate pretty much any light conditions. Having said that, avoid placing them in direct bright sunlight as that will scorch those lovely leaves. And whilst he will cope in most light conditions, he will be happiest in bright, indirect sunlight.

Like many houseplants, your Spider Plant will not require food during autumn and winter when they are dormant. However, he will benefit from some fertilizer about once a month in the spring and summer to encourage new growth. Here at Team TLB, we love the Plantsmith Fortifying Houseplant Tonic, a fab blend of essential nutrients to stimulate new growth.

As with light conditions, the Spider Plant is a very tolerant chap and will cope with most temperatures. It’s best to avoid extremes though; he won’t do well in very cold, frosty conditions or in intense heat. Ideally, keep your Spider Plant in temperatures between 18 – 25˚C.

Spider Plant propagation is very easy. A healthy Spider Plant will start to produce long vine-like stems from the centre as it matures. ‘Plantlets’ sometimes known as ‘spiderettes’ will grow on these vines; these are Spider Plant babies and can be removed from the mother plant to give you a brand-new green buddy. Simply snip the baby plant away from the main plant with clean scissors or secateurs making sure that you include at least two brown nodules. These will become the roots of your new plant. Pot the cutting into fresh, damp compost and watch your new baby grow.

Spider plants are a fab choice for bringing a cool, retro vibe to your home. With their elongated, two-tone, palmy leaves and fuss-free nature, you’ll be able to enjoy all the tropical feels without any stress – boom! Check out our range of Spider Plants here at The Little Botanical and enjoy choosing the perfect spot in your home or office.

Our standard Spider Plant comes ready potted in a choice of bespoke stoneware to make a botanical revamp oh-so-easy; choose between almond, charcoal and grey or, if you already have the perfect pot, this guy is also available naked. He will arrive planted in his growing pot, ready to be popped into your existing pot.

With his gorgeous, elongated leaves, the Spider Plant is a brilliant trailing option. Pop him high up on a shelf to really enjoy those long, tropical palms hanging beautifully down the wall. Alternatively, if you’re short on space but love the idea of letting your Spider Plant trail, turn him into a hanging beauty with our Natural Macrame Plant Hanger. There is also no need to order this separately; this set comes complete with a potted Spider Plant and the medium plant hanger, just hang up and enjoy!

As well as being easy to care for and easy on the eye, did you know that Spider Plants are also pet-friendly? These green beauties just keep getting better, right? Thanks to their interesting shape and texture, they are super as part of an indoor jungle and so they feature in both of our Pet-Friendly bundles.

If you are a plant and pet parent, these are the botanical bundles for you – create a stylish, indoor jungle with plants that won’t harm your furry friends. Choose between our Pet-Friendly Bundle and our Pet Lovers Bundle, both featuring the splendid Spider Plant along with two more of our favourite pet-friendly plants to keep you and your cats and dogs happy.

• In addition to being a striking beauty, low maintenance and pet-friendly, the Spider Plant is also a NASA approved air purifier, this guy just keeps getting better and better! A study conducted by NASA in the late ’80s revealed that indoor plants can improve air quality leading to a number of health benefits including reduced stress and fewer headaches. In fact, the humble Spider Plant actually ranked in the top three air purifying plants in the NASA study.
• Spider Plants are such good air p,urifiers that it is said that 15 Spider Plants would purify the air of an average-sized house.
• Chlorophytum Comosum get their more widely used nickname, the Spider Plant, from the ‘plantlets’ that grow along runners extending out from the main plant, giving them a ‘spidery’ look.
• Spider Plant flowers will appear as the plant matures, they are small and white and they will grow on the spidery vines before the ‘babies’ appear.
• Spider Plants grow best in temperatures of 18 – 25˚C but they can survive in temperatures as low as 2˚C.
• The most common Spider Plant species are variegated, displaying vibrant green leaves edged with a white stripe or white leaves with a green striped edge.
• Spider Plants are also known as Spider Ivy and Ribbon Plants.
• They are often grown in hanging baskets and can grow up to 60cm tall.