The spider plant is one of the most popular and recognizable houseplants around. With its long arching leaves and trailing spiderette babies, it adds a dash of effortless style to any indoor space. While most spider plants sport variegated foliage streaked with white, solid green varieties also exist. But what causes these rare all-green spider plants to lack the usual white markings?
In this article, we’ll unravel the mysteries behind the elusive all-green spider plant variety. We’ll explore what makes them different, why they occur, and how to find these uncommon green beauties for your own collection
Typical Spider Plant Varieties are Variegated
Spider plants are scientifically known as Chlorophytum comosum The vast majority of spider plants have leaves decorated with white stripes or margins This variegation arises due to a lack of chlorophyll in those areas, allowing the white or yellow underlying tissue to show through.
Some popular variegated spider plant varieties include:
- Vittatum – White stripe down the leaf center
- Variegatum – White margins along leaf edges
- Bonnie – Curls and yellow stripes
- Hawaiian – Cream, yellow and green stripes
- Zebra – White edges on green leaves
This variegation is considered a mutation, as most plants have solid green leaves. The vibrant contrast of white against green makes these varieties stand out as houseplants.
What Causes All-Green Spider Plants?
So what explains the occurrence of hard-to-find all-green spider plants? These solid green varieties arise due to a genetic reverting back to the plant’s ancestral state.
In nature, a mutation results in variegation appearing on some individual plants within a population. When breeders select these as desirable varieties to propagate, the variegation gets carried forward.
But the original wildtype genes are still present in the plants. On rare occasions, they spontaneously resurface as a genetic throwback, and plants revert to having plain green leaves.
Essentially, all-green spider plants represent the ancestral form of the species before variegation appeared. They lack the genetic mutation that blocks chlorophyll production in their leaves.
Availability of All-Green Spider Plants
Due to their rarity, all-green spider plants can be extremely difficult to find. They are usually only available from specialist collectors and boutique growers focused on rare plant varieties.
A few potential sources include:
- Local nurseries – Check with independent nurseries in your area to see if they have any in stock or can special order them.
- Online specialty vendors – Companies like Steve’s Leaves, Gabriella Plants, and Glasshouse Works occasionally offer them.
- Rarity lists – Sign up for waiting lists at vendors like Gabriella Plants and Darth Plantus to get notified when available.
- Swap meets – Keep an eye out for collectors swapping these uncommon green spider plants at plant exchanges.
- Private sellers – Connect with houseplant enthusiasts via social media groups and houseplant Reddit boards to find private sellers offering clippings or full plants.
Patience and persistence is key to getting your hands on an all-green spider plant. But connecting with the collector community can help you acquire this unusual variant.
Caring for All-Green Spider Plants
Cultivating an all-green spider plant is easy since their care is identical to the regular variegated varieties. Here are some growing tips:
- Light – Provide bright, indirect light to encourage lush growth. Rotate the plant periodically.
- Water – Allow soil to dry out between waterings. Increase frequency in summer and reduce in winter.
- Soil – Use a well-draining potting mix amended with perlite or sand.
- Fertilizer – Feed monthly with a balanced houseplant fertilizer in spring and summer.
- Temperature – Average home temperatures between 60°F to 80°F are ideal. Avoid cold drafts.
- Humidity – Average humidity is fine, but mist occasionally for added moisture.
- Propagation – Remove spiderette babies when they have small roots to create new plants.
With proper care, an all-green spider plant will grow vigorously and produce plenty of offshoots you can propagate. Share them with fellow plant enthusiasts!
Characteristics of All-Green Spider Plants
Aside from the lack of variegation, solid green spider plants look nearly identical to their striped cousins. Here are some of their key features:
- Leaf color – Deep green leaves without stripes, margins, or variegation. The stems match the green color.
- Leaf shape – Long, pointed, narrow leaves that arch and drape over the pot.
- Size – Typically grows 12 to 24 inches tall and wide as a houseplant.
- Growth habit – Produces trailing shoots and offshoots along arching stems.
- Flowers – Small white flowers may appear on inflorescences in summer.
- Fragrance – Leaves may emit a mild grassy or herbaceous scent when bruised.
The all-over green color gives this variety a simple elegance. But otherwise, the growth pattern and structural form essentially remains the same as a variegated spider plant.
Why Spider Plants Lose Their Green Color
While all-green spider plants occur naturally, sometimes variegated varieties can start turning solid green too. This loss of color is often a sign of stress. Here are some potential reasons:
- Too much sun – Direct sun can bleach leaves. Move to bright, indirect light.
- Nutrient deficiency – Lack of nutrients like iron causes chlorosis. Fertilize with a balanced plant food.
- Tap water – Fluoride and salts in tap water can damage leaves. Use filtered or distilled water.
- Environmental stress – Issues like pests, disease, overwatering, or repotting shock can impact leaf color.
- Genetic reverting – Occasionally variegation is lost as plants revert to ancestral genes.
Adjusting care and environmental conditions can often help variegated spider plants regain their vibrant white markings. But sometimes genetics results in a permanent change to all-green leaves.
Final Thoughts
For spider plant lovers who want a clean, monochromatic look, tracking down an uncommon all-green variety is worth the effort. Their rarity makes these coveted collector’s items. Yet beyond the novelty lies a basically unchanged plant that’s just as easy to grow as its striped counterparts.
If you have the opportunity to own one of these exclusive green spider plants, be sure to care for it properly and propagate it to share with others. In time, hopefully it will become less obscure and more widely grown by houseplant enthusiasts.
Recently Shipped Green Spider Plant
The Chlorophytum comosum, also commonly known as the Spider Plant, is a popular choice for plant enthusiasts. These plants make for a beautiful addition to your home, and you can keep them by the window or nearby stairs to add a natural element to your space.
This plant was initially found in the tropical rainforests of South Africa and became popular worldwide in the 19th century. The reason for its popularity can be its air-purifying traits. If you want to improve the air quality of your home, the spider plant can remove 90% of all the toxins in the air.
The ‘Spider Plant’ got its name because of its pups. The pups of these plants resemble the body of a spider with all its legs. The plant is also known to produce flowers in the summers. There are different types of spider plants, the most popular being the Airplane plant. This type is also called the chlorophytum comosum ‘reverse variegatum’ and has streaked green leaves.
Scientific Name: Chlorophytum comosum ‘Green’
Overview:
The Green Spider Plant, known scientifically as ‘Chlorophytum comosum’, is a captivating and resilient houseplant, cherished for its lush, arching foliage and air-purifying qualities. Originating from tropical and southern Africa, this variant stands out with its solid green leaves, differing from the more common variegated spider plants. Each leaf, slender and long, cascades gracefully, creating a vibrant green fountain of foliage. This plant is particularly loved for its ease of care, making it ideal for both novice and experienced plant enthusiasts.
Thriving in a range of lighting conditions, from low to bright indirect light, the Green Spider Plant is adaptable and forgiving. This hardy plant is also known for its ability to purify the air by absorbing toxins, making it a healthy addition to any indoor space.
It is also very beautiful to plant three kinds of spider plants, green leaves,
FAQ
Why is my spider plant all green?
Is an all-green spider plant rare?
This rare green variety has not available commercially since the 70’s. Exotic solid deep green glossy leaves grow gracefully in an arching fashion like a blast from a bygone era.
What does an overwatered spider plant look like?
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Yellowing leaves:This is a common sign that the plant is not getting enough oxygen to its roots due to excessive water.
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Brown or black leaves:Brown tips or discoloration can also indicate overwatering, especially if it’s combined with soggy soil.
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Drooping leaves:Overwatered spider plants often have leaves that droop or fall over, as they are not able to stand upright due to the lack of oxygen in the roots.
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Mushy or soft stems:The stems may feel soft and mushy to the touch, which is another sign of overwatering and potential root rot.
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Root rot:Overwatering can lead to root rot, where the roots become black and mushy, and the plant struggles to absorb nutrients.
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Fungal growth:You might see fungal growth on the soil surface or around the base of the plant.
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Tiny gnats:Overwatered soil can attract gnats, which are a sign of a moist environment.
Do solid green spider plants have stripes on their leaves?
But Solid green spider plants don’t have pale stripes on their leaves; instead, their leaves are bright green and don’t have any stripes on them. The Solid green variety is a perennial evergreen that produces small blooms that eventually develop into spider-like plantlets. Botanical Name: Chlorophytum comosum Native to: Africa
Are solid green spider plants evergreen?
But instead of sporting pale variegation on their leaves, Solid green spider plants have vibrant green foliage that lacks any sort of variegation. The Solid green variety is a perennial evergreen that produces small blooms that eventually develop into spider-like plantlets. Botanical Name: Chlorophytum comosum Native to: Africa
What does a solid green spider plant look like?
The Solid Green spider plant is the original non-variegated form of Chlorophytum comosum. It features long, graceful foliage emerging from a central rosette. The leaves are a fresh, lively green and lack any stripes or variegation. Small white flowers eventually form clusters of spiderette plantlets.
What is a green spider plant?
Green spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum “Solid Green”) are a closer representation of wild spider plants. Most spider plants purchased today have some form of intentionally cultivated variegation that are specifically bred for popularity.
Is a solid green spider plant boring?
Since the most commonly found version of the spider plant is variegated, the Solid Green Spider Plant is anything but boring. Its bright and vibrant block color makes it unique, interesting, and harder to find. Can a spider plant be all green? Solid green spider plants occur naturally when plants revert to a parent plant.
What is a green emerald Spider Plant?
Green Emerald is another non-variegated spider plant cultivar with rich green leaves. It has an especially full, bushy growth habit with leaves up to 20 inches long. The rosette base produces runners and spiderettes freely. This variety does well in medium to bright indirect light.