The Chlorophytum comosum, commonly known as the Airplane Plant or Spider Plant, is a resilient perennial herbaceous plant originating in southern Africa. It has become a global staple due to its adaptability, ease of maintenance, and ability to purify indoor air by filtering common toxins. This guide details the specific environmental and routine care practices necessary for successfully cultivating this hardy species, ensuring your plant remains vibrant and produces its characteristic trailing offshoots.
Ideal Placement and Light Exposure
The Airplane Plant thrives best in bright, indirect light, which is optimal for photosynthesis without damaging the leaf tissue. Position the plant a few feet from an east or west-facing window, or behind a sheer curtain in a south-facing window, to provide ideal filtered light. Variegated varieties require brighter light to maintain the contrast in their white or yellow stripes; insufficient light will cause the stripes to fade.
Direct, intense sunlight must be avoided, as it quickly leads to leaf scorch, appearing as brown, dry patches. The plant prefers consistent, moderate household temperatures, ideally between 18°C and 24°C (65°F and 75°F). While the Airplane Plant tolerates average home humidity, it appreciates slightly higher moisture. Placing the plant near a humidifier or on a pebble tray can increase localized humidity, though this is not required for survival.
Watering, Soil, and Feeding Routine
Proper watering requires balancing moisture retention and drainage. The plant has thick, fleshy roots that store water, making it tolerant of occasional dryness. To prevent root rot, allow the top inch or two of the potting medium to dry completely between waterings.
When watering, soak the soil thoroughly until excess liquid flows freely from the drainage holes. This ensures the entire root ball is hydrated and helps flush out mineral salts that build up over time. During the active growing season (spring and summer), the plant requires more frequent watering due to increased metabolic activity.
A highly porous, well-draining potting mix is essential to mitigate waterlogging risk. Standard houseplant potting soil works well when amended with materials to improve aeration and drainage capacity. The addition of inert materials prevents soil compaction, which is detrimental to root health.
Feeding should occur during the spring and summer months when the plant is actively growing. Use a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer, diluted to half the strength recommended on the label. Applying fertilizer every four to six weeks provides the necessary macronutrients for robust growth. Avoid over-fertilization, as it leads to a buildup of soluble mineral salts that can damage roots and contribute to leaf tip burn.
Growing New Plants From Plantlets
Mature Airplane Plants produce small, miniature plants, known as plantlets or “spiderettes,” at the ends of long, hanging stems called stolons. This asexual reproduction allows for easy propagation.
Water Propagation
One effective method is to root the plantlets in water. Snip a plantlet from the stolon, ensuring it has a knob-like base or tiny aerial roots, and place the base in a glass of distilled or filtered water. A robust root system will develop within a few weeks, allowing the rooted plantlet to be transplanted into a small pot with potting mix. Ensure no foliage is submerged, as this can lead to rot.
Soil Propagation
Another popular technique involves planting the spiderette directly into soil while it is still attached to the mother plant. Fill a small container with moist potting mix and set the plantlet’s base onto the soil surface, securing it if necessary. The plantlet receives nutrients from the parent plant until its own roots establish themselves. Once firmly rooted, the connecting stolon can be cleanly snipped, and the new plant moved to its permanent location.
Diagnosing and Treating Common Issues
The most frequent aesthetic issue is the browning or crisping of leaf tips. This is often a physiological response to the accumulation of mineral salts, particularly fluoride and chlorine, found in treated tap water. These chemicals deposit in the leaf tissue as water evaporates, leading to phytotoxicity at the leaf margins. To mitigate this, water your plant with distilled water, collected rainwater, or filtered water.
If using tap water, letting it sit out for 24 hours allows chlorine gas to dissipate, though this does not remove fluoride. Brown tips can also result from low humidity or mineral buildup from over-fertilization. Flushing the soil every few months by running a large volume of water through the pot washes away excess salts.
Pest Management
While generally pest-resistant, the Airplane Plant can occasionally be targeted by common houseplant insects. Common pests include spider mites, mealybugs, and scale. Spider mites flourish in dry, warm conditions and manifest as fine webbing and tiny stippling on the leaves. Upon noticing pests, immediately isolate the plant to prevent spread. A simple, non-toxic treatment involves thoroughly rinsing the foliage with a strong jet of room-temperature water to physically dislodge them. Afterward, the leaves can be wiped down or sprayed with insecticidal soap or neem oil, ensuring coverage of the undersides of the leaves.