Tips on Fertilizing Spider Plants

spider plant

Many of the plants that live inside of your home need to be fertilized, but some plants require more fertilizer than others. Spider plants are extremely durable, so they are not needy house plants; in fact, they only need to be watered about once a week and they can easily survive without fertilizer. That being said, it is still a good idea to fertilize your spider plants during the growing season to revitalize it from its winter slumber.

Why Fertilize?

I have grown spider plants with and without fertilizer to see if fertilizing the plant really makes a difference. What were the results? Fertilization does make a noticeable difference in how much the plant grows during the growing season. Fertilizer is designed to give indoor plants the same growth cycle that they would experience outside, that is why it is best to feed them during the spring and summer months, rather than during the fall and the winter when they are entering a dormant state.

Organic vs. Inorganic

Both types of fertilizers work, but organic fertilizer is going to be the best option for a spider plant. This type of fertilizer ensures that foreign chemicals are not introduced into the soil. Chemical and salt build-up will be minimal, and organic fertilizers are often slow-releasing, which means that it is difficult to over-fertilize the plant. If you choose to use inorganic fertilizer, using them for extended periods of time can also make your plants more susceptible to pests. There are two types of fertilizers that are great to use with spider plants, let’s take a look at each.

Pellet Fertilizer

Pellet fertilizer is a type of fertilizer that is placed directly in the soil at the beginning of the growing season. It is a slow-releasing pellet, so if you place it into the soil in March, you should see growth in no time at all. If you are placing your spider plant outside, make sure that you wait until the temperature remains above 50 degrees during the day and the night before you fertilize your plants. Pellet fertilizers only need to be used once a year, if you wish to fertilize the spider plant further, then you should use liquid fertilizer.

Liquid Fertilizer

Liquid fertilizer is what you should use during the growing season. This will provide a healthy boost of nutrients to your spider plants. This should be given to your plants in the spring and the summer of the year about once a month. Some prefer to fertilize their plants every two weeks, but I have found that fertilizing the plant so often can cause salt to collect at the bottom of the soil. Underfeeding the plant is better than adding excess minerals to the plant that could cause it harm.

If salt begins to form near the aeration holes of the pot, you should refresh the soil to prevent brown tip from forming on the leaves. You should also reduce the amount of fertilizer that you use; I’d suggest reducing it by half. In addition, never use liquid fertilizer during fall or winter. Once the temperature begins to drop, your spider plant will enter a dormant state to help protect it during the winter cold.

Fertilizing spider plants will help them grow, but if you forget to feed them one month, they are strong enough to survive. Experiment with different organic fertilizers to see which one works best for your plants.

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