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Spider plants are very hardy and easy to grow, so most people have seen them as pets. They like low light and don’t need to be watered very often. They also help clean the air inside, which makes them very popular. Also, they are easy to grow more of because their flower stalks have little plantlets that grow from them.
It only takes one small spider plant to spread quickly to many more. At some point, you may have asked yourself, “Can spider plants be outside?” Yes, it is possible to grow spider plants outside if the conditions are right. Find out how to grow a spider plant outside by reading on.
To grow spider plants outside, all you have to do is move your potted plant outside when the weather is nice and back inside when it gets too cold. Spider plants have small white flowers that look like stars and hang down from long flower stalks. They look great in hanging baskets.
After they open, little plants that look like grass grow on these flower stalks. The little spider-like plantlets that hang from the stem are what give Chlorophytum comosun its name. The plantlets will grow roots wherever they touch the ground, making new spider plants. They work like the runners on strawberry plants. Cut off the “spiders” and plant them in dirt to make more plants.
Spider plants are native to South Africa and can only live outside in warm, humid weather. In zones 9–11, they can be grown as perennials, but in cooler places, they can be grown as annuals. Outside, spider plants can’t handle cold.
If you want to grow them as annuals in a cooler area, wait until there is no chance of frost. Spider plants do best in partial sunlight, but they can also grow in shade or part-shade. In full sun or afternoon sun, they often get burned. Spider plants outside are great for covering the ground and making a fence around trees because they spread out. They can grow and spread quickly in zones 10 and 11.
Spider plants can handle some drought because their rhizomes are thick and store water. Spider plants are also great for big container arrangements because they trail down.
Spider plants need a certain amount of water, light, and dirt to stay healthy, just like any other plant.
Spider plants do best in damp places because they like the wetness. Water thoroughly so excess runs out the bottom—this encourages a robust root system. When you first start watering your spider plant, you should only do it once a week. Then, you can make changes as needed. This will keep the dirt from getting too wet, which could lead to root rot.
Put your finger in the soil and the top inch will be dry. This means your plant needs more water. “Typically, in the winter, you will need to reduce watering to every other week,” she adds. Spider plants can also be hurt by fluoride and chlorine, which are often found in tap water. To water them, use rainwater or water that has been purified. If you can’t get this kind of water, you should let tap water sit in an open jar for 12 to 24 hours before you use it on your spider plant.
Spider plants need bright, indirect light that comes from a north, east, or west-facing window or from artificial light when they are kept inside. “They will tolerate lower light, but variegated—those with striped leaves—varieties will lose variegation if grown in too low a level of light,” says Myers. If you grow them outside, put them somewhere that gets some sun and some shade. Too much direct sun can scorch the leaves, whereas too much shade can result in thinner plants. Some varieties can tolerate heavy shade, but will not thrive as well.
Basic, all-purpose fertilizers that dissolve in water work well for spider plants. Plants that get enough fertilizer will be stronger. But be careful not to give your plant too much fertilizer, as that can cause salt to build up in the soil. Myers says to feed plants when they are actively growing, which is from March to November. This will help them grow faster and bigger. “Consider using a diluted solution—you can always add more,” says Myers. She says that your growth rate and goals should help you decide, but that feeding every three to four months is usually enough.
For your spider plants, use soil that drains well and has a thinner texture. They are tolerant of both acidic and basic soil pH, but do best in soil with a pH closer to neutral. Whether you grow them in a container or in the ground, be sure the soil has good drainage, since salt build-up can cause the leaf tips to burn.
Spider plants can be spread, but they don’t need to be trimmed. “Each little spiderette will begin to produce its own roots while on the stalk. Once roots are about 3/4- to 1-inch long, remove the spiderette and plant it into its own small container. Then, Myers says to keep the potting mix a little wet and wait for more roots to grow.
Pull on the plantlet gently after a few weeks. “If it resists, it has rooted into the soil,” she says, adding that spiderettes should be kept somewhere bright but not in direct sunlight and should be moved to the parent plant once they have roots. Because their roots aren’t as big as an adult spider plant’s, pups need to be watered more often, so check the soil’s wetness levels often.
You could also let the spiderettes keep growing on the parent plant until it roots and splits on its own. To do this, Myers says to put the plantlet on the top of the soil and keep it just wet enough to hold water. Then, he says to wait for roots to grow.
Spider plants come in a lot of different types, but two are by far the most popular choices the public has made.
Variegatum: Spider plants that are variegatum are also known as airplane plants or backward spider plants. This type has yellow-edged green leaves and white flower shapes that look like stars. You can grow their plantlets inside in pots or hanging baskets. Their stems can grow up to two feet long.
Vittatum: The vittatum type of spider plant has leaves that are cream-colored in the middle and green around the sides, which is the opposite of the variegatum type. This spider plant has white stems and grows more slowly than the variegatum. However, it can be cared for in the same way.
There are a few reasons why your spider plant isn’t making new plants:
Even though spider plants are commonly kept indoors, you can grow them outside as an annual perennial in USDA Zones 9 through 11. Yes, it can grow in Zone 8. In Zone 8, its leaves die back in the winter and grow back with new leaves in the spring. If you put your spider plant outside in the summer, make sure it doesn’t get too much direct sunlight. It needs to be brought inside when it gets below 55°F or above 80°F.
A NASA study from 1989 showed that flowers like the spider plant can clean the air of toxins, but people have different opinions on how well they work. Newer tests show that spider plants only lower the amount of carbon dioxide in the air by 0.1%.
Regardless, adding some flowers (like spider plants) can help clean the air in your home. The reason for this is that plants usually take in air pollution when they breathe (oxygen in, carbon dioxide out).
Of course, everyone knows that flowers can help you relax. Studies have shown that just looking at plants can make us feel less stressed. It’s true for spider plants, which are pretty and easy to take care of.
