Solved Plant i.d.

Guys,
I had this plant given to me by a customer of mine.

I was told it is a spider plant. Ok, so afetr re potting it, it has shown significant signs of growth.

I am particularly interested in the central stalk that has shot out over the last couple of weeks. It is not going straight up, but sideways.
Does it need to be propped up vertical? And is it a spider plant after all.

Can it be left outside or is it a house plant.

Thanks in advance

Michael.

 

Hi Michael,
it is indeed a Spider plant and is grown as a houseplant in the UK. The full green version is incredibly flexible houseplant as it will survive and look good in the darkest corners.

The stem with plantlets is it's way to propagate itself, you can pull the plantlets off and root in a glass of water or in compost to increase your stock. Let the stem trail as it is, when the plant makes more of them they look very decorative if you place the plant higher up or in a hanging basket.

The roots are very fat so Spider plants tend to outgrow their container in a year- old, tatty plants can be replaced with the newly rooted kids, or it's also ok to cut or pull of excess roots when re-potting in spring.

Apparently these plants have air purifying properties- don't know about that but they are reliable, nice plants.

 

It is a spider plant. In addition to ones with dark green leaves there's variegated ones with white and green stripes.

The stem(s) with plantlets on are left to hang down and are a feature of these spider plants. They can be potted up for additional plants or left to accumulate into an impressive display of trailing growth.

They are not hardy and used as house plants or in summer hanging baskets and window boxes. They need bringing indoors before frosts.


P.S. in addition to propagation from plantlets, they also have flowers on the stems and produce seeds.

 

A quick note on hardiness. If mulched like canna and dahlia, they will come back when planted out. Of course, I'm on the south coast in a very porous soil, so I can get away with a lot more.
Another note on hardiness. When we have a run of mild winters, these things, chlorophytum comosum, will run riot and grow like spanish bluebells

 

They run amuck here outside all year ... babies in the hanging pots as well!

 

They can get quite large if potted on and fed regularly. Many years ago I grew one in a large pot sitting on top of an A0 (841 x 1189mm) plans chest and had to keep trimmimg the trailing stems to prevent them obstructing the top drawer.

 

They can get quite large if potted on and fed regularly. Many years ago I grew one in a large pot sitting on top of an A0 (841 x 1189mm) plans chest and had to keep trimmimg the trailing stems to prevent them obstructing the top drawer.