You may know the spider plant as Chlorophytum comosum, or even a hen and her chicks. Whatever name you know it by, we recognize it by its long, slender, greenish-white leaves and tiny leaflets that grow from the base of the leaves.
Spider plants are not only excellent indoor and outdoor plants, they are also easy to grow and propagate, require minimal maintenance, and look beautiful when placed in an appropriate location.
One thing about a spider plant that many people may not know is that it has more benefits than just being pretty.
The benefits of having a spider plant are that they are hard to kill, purify and clean indoor air, are pet friendly, aid in recovery, increase humidity, make great home decor, are edible and absorb ozone.
Spider plants are native to tropical and southern Africa and are easily propagated by simply planting the small plants in potting soil or placing them in a glass of water until roots form.
Under the right conditions, you can find quite large outdoor spider plants. As a houseplant, your spider plant can reach a height of around 50cm.
It depends on the right amount of light and the size of the pot. A spider plant tied to a pot is still small.
There are several benefits to having a spider plant, so let’s take a look at them.
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benefits of spider plants
1) Very hard to kill
This is an important point for novice gardeners and anyone who thinks they don’t have that “green thumb”.
Unlike most houseplants, spider plants won’t curl up and die if you don’t water them. They tolerate neglect moderately well and can go without water for a few days.
One thing they don’t like is soggy soil, so if the potting soil drains well and the pot has a hole, your spider plant will be fine.
Spider plants can practically take care of themselves. They thrive and adapt to most conditions. They don’t mind if you neglect them and can tolerate being overwhelmed and overwatered.
Perhaps one of the few requirements your spider plant needs is indirect sunlight.
2) They purify the air
Spider plants are considered one of the best air purifying plants you can grow.
Your common spider plant not only removes harmful chemicals from the air, but also formaldehyde, a common household chemical often found in plastic items, pesticides, adhesives, curtains, leather and even some clothes.
This is a good point to remember if you or someone in your family has breathing problems.
According JAR Spider plant is one of the top three houseplants that remove formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, xylene, and toluene.
3) Animals accepted
Spider plants are not on the list of poisonous plants published by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).
However, as with any other plant, it is advisable to prevent animals from chewing any part of the plant. If any part is harmful to your pet, it’s probably the leaves, which is why it’s important that animals don’t eat the leaves of your spider plant.
The reason you should keep your pets away from the spider plant is that the plant contains a certain amount of chemical compounds believed to be related to opium.
Consuming these plants can cause stomach upset, diarrhea and vomiting.
4) Recovery aid
Research has shown that when spider plants are placed in hospital rooms, patients recover faster than patients in rooms without spider plants.
In addition, patients need less medication and do not have heart rate or blood pressure issues. They also suffered less depression and anxiety and were discharged from hospital earlier.
5) Increase humidity
You may know that your spider plant is classified as a perennial. It also has a high transpiration rate, which means it absorbs water through the roots. This water then circulates through the leaves and stems.
Once the circulating water reaches the leaves, it evaporates into the surrounding air, increasing the humidity.
The increased humidity helps reduce various airborne diseases. These include cough, cold, sore throat and flu symptoms.
Research has shown that keeping spider plants in the office or home helps ward off these diseases. Additionally, spider plants help increase focus and productivity.
6) interior decoration
Spider plants can be potted or used in hanging baskets. They add a nice touch of greenery to the room and the spiders only enhance the beauty of the plant.
The leaves of spider plants can be green or variegated, giving the plant a bold and beautiful appearance, especially in hanging baskets.
They are not very fast growing plants, so they will not outgrow a container in one season. They do not need frequent transplants. Because of this, they can easily be used to fill a small alcove where a bit of greenery brightens up the space.
7) They are edible
Roots and leaves are edible for humans and can be used in salads. They have a mild flavor and can be added to a variety of recipes, including stir-fries, egg dishes, and green smoothies.
8) Spider plants absorb ozone
Ozone is created by a reaction between sunlight, water vapour, nitrous oxide or sulfur oxide (called nitrogen oxides).
It can be harmful to health if inhaled in large amounts over a long period of time. Once ozone is absorbed into water droplets, it becomes inert and harmless to humans.
Spider plants absorb ozone from the air by breathing through their leaves. In addition, the leaves are porous, which allows gas exchange.
Spiritual benefits of spider plants
The symbol of the spider plant is fertility and the plant is believed to reduce stress and keep the mind calm. Of course, more oxygen will help us breathe properly.
Spider plant goes above and beyond by eliminating harmful irritants. It will also increase humidity, which will help reduce small dust particles that are particularly irritating to people with respiratory problems.
The spider plants placed inside symbolize clean air and good mental and physical health.
Some beliefs say that a spider plant hanging in a room symbolizes fertility.
The “babies” growing from the spider plant are synonymous with fertility and rebirth, so if you’re planning on getting pregnant, consider hanging one in your bedroom. The ideal is to transplant one of the babies of the plant.
Hanging the spider plant in the kitchen or placing it on the windowsill is said to bring abundance and prosperity.
To give the plant to another person who leaves the house for the first time is to wish him good luck and happiness.
The spider plant is believed to remove negative energy from a home and promote Chi energy in rooms.
Because spider plants absorb negativity, they are believed to energize the home, and you should keep or have a potted plant in any place where you are stressed, such as the den.
About spiders and cobwebs
While many of us shudder at the thought of having spiders in our homes, the spider plant is believed to bring energy.
When we visualize the spider plant as a web, we see that it can hold our ideas and dreams and keep them safe until we are ready to use them.
The spider plant symbolizes new creations and connections and also reminds us of our connection to people and animals.
The web, which appears as an infinite formation, is meant to remind us of our existence, where we are still part of the grand design of life. Although we may seem caught up in the web, we are actually part of the rich tapestry of life.
How to Propagate Spider Plants
These are some of the easiest plants to propagate, so there’s no reason you can’t have several in your home or even your garden, if the conditions are right.
- Wait for the “babies” to appear and let them grow to the size of a tennis ball.
- Cut out a “baby” with clean scissors.
- Put in a saucepan with water.
- In a few weeks you will have quite a few roots growing.
- Now simply place your new plant in fresh potting soil, water and watch your new plant take shape.
Ideal conditions for your spider plant
Spider plants like regular moisture. They don’t like to be kept too wet or too dry.
Your spider plant will do well in bright to moderate indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight can easily scorch its leaves and cause brown spots. We have an article on light requirements for a spider plant.
Spider plants are considered quite fast growing, so be careful that they don’t get tangled in the pots. Ideally, transplant the plant every two years. To help you, we have an article about it. What is the best pot for a spider plant?
You can grow spider plants outdoors in the summer as long as they are in dappled shade and out of direct sunlight.
Once established they will need occasional watering and once they reach maturity they will only need moderate watering.
Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Moist soil will encourage new growth.
Your spider plant will do well indoors if the temperatures are between 55 and 80 degrees F.
If you keep your potted spider plants outdoors during the summer, you may want to bring them indoors when the weather turns cold. They do not grow well in temperatures much lower than 55 degrees F.
Although they should not be over-fertilized, spider plants appreciate a dose of fertilizer once a month in the spring and summer.
Final Thoughts: Benefits of Spider Plants
Spider plants are wonderful additions to any home. They do well on a patio if they are sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
Spider plants are very low maintenance plants that are easy to propagate, making them great gift ideas all year round. They are also perfect as a gift for a new owner as they symbolize good luck and happiness.
Since they are so easy to care for and propagate, there’s no reason you shouldn’t have some of these beautiful plants in your home, on a balcony, or even in your garden.
If you liked this article, check out our article on How to save a spider plant from root rot.