What varieties of spider plant are there? A detailed guide to care methods

Spider plant (scientific name: Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Baker.), also known as: weeping potgrass, hanging orchid, fishing orchid, orchid grass, folded crane orchid, in Western Europe also called spider grass or airplane grass, native to South Africa.

A perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the class Monocotyledoneae, family Asparagaceae, genus Chlorophytum, with rhizomes growing horizontally or obliquely, bearing numerous fleshy roots. Leaves grow in clusters, linear, slender, resembling orchid leaves. Sometimes there are green or yellow stripes in the middle. The flower stem emerges from the leaf cluster, grows into a stolon that produces leaf clusters at the tip, flowers white, usually in clusters of 2-4, arranged in a loose raceme or panicle, occasionally purple petals appear inside; the capsule is triangularly flattened-spherical, about 5 mm long, about 8 mm wide, with 3-5 seeds per locule. Flowering period May, fruiting period August. The plant has an air-purifying effect, and the whole plant can be used as medicine.

The growth habits of spider plant

Spider plant likes warm, moist, semi-shaded environments. It has strong adaptability, is relatively drought-tolerant, but not cold-tolerant, and has no strict requirements for soil; generally it grows better in well-drained, loose and fertile sandy soil. It is not strict about light, generally suitable for growing under medium light conditions, and also tolerates weak light. The optimum growth temperature is 15-25°C, and the overwintering temperature is 0°C.

The root system of spider plant is quite developed. After growing it for a period of time, the pot should be changed in time to avoid root accumulation, which can cause yellowing leaves, withering and other phenomena in spider plant.

What varieties of spider plant are there?

1. Golden-edged spider plant, with golden-yellow leaf margins.

2. Golden-hearted spider plant, with yellow longitudinal stripes in the center of the leaf.

3. Silver-edged spider plant, with white leaf margins.

4. Silver-hearted spider plant, with silvery-white longitudinal stripes around the main vein of the leaf.

5. Broad-leaved spider plant, with broad linear leaves, entire or slightly wavy. The scape emerges from the leaf cluster, and after flowering forms a creeping stem that can take root and sprout into new plants. Flowering period spring and summer. The capsule is three-ribbed flattened-spherical.

6. Centered-stripe spider plant, with narrow and long leaves, lanceolate, milky white with green stripes and margins.

7. Milky-white spider plant, with white longitudinal stripes on the main vein of the leaf.

8. Purple spider plant, with a purple main vein.

9. Green spider plant, with a green main vein.

What conditions are needed for growing spider plant?

1. Substrate: spider plant has strong adaptability to various soils and is easy to cultivate.

2. Watering: spider plant likes a moist environment, and the potting soil should often remain moist. However, the fleshy roots of spider plant can store a large amount of water, so it has strong drought resistance and will not dry out and die if not watered for several days. In winter, when the temperature is below 5°C, water less; do not let the potting soil become too wet, otherwise the leaves are prone to yellowing.

3. Fertilizing: during the growing season, apply liquid fertilizer once every two weeks. For variegated varieties, apply less nitrogen fertilizer, otherwise the white or yellow markings on the leaves will become less obvious. Stop fertilizing when the ambient temperature is below 4°C.

4. Light: spider plant likes a semi-shaded environment and can be grown year-round in a bright indoor space. Spider plants grown outdoors can also grow well in strong direct sunlight in summer. However, spider plants grown indoors for a long time should avoid strong direct sunlight and need 50-70% shading.

5. Temperature: spider plant tolerates high temperatures. The suitable temperature is above 15°C, and the winter overwintering temperature is above 4°C.

6. Humidity: it likes a moist environment. To keep spider plant fresh and green, you can often spray water on the leaves to clean them.

7. Pruning: remove yellow leaves at any time as usual. Each year in March, the pot can be repotted once, cutting off old roots, rotten roots and excess fibrous roots. In early to mid-May, cut off some of the old leaves of spider plant, which will promote the sprouting of more new leaves and small spider plants.