Does the Spider plant have different names?
When you talk about indoor plants, you will often come across many names for an individual plant.
This is pretty much common in most of the plants that we grow inside our homes.
In today's guide, I thought I should share some interesting Spider plant names and details with you all.
So, let's get started!
List Of Spider Plant Names
As you know, the Spider plant in itself is a unique name for a plant, but it also has many other names in the gardening community.
Some of these names are equally interesting and funny, to say the least.
Now, let's not waste more time and check out the list below.
1. Chlorophytum comosum
It's a scientific name for the Spider plant.
It may sound difficult to pronounce, but it does have meaning to it.
So, what does it really mean?
Well, the word Chlorophytum is nothing but the name of the genus of the Spider plant.
There are nearly 200 varieties of plants that belong to this specific genus.
All these plants are perennial, which means they last for more than one year.
Another interesting aspect of this group of plants is all of them are flowering plants, and most of them produce white-colored flowers.
The word 'comosum' also has a meaning to it.
It is derived from the Latin word comosus, and it simply means having long hair or many leaves.
In this context, the second description is perfect for the Spider plant because the plant does produce many leaves during its lifecycle.
Well, now, I hope you understood the meaning of this slightly difficult scientific name of the plant.
2. Spider Ivy
Spider Ivy is just another name for the Spider plant.
Although it has no direct relation to the Ivy plants, its name might have derived from the creeper-like appearance.
When the hanging Spider plants send out plantlets, it does give you a feel of a creeper plant in the garden.
3. Hen And Chickens
Now, this one is quite interesting!
And unusual too!
Hens and Chickens is another cool name for Spider plants.
Similar to the above name, there is no real information as to why some people call it this name.
But if you look at this plant closely, it does have long leaves that look like the feathers of hens and chickens.
So, this could be an explanation for the name.
The other interesting possibility is the plant's ability to produce pups on the runners.
When the plant produces too many of them, it looks like chicks roaming around the hen.
Therefore, the second explanation for this name does sound a bit logical.
4. Ribbon Plant
Yes, the plant is also known as the Ribbon plant.
I don't think you'd need an explanation for this one, though.
Still, if you are not sure why it's called the Ribbon plant, the plant produces long single leaves from the base.
These leaves often have a flat surface and similar structures that appear like a ribbon.
When sunlight drops on their surface, the leaves shine with golden yellow color.
This also gives you a feel of ribbons, especially when you look at the plant from a distance.
5. Airplane Plant
It's the last name in the list of names for the Spider plant.
The airplane plant is a pretty uncommon name, so you won't see many people referring to this plant with the same name.
But what's the secret behind this name?
There is no secret here.
The name comes from the plantlets.
As you know, the Spider plant sends out quite a few aerial pups during its lifetime.
These aerial plantlets appear as if they are small airplanes flying in the air, especially when you have planted the Spider plant in a hanging pot.
So, that's why the plant has got this unique name from its 'flying' plantlets.
Overall, these are the popular names of this beautiful indoor plant.
In the next section, I have shared some insights on how to care for this plant.
Do check out the tips suggested below.
5 Useful Tips To Grow Spider Plant At Home
Here's a list of tips for you -
1. Make Sure There Is Enough Sunlight In The Room
The spider plant cannot tolerate low light conditions.
It needs ample sunlight to carry out its daily functions in the system.
If the plant doesn't get enough sunlight, the leaves will start to droop.
They will also lose their shine over the period and turn dark green due to lack of light.
Try to place this plant in a bright location in your home.
The plant looks stunning in a living room if you can hang it somewhere near a window.
Note: You don't need to provide direct sunlight to this plant.
It can do well in indirect sunlight as well.
2. Water Your Spider Plant Regularly
The good thing about indoor plants is they don't require frequent watering.
You can water these plants once a week, and that should be good enough for the plants.
Similarly, you should water your Spider plant weekly.
This will allow the plant to remain fresh for a long time.
3. Do Not Overwater Your Plant
This is the only thing you need to remember whenever you water your Spider plant.
Do not water it too much, as it can lead to overwatering in the pot.
This type of situation is not at all suitable for the plant.
If the water sits in the pot for long, the roots and stem will begin to rot.
So, be careful and don't water the plant if the soil is already wet.
4. Add Fertilizers Occasionally
You can make use of homemade fertilizers for this plant.
Generally, the Spider plant does not require a lot of fertilizers.
So, you can add a bit of compost to it, and that should help grow the plant vigorously.
If you want to go for commercial fertilizers, you can try the ones with a slightly higher nitrogen ratio.
5. Separate The Pups Whenever Possible
The best thing about this plant is it produces so many pups throughout its lifetime.
You can separate these pups periodically so that the plant can come up with new ones.
The other benefit of removing the runners and pups is it gives breathing space to the plant.
If you keep growing the plant without pruning and trimming, it will create congestion and humidity around it.
Both these issues invite fungal and bacterial growth in the plant.
Now, let's check out the FAQs below.
FAQs
The Spider plant is native to South and West Africa.
It'd be difficult to count the no. of varieties of Spider plants because you get to see new hybrid varieties in the market each year.
However, these are some of the well-known varieties -
1. Bonnie Spider Plant
2. Variegated Spider Plant
3. Hawaiian Spider Plant
4. Zebra Spider Plant
You can identify this plant by looking at the leaves.
The leaves often have variegation of white and green color, and they also look pretty much like ribbons.
Spider plants won't attract bugs on their own because they do not release any sap from their leaves.
However, if the plant is weak, you might see some common bugs on this plant.
The plant may also attract fungus if there is an overwatering situation in the pot.
No, the Spider plant doesn't come in a purple color variety.
It's mostly a green-colored plant with some varieties that may offer green-white variegation.
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