{"id":16166,"date":"2026-01-09T17:11:51","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T16:11:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/plantenplagen\/spider-plant\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T11:26:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T10:26:59","slug":"spider-plant","status":"publish","type":"encyclopedia","link":"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/plantenplagen\/spider-plant\/","title":{"rendered":"Spider plant"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\" id=\"wpb-content-root\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&rdquo;2\/3&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo; el_id=&rdquo;topentry&rdquo; el_class=&rdquo;topentry&rdquo;]Spider plant <em>(Chlorophytum comosum) <\/em>is an evergreen perennial flowering plant of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/plantenplagen\/asparagus\/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"The asparagus plant is hardy and a perennial, but not evergreen, retreating to the ground each year in the fall. In the spring (from about the end of April) asparagus wants to start sprouting again, like every perennial does: and those are the edible asparagus, the young shoots that emerge just above the ground.\" class=\"encyclopedia\">asparagus<\/a> family known mainly as a houseplant.<!--more-->[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&rdquo;1\/3&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo; el_id=&rdquo;entrytxt&rdquo; el_class=&rdquo;entrytxt&rdquo;]<em>Also known as:<\/em><br>\nCommon spider plant<br>\nSpider i<wbr><\/wbr>vy<br>\nHen and chickens (South &ndash; Africa)[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&rdquo;middle&rdquo; css=&rdquo;.vc_custom_1627123481876{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;background-color: #ccffff !important;border-radius: 20px !important;}&rdquo; el_id=&rdquo;mobile&rdquo;][vc_column offset=&rdquo;vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm&rdquo;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;.vc_custom_1627123409680{padding: 0px !important;border: 0px initial !important;}&rdquo; el_id=&rdquo;mobiel&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000099;\">You are viewing the mobile-adapted version of the page.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #000099;\">The one for tablets, laptop and desktop also offers general information, such as origin, toxicity and cultivation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row gap=&rdquo;35&Prime; css=&rdquo;.vc_custom_1532162142715{background-color: #e6e6e6 !important;}&rdquo;][vc_column width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime; offset=&rdquo;vc_hidden-xs&rdquo;][vc_single_image image=&rdquo;16165&Prime; img_size=&rdquo;medium&rdquo; add_caption=&rdquo;yes&rdquo; style=&rdquo;vc_box_rounded&rdquo; onclick=&rdquo;img_link_large&rdquo; img_link_target=&rdquo;_blank&rdquo; css=&rdquo;&rdquo;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;.vc_custom_1768131763548{padding-left: 13px !important;}&rdquo; el_id=&rdquo;entrytxt&rdquo; el_class=&rdquo;entrytxt&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The spider plant is non-toxic to humans and animals. The spider plant is an air purifier: formaldehyde, particulate matter (PM), lead and benzene, among others, are absorbed from the air. Accumulation of these substances in the plant may pose a minor health risk when consuming the spider plant &ndash; cats like to gnaw on the ends of the leaves.<\/li>\n<li>The thickened rhizomes are edible: in Iran and India, the roots are eaten.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime; css=&rdquo;.vc_custom_1649866478697{background-color: #e6e6e6 !important;}&rdquo; offset=&rdquo;vc_hidden-xs&rdquo;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo; el_id=&rdquo;topentry&rdquo; el_class=&rdquo;topentry&rdquo;]<strong>Spider plant<\/strong> <em>(Chlorophytum comosum)<\/em> is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the asparagus family <em>(Asparagaceae)<\/em> known in the UK mainly as a houseplant. It is native to warm and not too dry areas of southern and eastern Africa and to the countries along the Atlantic coast. The leaves are oblong and often striped. The spider plant blooms from May through June with white flowers at the end of a long, stiff stem. After flowering, mini-spider plants appear a the stem tips. Spider plants have thick, sturdy rhizomes that retain water for drier times. Spider plants are not affected by irregular watering.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><em>Position:<\/em> semi-shade; not in direct sunlight. In a darker location, the green stripes become darker.<br>\n<em>Soil:<\/em> A spider plant prefers to stand in normal, preferably somewhat moist potting soil.<br>\n<em>Repotting<\/em>: The spider plant is a fast grower, repotting as soon as the roots rise above the pot &ndash; and often necessary after only one year. Choose a pot that is at least 30% larger.<br>\n<em>Watering:<\/em> Once a week is sufficient &ndash; during drought some watering prevents brown spots on the leaves.<br>\n<em>Care:<\/em> Give spider plants some plant nutrition once a month from March through September.<br>\n<em>Cuttings:<\/em> Multiply spider plants by breaking off the mini-spider plants at the end of the stem and place in water (semi-shade, not in direct sunlight). Already after a month the plant has roots and the spider plant can be planted in a small pot with some potting soil mixed with sharp sand. Water and place the new plant in a bright spot, but not in direct sunlight.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=&rdquo;yes&rdquo;][vc_column width=&rdquo;1\/3&Prime;][vc_custom_heading text=&rdquo;Bugs&rdquo; font_container=&rdquo;tag:h4|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff&rdquo; google_fonts=&rdquo;font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&rdquo; css=&rdquo;.vc_custom_1532164328547{background-color: #585858 !important;}&rdquo;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo; el_class=&rdquo;entrytxt&rdquo;]Spider plants are not very susceptible to pests; however, insects such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/plantenplagen\/mealybug\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mealybugs<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/plantenplagen\/mites\/\" target=\"_blank\" title='[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=\"\"]Mites are small, often hard to see, arachnids that can have different colors, including red, green and brown. They are found on the undersides of leaves and like warm, dry environments. In fall and winter, they can turn orange-red. [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=\"2\/3\"][vc_column_text css=\"\"]Mites are common pests of plants. They are usually less than a millimeter&hellip;' class=\"encyclopedia\">mites<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/plantenplagen\/scale-insect\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scale insects<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/plantenplagen\/whitefly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">whiteflies<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/plantenplagen\/dark-winged-fungus-gnat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dark-winged fungus gnats<\/a> are sometimes found on the leaves. Remove the insects with a damp cloth.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&rdquo;1\/3&Prime; css=&rdquo;.vc_custom_1532102781238{background-color: #ffffff !important;}&rdquo;][vc_custom_heading text=&rdquo;Fungi &amp; diseases&rdquo; font_container=&rdquo;tag:h4|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff&rdquo; google_fonts=&rdquo;font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&rdquo; css=&rdquo;.vc_custom_1537885449118{background-color: #585858 !important;}&rdquo;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo; el_class=&rdquo;entrytxt&rdquo;]In too humid an environment, spider plants can be affected by fungi: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/plantenplagen\/alternaria\/\" target=\"_blank\" title='[vc_row css=\".vc_custom_1537947939303{padding-left: 20px !important;}\"][vc_column width=\"2\/3\"][vc_column_text el_id=\"topentry\" el_class=\"topentry\"]Fungal disease - Alternaria alternata which causes brown spots mainly on the lower leaves of plants.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/3\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row gap=\"35\" css=\".vc_custom_1532162142715{background-color: #e6e6e6 !important;}\"][vc_column width=\"1\/2\"][vc_single_image image=\"867\" img_size=\"medium\" add_caption=\"yes\" style=\"vc_box_rounded\" onclick=\"img_link_large\"][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/2\" css=\".vc_custom_1532162092980{background-color: #e6e6e6 !important;}\"][vc_column_text el_class=\"entrytxt\"]Alternaria (Altenaria alternata) is a fungal disease whose spores overwinter in the soil on remaining foliage. Alternaria is&hellip;' class=\"encyclopedia\">Alternaria<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/plantenplagen\/fusarium-foot-rot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fusarium&nbsp; foot rot<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/plantenplagen\/rhizoctonia\/\" target=\"_blank\" title='[vc_row][vc_column width=\"2\/3\"][vc_column_text el_id=\"topentry\" el_class=\"topentry\"]Rhizoctonia is a soil fungus that causes a wide range of plant diseases. [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/3\"][vc_column_text el_id=\"entrytxt\" el_class=\"entrytxt\" css=\".vc_custom_1703004700554{padding-left: 20px !important;}\"]Also known as: Brown rot (dahlia) Black scurf (potatoes) Root rot (beets) Belly rot (cucumber) Tulip bulb rot[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row gap=\"35\" css=\".vc_custom_1532162142715{background-color: #e6e6e6 !important;}\"][vc_column width=\"1\/2\"][vc_single_image image=\"2465\" img_size=\"medium\" add_caption=\"yes\" style=\"vc_box_rounded\" onclick=\"img_link_large\"][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/2\" css=\".vc_custom_1532162092980{background-color: #e6e6e6 !important;}\"][vc_column_text el_class=\"entrytxt\"]Rhizoctonia&hellip;' class=\"encyclopedia\">Rhizoctonia<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/plantenplagen\/pythium-spp\/\" target=\"_blank\" title='[vc_row][vc_column width=\"2\/3\"][vc_column_text el_id=\"topentry\" el_class=\"topentry\"]Pythium spp, a water mould that mainly affects young, weak plants. [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/3\"][vc_column_text el_id=\"entrytxt\" el_class=\"entrytxt\" css=\".vc_custom_1696519080642{padding-left: 20px !important;}\"]Also known as: Stem rot (cannabis) Root rot (tulip) Pythium blight (grass)[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row gap=\"35\" css=\".vc_custom_1532162142715{background-color: #e6e6e6 !important;}\"][vc_column width=\"1\/2\"][vc_single_image image=\"2387\" img_size=\"medium\" add_caption=\"yes\" style=\"vc_box_rounded\" onclick=\"img_link_large\"][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/2\" css=\".vc_custom_1532162092980{background-color: #e6e6e6 !important;}\"][vc_column_text el_class=\"entrytxt\"]Pythium spp. (Pythium spp.) This water mould (Oomycetes) can&hellip;' class=\"encyclopedia\">Pythium spp.<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&rdquo;1\/3&Prime; css=&rdquo;.vc_custom_1532102799994{background-color: #ffffff !important;}&rdquo;][vc_custom_heading text=&rdquo;Care&rdquo; font_container=&rdquo;tag:h4|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff&rdquo; google_fonts=&rdquo;font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&rdquo; css=&rdquo;.vc_custom_1544120394088{background-color: #585858 !important;}&rdquo;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo; el_id=&rdquo;entrytxt&rdquo; el_class=&rdquo;entrytxt&rdquo;]Spider plants thrive best at room temperature (between 18&deg;C and 24&deg;C). In summer, the plant can be placed outdoors (semi-shade, sheltered). Spider plants, with their long, drooping stems, are suitable as hanging plants.<br>\nIf the leaves become lighter and lighter, the spider plant either has too little nutrition or the plant is in too light a location.<br>\nSpider plants can be sensitive to the fluoride in tap water, which often leads to brown leaf tips.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":14,"template":"","categories":[],"tags":[],"encyclopedia-category":[651],"encyclopedia-tag":[],"class_list":["post-16166","encyclopedia","type-encyclopedia","status-publish","hentry","encyclopedia-category-houseplants"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia\/16166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/encyclopedia"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16166"},{"taxonomy":"encyclopedia-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia-category?post=16166"},{"taxonomy":"encyclopedia-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.plantenplagen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia-tag?post=16166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}