Spider plants are one of the most popular types of houseplant to own, but do spider plants attract spiders or is this just a common misconception?
Despite their name, spider plants do not attract spiders. This is a common myth and something that you shouldn’t worry about if you happen to own one of these popular houseplants.
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Why Do Some People Think Spider Plants Attract Spiders?
The myth that spider plants attract spiders has been around for a long time and is pretty much due to the name of the plant.
The name actually comes from the small plantlets that are produced on the stems of the plant that resemble spiders and does not have anything to do with spider-attracting properties.
Can You Have A Spider Plant In Your Bedroom?
Spider plants are perfectly fine to keep in your bedroom, as they won’t attract spiders whatsoever.
They’re great for filling empty spaces and prefer lots of bright and indirect light, which makes them suited for bedrooms with this type of light. They’re also known for their air purification properties, which is another reason to consider placing one in your bedroom.
Do Any Houseplants Attract Spiders?
Spiders are not ‘attracted’ to any plant in particular, as they feed on insects rather than organic plant material.
It is more a case of spiders finding a suitable location to get food. Moisture tends to attract insects, so houseplants that require a lot of water tend to be suitable candidates for spiders as this provides a good opportunity for them to feed.
I own a lot of different houseplants, and I’ve only ever really noticed a spider in the sphagnum moss covering the soil mix of my anthurium. Sphagnum moss is used to increase the humidity of the anthurium and holds moisture really well.
This is an ideal environment for a spider as this moisture will attract insects, and the moss itself provides a lot of hiding spaces.
What Are The Best Houseplants To Keep Spiders Away?
Houseplants with strong odors are known to keep spiders away, and luckily there are plenty of plants that can get this job done. Most of these plants are also super easy to grow and care for, which is another bonus.
Lavender
Lavender is one of my personal favorite smelling plants and can be kept as a houseplant quite easily.
Lavender plants need a lot of sunlight, so aim for at least 3 or 4 hours of direct sunlight each day and rotate the pot weekly for even growth. They’ll also need to be watered quite frequently to avoid the soil drying out.
Mint
Everybody knows how easy mint is to grow, but did you also know that the strong scent of mint helps to keep spiders away?
Mint can easily be grown indoors year-round, as long as it is placed in an area with plenty of direct sunlight. It can tolerate fairly dry soil, but it should ideally be moist and watered quite frequently.
Basil
Basil is another brilliant option for keeping spiders at bay.
It’s super easy to get a hold of, and also very easy to propagate into several new basil plants that can be placed around the home. I’ve been growing basil for a little under a year now, and it’s super easy to do as long as you water the plant consistently and give it enough sunlight.
It definitely has a strong odor that you will either love or hate, so keep that in mind before you go ahead and buy one.
Do Spider Plants Attract Other Insects?
Since spider plants don’t attract spiders, you might be wondering if there are any types of insects that they do attract.
Luckily, spider plants don’t have any special properties that make them prone to attracting any specific type of insect. They are similar to most houseplants in that they are prone to infestations from insects such as aphids, mites and others.
Aphids
Aphids are pretty common for most plants kept outside and can make their way indoors quite easily.
They are small-bodied, soft and vary in color. Some people refer to aphids as greenflies or blackflies, and they can be quite tricky to remove.
Aphids feed on the sap of spider plants and common symptoms include yellowing or misshapen leaves.
Spider Mites
Spider mites are often confused for spiders, but they are not the same thing.
Spider mites are very small arachnids that feed on plant sap, reproducing rapidly. Key signs of spider mite infestation include small webs around the leaves of the spider plant, as well as lots of tiny light dots on the leaves.
Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats primarily affect indoor houseplants such as the spider plant and lead to a variety of issues such as yellowing leaves, stunted growth and loss of plants in serious infestations.
