Home Cultivation and Care Methods for Variegated Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum')

Spider plant, also known as weeping potgrass, cinnamon orchid, hook orchid, and folding crane orchid, is called spider grass or airplane grass in Western Europe. It is a perennial evergreen foliage plant of the genus Chlorophytum in the family Liliaceae.

Spider plant is a herbaceous perennial with clustered, cylindrical, fleshy fibrous roots and rhizomes. The leaves are basal, linear to linear-lanceolate, narrow and long, flexible like an orchid, 20-45 cm long and 1-2 cm wide, with long, acuminate tips; the base clasps the stem and is borne on short stems. The most distinctive feature of the spider plant is that mature plants will from time to time produce runners, 30-60 cm long, each of whose tips will grow small plantlets. The scape is slender, longer than the leaves, and curved downward; the raceme is single or branched, and sometimes tufts of linear leaf clusters 2-8 cm long also grow on the upper nodes of the inflorescence; the flowers are white, in clusters of several, scattered sparsely along the inflorescence axis. The flowering period is between spring and summer, and it can also bloom indoors in winter. At present, in addition to the pure green-leaved variety, there are three horticultural varieties of spider plant: large-leaved spider plant, variegated spider plant, and golden-edged spider plant. The first two have green leaf margins with yellow-white centers; the golden-edged spider plant is the opposite, with yellow-white stripes edging both sides of the green leaves. Among them, the large-leaved spider plant has a larger plant form, broader leaves, and softer leaf color, and is an elegant indoor foliage plant.

Spider plant is native to southern Africa and is widely cultivated around the world. It likes a warm, humid, semi-shaded environment. It is highly adaptable and relatively tolerant of drought and cold. It is not particular about soil and grows best in loose sandy loam. It is not strict about light, generally suitable for growing under moderate light conditions, and also tolerates weak light. The optimum growth temperature is 15-25°C, and the overwintering temperature is 5°C.

Spider plant can be propagated by division. Except in winter, when the temperature is too low for division, it can be done in any other season. For plants that have been potted for 2-3 years, when repotting in spring, remove the old potting soil from the crowded clump of seedlings, divide them into two to several clumps, and pot each separately to make new plants. Spider plant can also be propagated using the small plantlets on the runners. During the growing season, cut off the small plantlets on the runners and plant them in potting soil or water; after the plantlets have grown roots, transplant them into pots. In addition, it can also be grown from seed, but this is generally seldom used.

For potting spider plant, a mixture of equal parts leaf mold or peat soil, garden soil, and river sand with a small amount of base fertilizer is commonly used as the growing medium. Repot once every 2-3 years, remixing the potting soil. Its fleshy roots have well-developed water-storage tissue and strong drought resistance, but during the peak growth period from March to September it needs a large amount of water, so it should be watered and misted frequently to increase humidity; after autumn, gradually reduce watering to improve the plant's cold resistance. During the peak growth period, apply dilute liquid fertilizer twice a month. The fertilizer should be mainly nitrogen-based, but variegated and golden-edged varieties should not be given excessive nitrogen fertilizer, otherwise the linear markings on the leaves will become less noticeable. Spider plant likes a semi-shaded environment. If the placement site has too strong or insufficient light, the leaves will easily turn pale green or yellow-green, lose vitality, and lose their proper ornamental value, or even dry up and die; if exposed to direct sunlight and dry air, spider plant is most likely to scorch, so it should be placed in a cool, ventilated spot, and attention should be paid to maintaining environmental humidity. Spider plant is not prone to pests and diseases, but if the potting soil is waterlogged and ventilation is poor, besides causing root rot, root rot disease may also occur, so attention should be paid to spraying fungicide for prevention and control.

Spider plant is one of the most traditional hanging plants for indoor rooms. Its leaves are slender and soft, and the trailing stems growing from the leaf axils bear small plantlets, hanging down from the edge of the pot, spreading and drooping freely like flowers, evergreen all year round; it is both sturdy and soft, shaped like a crane spreading its wings and leaping, hence the ancient name "folding crane orchid." In short, its special appearance forms a unique hanging landscape and three-dimensional beauty, and can create a distinctive decorative effect.

Spider plant is not only an excellent hanging foliage plant for indoor rooms, but also a good indoor air-purifying flowering plant. Spider plant has a very strong ability to absorb toxic gases. Generally, keeping 1-2 spider plants in a room can absorb all the toxic gases in the air, so spider plant also has the good name of "green purifier."