Do spider plants flower or is this just a myth among houseplant owners?
Spider plants can grow small white flowers if the plant is mature enough (in most cases) and given the right conditions for growth. This can be encouraged by fertilizing correctly and you can expect a spider plant to flower anytime throughout the year when kept indoors.
Spider plant flowering is a super interesting topic and something that not many people know about. Let’s take a look at some of the specifics.
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When Do Spider Plants Produce Flowers?
Spider plants can produce flowers throughout the year when kept indoors depending on the conditions, but it usually occurs in the spring and summertime.
Most spider plants produce flowers when they are mature, but there are certain species that will produce flowers when they are young.
What Do Spider Plant Flowers Look Like?
Spider plant flowers are small and white, with stems up to 2 feet long.
The flowers are star-shaped, with between 3 and 6 petals.
How To Encourage A Spider Plant To Flower
Age
Don’t expect a new spider plant to grow flowers, as this is something that will only occur when the plant is mature.
Consider purchasing an older plant if you’re serious about getting a spider plant to flower, otherwise, you’ll have to wait up to 5 years for your plant to mature.
Growing Conditions
The growing conditions need to be ideal for a spider plant to grow flowers. This is no different to other houseplants such as a peace lily or anthurium, as flower development will not be prioritised initially over things such as root or stem growth.
Here’s a brief summary of these conditions if you’re unsure about them:
- Humidity – Higher humidity is preferable for spider plants, with ideal levels between 50% and 70%.
- Sunlight – Spider plants prefer bright, indirect light to direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, so opt for a more shaded environment.
- Temperature – Anywhere between 70°F to 80°F (Around 21°C to 27°C) is ideal for spider plant growth. The temperature can drop below this for periods of time as long as it doesn’t go below a minimum of 50°F (10°C).
- Soil Type – Well-draining soil that holds moisture well is the best type for spider plants. If you want to make your own mix, use 1 part peat moss, 1 part perlite and 4 parts bark fines.
Indoor vs Outdoor
If the conditions where you live are suitable for growing spider plants (USDA zones 9-11) outside then this can be a potential option.
In an indoor environment, spider plants can develop flowers all year long. Outdoors, the growth of flowers is stimulated by short days and long, uninterrupted nights.
Fertilizer
Spider plants, like most houseplants, benefit from complete fertilizers (those containing the three essential nutrients NPK).
It’s been suggested to switch to a fertilizer low in nitrogen to promote flower growth on spider plants.
The theory behind this is that nitrogen is responsible for leaf and stem growth mainly, so lowering this will allow the plant to focus resources on growing flowers instead.
Will Spider Plant Flowers Turn Into Babies?
Anyone who has owned a spider plant knows about spider plant babies (also known as spiderettes or spider plantlets).
These are essentially mini spider plants that grow on the leaves of established spider plants. They can be easily propagated into new spider plants, but do these spider plant babies start off as flowers?
Once the spider plant has flowered, the stems where the flowers were grown can develop leaves, which eventually form plantlets or spider plant babies. So, in a strange way, spider plant flowers do eventually turn into spider plant babies.