If you’re a houseplant lover, you probably have at least one spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum). These popular plants are simple to grow and care for and reward you with elegant, arching leaves in green or green and white. They do well in standard pots as well as hanging planters and are among the easiest plants to propagate.
Whether you’re an experienced houseplant parent or just starting out, happy spring spider plant care ensures abundant, healthy growth in the coming months.
Here are three things to do for your spider plants now as the growing season begins.
1. Start feeding your spider plant
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Early spring is when spider plants wake up from winter and start energizing new growth. The growing season continues from spring, through summer, and even into fall. Now is the time to make sure your plant has enough nutrients to produce lush new growth and seedlings, also known as spider plant babiesthe small offshoots that can be used to create new plants.
Spider plants are moderate feeders overall, but the growing season is when they can really benefit from fertilization. Use a balanced, general purpose liquid or water-soluble houseplant fertilizer, diluted to about half the recommended strength. Apply this solution once a month starting in April. Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food is available from Amazon and a great general fertilizer for indoor plants.
Applying full-strength fertilizer may be too much for a spider plant, which does not tolerate overfeeding well. Brown edges on the leaves is a typical sign of overfeeding. If you see this, dilute the solution even more or only fertilize every six to eight weeks.
2. Increase the frequency of watering
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Water also becomes increasingly important for spider plants as they enter the growing season. During dormancy, your plant doesn’t need much water and will even tolerate some neglect. As it wakes up for spring, you The spider plant needs more water to support new development.
The goal of spring and summer watering is to keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy. Your plant will not tolerate overwatering or soggy roots. Make sure the pot drains well and water often enough to keep the soil from drying out completely. A good rule of thumb is to let the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil dry out before watering again. Still not sure? A simple one moisture meter, available from Amazon, it can help you control soil moisture easily.
Spider plants can be sensitive to metals and salts in the water, which leads to browning of the foliage. Ideally, it should use distilled waterbut you can also leave the tap water out in an open container overnight to let some of the chlorine and fluoride evaporate before using it to water your spider plant. Another good option is to use rainwater.
3. Restock your spider plant
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Spider plants don’t need to be moved every year, but if they need a new, larger container, spring is the best time to make the move. If you the plant is connected to the rootit would benefit from getting a more spacious container. Gently lift the plant out of its container to check if it needs a new pot. It is root bound if the root ball is tight and dense and almost as big as the container.
Choose a new pot that is slightly larger than the old pot. It should be about a third larger than the root. Although being crammed into a pot is not ideal, spider plants also do not grow well in containers that are too large. Set the spider plant to the same depth it was in the smaller pot and fill the new container with fresh, high-quality potting mix. Rosy Soil’s indoor plant mix, which you can find on Amazon, has a cast of biochar and worms mixed in for ultimate indoor plant nutrition.
This is also a good time to multiply your spider plant. Cut and place the plants in new containers. If you don’t have one yet, you can propagate the plant by dividing the root. Pull it gently into two or more sections. Make sure each section has plenty of intact roots and place them in new containers.
April care for your favorite spider plant is all about water, fertilizer and keeping the roots healthy. These simple chores will ensure your plant develops healthy new growth this summer.
Buy Spider Plant Essentials
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Hayden Plant Pavilion
Show off all those lovely dangling spider plant babies with this statement piece!
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Fazeley watering can
This adorable handmade watering can is designed to have the perfect pour every time.
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Pruning shears
Cut baby spider plants and drop them in some water to multiply for infinite plants!
