Spider plants are a joy to have in your home, and they are great houseplants for beginner gardeners. They are not fussy about where they are placed, and they tolerate different light conditions. These plants have stunning variegated or non-variegated leaves, but what are the added benefits of having this plant in your home?
Learn more about why you should add spider plants to your indoor space and the benefits they offer.
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Good in Low Light
The first benefit of this plant is its versatility and adaptability to different light conditions. So, if you have an indoor space with low lighting and small windows, this plant is an excellent choice for your home. Spider plants thrive in bright indirect light as well as part shade, but do not do well in direct sunlight as this causes damage to the bright leaves.
Various Indoor Locations
Another benefit of the spider plant is where it can be placed. If you have limited space, don’t fret! These plants do well on shelves or in hanging baskets. The cascading growth of the leaves resembles a water fountain and adds aesthetic appeal to small spaces.
Safe for Pets
According to the ASPCA, spider plants are non-toxic plants for cats and dogs, which is a great benefit if you have a house full of furry friends! For pet lovers, having a spider plant in the house is a safe option and the way to go.
Fun fact: Cats love to nibble on the spider plant leaves!
Easy to Propagate
A great benefit to having a spider plant is if you want another one, you don’t have to spend money and buy one. Instead, you can easily propagate more plants by rooting the cut plantlet in a jar, glass, or large cup of water. Once the roots have grown, add the plantlets to a soil-less potting mix.
If you don’t want to cut the plantlet yet, you don’t have to. Another way to propagate is to place the base of the attached plantlet into a small container of soil-less potting mixture. When the roots begin to establish, simply cut the plantlet from the main stem.
For the price of one spider plant, through propagation, you get to watch the baby spider plants grow to maturity!
Improves Sleep Quality
According to a NASA study, spider plants produce oxygen, and decrease the amount of formaldehyde in the air so you can breathe better and get a good night’s sleep. This plant can promote deeper and more therapeutic sleep, so why not add a couple spider plant to your bedroom. Although, for maximum effect, you would need three of these plants for every 100 square feet.
Helps Increase Humidity
Another benefit to spider plants is they emit oxygen into the air as a result of photosynthesis and may help with dry indoor air. If you live in a place with radiators or fireplaces, placing a few spider plants in various rooms will help release moisture into the air. And these plants are far less expensive than buying a humidifier that runs off electricity. The American Society for Horticulture Science led a study to show that spider plants are adept at increasing indoor humidity levels by 30 percent in 24 hours!
If you suffer from frizzy hair, nose bleeds, and dry skin, spider plants can help with these ailments because of their ability to increase room humidity.
Cleans the Air
And finally, perhaps the biggest benefit of having spider plants is that they act as air purifiers. In a controlled study NASA found that spider plants have an amazing ability to remove toxic air pollutants. The plant can absorb airborne pollutants including carbon dioxide, ammonia, benzene, and formaldehyde, and carry these toxins to its roots where a detoxification process occurs.
Aesthetic Appeal
Another benefit of spider plants is their aesthetic appeal. They can be placed next to other low-light plants and offer a variety of different colors and contrasting patterns. For example, spider plants complement the lemon-lime hues of prayer plant that display stunning oval-shaped leaves with variegated colors of white and dark green.
Not Just Prized for Beauty
Spider plants don’t just add flair and aesthetics to your indoor space, more importantly, they have many health benefits; they clean your air, reduce indoor allergens like dust, help you sleep better, promote a healthy immune system, are pet-friendly, and improve your over mental health. So is there any reason not to add spider plants to your home?
Will you try adding spider plants to your home and reap the benefits?
If you have any tips or tricks, please add them to the comment field below.
