Slender evergreen leaves, 10 to 12 inches high, and long runners that may bloom and root themselves into new plants: chlorophytum (Chlorophytum comosum) is a South African native grown above all for the beauty of its foliage. Give it plenty of light without direct sun and moist air, and the leaves only grow nicer.
| Name | Chlorophytum |
|---|---|
| Family | Liliaceae (lily family) |
| Type | Indoor plant |
| Height | 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) |
| Exposure | Very well-lit |
| Soil | Soil mix |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
Care, repotting, watering and exposure, are items to focus your attention to make your chlorophytum even nicer.
Upon purchasing, if the pot is too small, feel free to repot your chlorophytum so that it may have space and grow well.
After that, every 2 or 3 years and preferably in spring, repot your chlorophytum in a pot of a very slightly larger size.
Eliminate dead and wilted leaves as you notice them, only snipping off the portion that has already died off and leaving the healthy part intact.
The best place to set up your chlorophytum is near a window that lets a lot of light through, but isn’t in direct sunlight.
The elevated needs in terms of moisture make this plant likely to thrive in a well-lit bathroom.
The more light a chlorophytum receives, the nicer its foliage.
Absolutely avoid setting it near heat sources such as radiators, because moisture is what this tropical plant needs most.
Regular but moderate watering is called for.
All year long and especially during summer, spray water on the leaves to recreate the moisture levels of its natural habitat.
Keep the soil mix moist and check that water drains properly.
Add green plant liquid fertilizer every 8 to 15 days during the growing phase.
Reduce watering and wait for the soil to be dry before watering again. The cooler the surrounding temperature gets, the less you need to water.
Most diseases targeting the plant are common indoor plant diseases, red spider mites and scale insects.
If the leaves start losing their shine, it is a good idea to give it more light.
Tips of leaves drying and yellowing are often a sign of lacking fertilizer and/or moisture. So mist the leafage with soft water and add fertilizer regularly.
Most problems on this plant show up on the leaves first. Use the signs below to work out what the plant is asking for.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf tips drying and yellowing | Lack of fertilizer and/or moisture | Mist the leafage with soft water and feed regularly |
| Leaves losing their shine | Not enough light | Move it to a brighter spot |
| Plant drying up | Excess sun on the foliage | Set it near a bright window but out of direct sunlight |
| Red spider mites and scale insects | Common indoor plant pests | Treat as for any other indoor plant |
Read the foliage regularly and small corrections in light, water and feeding usually put the plant back on track.
Beyond the plain green spider plant, garden centres offer a good range of named forms that differ mostly in their striping, the shape of the leaf and how freely they trail. Use the table below to pick the one that suits your spot.
| Variety | Leaf colouring | Habit | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Flash | Green leaves, orange stalks and midribs | Upright rosette, no runners | Colour accent, no trailing |
| Variegatum | Green centre, white margins | Arching, slightly stiffer | Shelf or plant stand |
| Vittatum | Creamy-white central stripe, green margins | Arching, free-branching | Classic hanging basket |
| Bonnie | White central stripe | Curled, twisting leaves, compact | Small pots and desktops |
| Mandaianum | Dark green with yellow central stripe | Dwarf, narrow-leaved | Small pots, windowsill |
| Bichetii | Narrow leaves, white margins | Low clump, no runners | Ground cover in a wide pot |
A fabulous indoor plant, Chlorophytum often comes in one of two varieties: C. elatum and C. comosum. Both adapt well to indoor house temperatures all year round, and can even cope with cooler air in winter, from 50 to 60°F (10 to 15°C).
This plant often sends out runners. Simply let the tip rest in a small pot with fresh soil. When roots have formed, you can cut it away from the mother plant!
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