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Ornamental Features
Spider plants make excellent hanging baskets. The long, grassy leaves are available in green or striped yellow or white. Long wiry stems appear on healthy plants with many small white flowers and miniature plantlets. If these new plantlets touch soil, they will root.
Problems
In the home, plant diseases are very rarely a problem. Too much or too little water plus insects and mites are the main problems. Whiteflies, spider mites, scales and aphids are the most common insect pest problems.
Culture
Spider plants grow best with bright indirect light. They can tolerate some direct sunlight, but midday light may scorch leaves.
Where does ornamental spider grass grow?
Ornamental spider grass is native to eastern Asia. These species of Liriope typically grow naturally in the moist, acidic woodlands of northern Vietnam across China, Korea and Japan, according to "A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants.".
What do spider grass leaves look like?
Thin, narrow leaves that look grass-like emanate from rhizome root s in spider grasses. The leaves usually arch gracefully, mimicking the look of long spider legs in a basal clumping plant.
How much sunlight does spider grass need?
Tolerant of drought and dense shade, these plants will grow lusher and faster in evenly moist conditions with at least four to six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Is spider grass evergreen?
In winter the leaves remain evergreen as long as temperatures do not drop below or remain under 10 F. One of a host of common names for ornamental clumping perennials belonging to the botanical genus Liriope, spider grass is also commonly called monkey grass, border grass, Aztec grass, lily turf and liriope.
What zone is spider grass?
Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 11, spider grass is planted in full sun to full shade, depending on the variety.
What is the best grass to plant on a hillside?
Planting ornamental grasses such as spider grass (Liriope spicata), commonly known as creeping liriope, lilyturf or monkey grass, resolves many of the mowing, watering and weeding issues that gardeners often face. Spider grass doesn't require mowing, and once established it is relatively drought-resistant. Spreading by underground rhizomes, the grasslike foliage quickly fills in under trees, covers steep slopes and provides a water-saving alternative to lawns. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 11, spider grass is planted in full sun to full shade, depending on the variety.
Is spider grass invasive in California?
Mowing or trimming spider grass is for aesthetic reasons; it won't hurt the plants to leave the old leaves in place. While spider grass is not considered invasive in most of the United States, it does tend to spread.
What are spider plants?
There are several varieties of spider plants, including: 1 Chlorophytum comosum 'Variegatum': This variety has leaf margins of cream or white with a dark green stripe down the middle. Its long stems are green. 2 Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum': This plant’s leaves have a center white stripe surrounded by medium green margins. Its long stems are white. 3 Chlorophytum comosum 'Bonnie': This variety is more compact than the main species plant and has loosely curled leaves with green margins and a cream center stripe. It produces yellow flowers.
What are the pests that can be found on spider plants?
Spider plants are generally healthy, but a few common plant pests, including aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites, can impact them. 2 Depreciated foliage is a common sign of an infestation. A natural and effective way to combat some infestations is simply to rinse the plant with water.
What is the name of the plant with curled leaves?
Chlorophytum comosum 'Bonnie': This variety is more compact than the main species plant and has loosely curled leaves with green margins and a cream center stripe. It produces yellow flowers.
Why do spider plants grow in containers?
Spider Plant Care. Spider plants are often grown in containers as hanging plants due to the cascading nature of their foliage and their long stems with plantlets. They also look great when grown atop columns.
How to get brown tips on plants?
Too much fertilizer can cause brown leaf tips, but too little fertilizer will result in weak growth. 1 Use an all-purpose granular or water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season following label instructions. Adjust the amount if necessary depending on your plant's growth.
Can spider plants grow in shade?
Outdoors, spider plants prefer to grow in light shade. They can tolerate heavy shade, but their growth won't be as robust. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. Indoors, a bright window that gets indirect sun is ideal.
Do spider plants need water?
In warm climates, spider plants do well in outdoor planters and as ground cover plants. Regular watering is typically the most time-consuming part of spider plant care. Throughout the growing season (spring to fall) also plan to fertilize on a regular basis.
How to propagate spider plants?
Propagate large plants. Divide spider plants that are too large by pulling or cutting the root ball into several sections, each with some leaves, and repotting the sections with fresh potting medium. Alternatively, you can pluck off plantlets and root them in a cup of water.
What temperature do spider plants need to be?
They prefer a temperature between 50 °F (10 °C) to 80 °F (27 °C) and can't thrive in outdoor areas with freezing or searing temperatures.
What to use to potting spider plants?
If your spider plant is indoors in a pot, select a potting medium like vermiculite or coco coir. Don't fret too much over the soil, as spider plants are very adaptable. ...
Why are my spider plants turning brown?
Spider plants don’t need too much water and if they get overwatered, the leaves will go brown. Equally though, too little water can cause the same problem, so check your watering schedule. Another cause can be related to a bacterial leaf blight, more common when the atmosphere is humid a lot of the time.
How much light do spider plants need?
Provide moderate to deep shade or indirect light. Spider plants don't need a ton of natural light, so they do well in bathrooms and bedrooms. They also thrive in windowsills, though they should be set about 12 inches (30 cm) away from south-facing windows during the spring and summer months.
What is the name of the plant that grows on the stems of the airplane?
Spider plants ( chlorophytum comosum) may also be called Airplane plants. Spider plants form arching clumps of grass-like leaves and get their common names from the baby plantlets that form on their dangling stems.
Do spider plants need direct sunlight?
Spider plants do enjoy bright light, however, they need to be protected from too much direct sunlight. They flourish in partial shade.
What is a baby spider plant?
Once these tiny spider plants touch the soil, they develop roots. Spider plant babies can be snipped off the stolons and will grow as independent plants. In an outdoor setting, the babies can stay attached to the parent plant.
What zone do spider plants grow in?
But those who live in warmer climates like U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9b to 11 can grow these lush beauties in outdoor garden beds or as spider plant ground cover.
Can spider plants be planted in the sun?
They are very forgiving of many gardener sins, but they can’t thrive if their roots are in the mud. On the other hand, you can plant them in the sun or partial shade.
Do spider plants grow in the ground?
However, spider plants in the wild grow in the ground. And those who live in warm climates have been using spider plants for ground cover for years. If you are considering spider plant ground cover, read on for all the information you’ll need about caring for spider plants in gardens.
Why are spider plants called spider plants?
Spider plants are so named because of the way they grow their roots from a central point. They form fleshy, vertical roots that extend outwards and store more water and nutrients in low-moisture environments. Both the roots and leaves are edible even though not common by many growers in the United States.
Why are spider plants important?
Spider plants also increase humidity in your home and also add a lot of life and color to any room. Spider plants are good for air purification, removing indoor airborne pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, and other toxic fumes.
Why are spider plants therapeutic?
Spider plants are therapeutic because they offer so many benefits including reducing depression, anxiety, anger, and tension. This benefit is linked to the plant’s ability to create a healthy living environment by getting rid of toxins and absorbing carbon dioxide and toxins including formaldehyde and xylene. 6.
How long does it take for a spider plant to dry out after watering?
The water droplets left behind after this plant has been watered provide humidity for up to 12 hours when evaporating. Spider plants often have many leaves which provide shade over hot surfaces, which helps reduce moisture loss during summer days.
What is the pH of a spider plant?
The pH is important for the health of this houseplant too. Spider plants need soil with good water drainage. The pH range should be 6.0 -7.2, which is acidic to slightly alkaline, and any general-purpose potting mix will work for this plant.
How long does it take for spider plants to help with stress?
The study found that patients who had a spider plant for at least two weeks showed an improvement in their mood and reduced cortisol levels, which is the hormone related to stress.
What are the benefits of spider plants?
Another great benefit of spider plants is that they add color and life to indoor spaces.
What is a lilyturf?
Lilyturf is a genus of broadleaf evergreen, clump-forming, perennials in the Asparagaceae or asparagus family. The name liriope is derived from new Latin and is a nymph in Roman mythology.
Do lilyturfs grow in full sun?
They require acidic to neutral well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. It will tolerate almost full shade but growth is slow and leaves are elongated. There are many species and cultivars out with variegated foliage that adds interest to shady areas of the landscape.
What is spider grass?
Spider grass is the common name used in reference to two different plants. Most commonly, the term refers to Aristida ternipes Cav. and its various cultivars. However, the term can also describe another perennial grass, Liriope spicata, or creeping lilyturf. The removal procedures for both plants are identical.
Why is it important to spray a plant with a rain free period?
On windy days, the spray can be blown off course and fall on unintended targets, such as nearby plants. The rain-free period is also important because it ensures the chemical will have enough time to dry on the leaves and be absorbed into the plant.
Can you use pre-emergent herbicides on a plant?
You can use a combination of pre- and post-emergent herbicides if you are concerned the plant is going to come back the next season, although it is generally not necessary to do so.
Can you kill spider grass with round up?
Spider grass, especially if it is the Liriope variety, is an extremely tough plant that may require more than one application to kill. However, herbicides, especially commercially available varieties such as Round-Up, will kill any plant as long as it is mixed and applied correctly.
