Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Spider Plants

Q. I was recently given a Spider plant as a gift, but no instructions as to its care. Any advice/recommendations would be appreciated.

A. Spider plants are one of the easiest house plants to raise. The number one factor is water. If you give them too much, they will rot and die. If too little, the leaf tips and edges will burn, turning brown. So, make sure that the plant is in a well-drained potting mix and water flows freely out the bottom holes. When you water, allow that water will drip from the bottom, since you want to drench well. This also leaches out soil salts which are detrimental.

Provide good light for the plant, but do not have it set in bright, direct, hot afternoon light. Shelter it during this time with other plants, sheer curtains or blinds. The plant will dry out quickly, with the heat causing problems.

Give the plant monthly feedings of a general house plant fertilizer, 12 months out of the year. The food will keep the plant growing and healthy. You can plant the baby spiders after they have grown with a few roots out the bottom of a cluster. They are easily spread and actually grow outside as a ground cover in moderate climates.