Caring For and Maintaining Your Chlorophytum

One of the most popular of all houseplants, Chlorophytum or the Spider Plant, is native to Africa. Chlorophytum is a hardy, easy-to-grow houseplant that has beautiful downward arching and slender leaves that are either green or green and white striped. They will bloom with tiny white flowers.

 Sunlight: Chlorophytum thrives in bright indirect light, although if you take them outside during the summer, they enjoy light shade.

 Water: Water when the top 1-2" of soil becomes dry. Water the soil around the plant thoroughly every time you water. Chlorophytum don't care much for either fluoride or chlorine, so water your Spider Plant with either distilled water or rainwater.

Humidity: Colorado is a dry state with humidity levels much lower than the native environments in which Chlorophytum inhabit. To help create a more humid environment for your Chlorophytum, consider adding a fine mist humidifier to the room(s) in which you have your Chlorophytum. You can also place trays filled with stones and water nearby your Chlorophytum to increase local humidity. Misting your Chlorophytum with a hand sprayer will also help raise the local humidity level. Although the more humidity the better, a constant relative humidity of 50-55% will promote your Chlorophytum’s growth and health. Lower humidity will brown the tips of your Chlorophytum.

Temperature: Chlorophytum likes warmer temperatures and should not be placed in a drafty location such as near an air-conditioning vent. Chlorophytum prefer temperatures in the 60-80 degree F (16-27 degree C) range during the day and at 55 degrees F (13 degrees C) during the night.

 Soil: Use a loamy well-drained potting soil mix.