The spider plant, also known as Chlorophytum comosum, is a popular houseplant admired for its graceful, cascading foliage. But did you know that under ideal conditions, the spider plant can grow exceptionally large? Let’s explore some record-breaking giant spider plants and understand what makes them so spectacular.
Overview of Spider Plants
The spider plant comes from tropical and subtropical Africa. It has long, arching leaves that come out of a central rosette. The leaves are usually green with white spots on them, but there are also solid green or yellow types.
As a member of the asparagus family, the spider plant contains tuberous roots and produces small white flowers on long stalks, followed by plantlets that can root to create new plants. In typical houseplant sizes, spider plants reach 1-2 feet tall and wide. However, given adequate space and care, they have the potential to grow much larger.
Ideal Growing Conditions
To maximize growth spider plants appreciate
- Abundant bright, indirect light. A sunroom, conservatory, or bright window provides suitable lighting.
- Warm temperatures between 60-80°F. Higher humidity is beneficial but not essential.
- Rich, well-draining potting mix to support establishment and nutrition.
- An ample container size allowing the root system to expand freely.
- Frequent fertilization during the growing period to encourage lush, vigorous growth.
World Records and Giant Varieties
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest spider plant grew to an incredible 12 feet wide in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1977. While not officially confirmed, even larger plants have been documented by reputable horticulturists and growers.
Different types of giant spider plants have been carefully bred to grow very big. Two popular types that are known for getting very big over time are “Gigantea” and “Jumbomonster.” With great care, they can grow to be 15 feet wide or even bigger!
Caring for Oversized Specimens
Caring for giant spider plants presents some unique challenges:
- A heavy pot is needed to support the extensive plant. Alternatively, the trailing stems can be trained along beams or trellises.
- Due to the size, moving and repotting large plants can be difficult. Division should be avoided to maintain the root structure.
- Careful watering and fertilization is required to nourish the entire plant.
- Pruning old foliage keeps the plant looking tidy.
- Supporting the heavy leaves prevents breakage.
- Monitoring for pests and diseases is essential.
Displaying Massive Spider Plants
When spider plants are fully grown, their huge stems that trail off make them great statement plants. Plants can become architectural features if they are placed as the focal point of a conservatory or sunroom. To show off the hanging plants, the stems can be guided along beams, poles, or trellises.
During the warmer months, huge spider plants do well outside on patios, in flower beds, or hanging over the railings of balconies. They are noticeable everywhere because of how big and heavy they are. Container grown plants must be moved indoors before frost.
For commercial settings like malls, office lobbies, or greenhouses, oversized spider plants make an instantly recognizable living decoration sure to draw attention and admiration. Their exotic, tropical allure thrives with abundant light and space.
Propagating and Sharing Giant Varieties
Once giant spider plants reach maturity, their many plantlets provide opportunities for propagation. The baby plantlets can simply be removed and potted up into new containers. This allows the unique genetics and growth tendencies to be preserved and shared.
Gifting or selling rooted spider plant divisions is a great way to spread these fabulous giant varieties with other plant lovers. The offspring plants will exhibit the rapid growth and enormous capabilities of the parent plant. With proper care, they can continue growing into epic proportions.
The World’s Largest Spider Plant – Big Momma
The current largest spider plant in the world is affectionately named “Big Momma”. Owned by plant enthusiast Marie Thompson of Los Angeles, California, Big Momma measures over 15 feet wide and stands at an impressive 5 feet tall.
Big Momma produces over 1,500 babies per year, allowing Thompson to share this magnificent plant’s genetics far and wide. With ideal growing conditions provided in Thompson’s greenhouse, Big Momma continues to grow larger each year, solidifying its status as the biggest spider plant on record.
Final Thoughts
When given adequate space and care, spider plants can attain incredible dimensions not typically seen in indoor houseplants. Seeking out specialized giant cultivars and providing optimal growing conditions allows spider plants to reach record-setting widths. For enthusiasts of unusual botanicals, nurturing the world’s largest spider plant is an exciting endeavor like no other!
Spider plant care tips
- Spider plants can survive in dry conditions because their thick rhizomes store water, but give them a lot of water during the growing season if you want them to do well. Just make sure the potting mix has some grit, sand, or perlite in it to let the water drain away, and don’t let the plants sit in water.
- Spider plants need a lot of indirect light. Darryl Cheng says that under a skylight is the best place for them. If not, a place in a big window facing east or west is fine.
- Spider plants can live in temperatures as low as 10C, but they like it when it’s room temperature.
- When spider plants’ leaves get brown tips, it’s just an issue of looks and not a big deal. It won’t happen if you water with rainwater or other water that hasn’t been flourinated.
- Spider plants make “babies,” also known as plantlets, on stems that have clusters of flowers on them. As they grow, these bend down to the ground and take root.
- If you want to make more plants, you can put a pot of gritty growing medium next to a plantlet and pin it to the soil with a florist’s pin or an open-ended paperclip. Let it root, and then cut off the stem that holds the flowers once it’s established. You can also cut or twist the babies off and put them in cutting compost or water to root.
- If your plant isn’t making babies yet, it might not be fully grown yet; be patient! If it is fully grown, it might just have been repotted because spider plants’ roots need to feel “snug” in their pots before they will reproduce. Also, make sure you feed and water the plant during the growing season to keep it in great shape.
- If your plant gets too big, take it out of the pot, tease it apart, or cut it into pieces and repot each piece separately.
LEGENDS OF THE LEAF
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Spider plants | Everything you need to know about caring for spider plants
FAQ
How large can spider plants get?
Size: A mature spider plant can reach a height of 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) and a spread of 12-36 inches (30-90 cm).
What is the largest spider in the world full size?
The goliath birdeater spider is the world’s largest spider by mass, weighing about 5-6 ounces. This spider delivers a venomous bite comparable to that of a wasp sting.
What is the rarest spider plant?
Rare Houseplant #1: Solid Green Spider Plant Its bright and vibrant block color makes it unique, interesting, and harder to find. The Solid Green Spider Plant is such a rare plant that it produces its own babies to share the love and maintain healthy growth.
What is the lifespan of a spider plant?
These hardy houseplants can live for a long time. A healthy spider plant will usually live for about 20 years, but some gardeners have kept theirs alive for over 50 years…. These plants can withstand a fair amount of neglect, but thrive with moderate attention.