The spider plant is one of the most rewarding plants there is: it grows fast, forgives a fair bit of neglect and, in time, produces little ‘babies’, or runners, that you can pot up and give away. Perfect if you want to start a plant collection without spending much.
Did you know? The spider plant was one of the stars of NASA’s clean air study for its ability to filter formaldehyde (in sealed chambers, mind you: in a home the effect is minimal). And every ‘baby’ it produces is a free new plant.
It likes indirect light and moderate watering, letting the soil dry out in between. It’s a popular choice for shelves and hanging pots, thanks to its arching shape and its green-and-white striped leaves.
Start today: when your spider plant produces its first baby, pot it up. It’s the plant that multiplies all by itself.