Hello! I am a Spider Plant, and I’m quite easy-going, but I do have a preference for bright, indirect light. Please don’t put me in the harsh, direct afternoon sun; it will scorch my beautiful green and white leaves, leaving unsightly brown tips. A spot a few feet away from a north, east, or west-facing window is perfect. I can tolerate lower light conditions, but my growth will slow down, and my vibrant variegation may fade to a plain green. A little morning sun is a lovely treat, though!
My watering needs are simple. I like my soil to be moist but never soggy. The best way to check is to stick your finger about an inch into my soil. If it feels dry, it’s time for a drink! Please water me thoroughly until you see water run out of my pot’s drainage holes, and always empty the saucer afterward. I despise having my roots sit in water, as it will cause them to rot. In the warmer, sunnier months, I’ll need water more frequently. In winter, when my growth slows, I need much less. Brown, crispy leaf tips often mean I need more humidity or more consistent watering.
I thrive in the same comfortable temperatures that you do! A consistent room temperature between 60°F and 80°F (15°C - 27°C) is ideal. Please keep me away from cold drafts, open windows in winter, and direct blasts from air conditioners or heating vents. I appreciate average household humidity but won’t complain if you mist my leaves occasionally or place my pot on a tray of pebbles with water, especially when the air is dry.
I’m not a heavy feeder. During my main growing seasons (spring and summer), you can feed me a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength about once a month. This gives me the energy to grow my long, arching leaves and produce my little plantlets, called "spiderettes." Please do not fertilize me in the fall and winter, as I am resting and too much food will harm my roots.
When I am happy and mature, I will grow long runners with small clusters of leaves at the end—these are my babies! You can choose to leave them attached, making me look even fuller, or you can propagate them. Simply place a small pot filled with potting mix next to me and rest a spiderette on top of it, still attached to me. Once it roots, you can snip the runner. Alternatively, you can cut a spiderette off and place its base in water until roots develop before potting it up. This is how you can grow your spider plant family!
