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Spider Plant Care: How to Grow and Propagate This Easy Houseplant

Chlorophytum comosum aka spider plant, airplane plant, St Bernard lily, spider ivy or ribbon plant in a terracotta pot
Image Credit:
t50/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Chlorophytum comosum
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun
Shade
Soil pH
Neutral
Bloom Time
Spring
Summer
Fall
Flower Color
White
Plant Type
Houseplants
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Looking for a low-maintenance, high-style houseplant? The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is your go-to green buddy. With its ribbon-like leaves and adorable baby “spiderettes” dangling like plant jewelry, this Victorian-era favorite brings a touch of charm to any room, especially when cascading from a hanging basket. 

From watering do’s and don’ts to multiplying your plant family with easy propagation, here’s everything you need to know to keep your spider plant thriving year-round!

During the summer, spider plants may produce tiny white flowers on long stems, as well as baby spider plants (offsets) called pups. The pups look like tiny spiders, hence the plant’s name!

NASA once highlighted spider plants for their reported air-purifying ability, though a large number of plants would be required to reap any benefits in the home. Nonetheless, they are a classic and attractive plant to add to your space, and every little bit helps! Learn more about air-purifying houseplants.

Planting

  • Grow in a soil-based, well-draining potting mix. Spider plants like even moisture; they don’t like to be too dry or too wet.
  • Keep plants in bright to moderate indirect sunlight. Spider plants do not appreciate direct, hot sunlight, which can burn their leaves, causing brown tips and spots.
  • Spider plants grow fairly quickly and can easily become pot-bound. Plan to repot a spider plant about every other year.
  • Spider plants can be grown outdoors as annuals during the summer. They look especially good along the edge of a container or bed, as long as they are kept out of direct sunlight.

Growing

  • During initial growth, water occasionally; once fully developed (within one year), water moderately.
  • In the spring and summer months, keep the soil moist to encourage growth. Do not let the soil dry out too much.
  • Maintain average room temperature and humidity. Spider plants prefer temperatures between 55° and 80°F (13° to 27°C), which makes them a great indoor houseplant.
  • Fertilize twice a month in the spring and summer; however, avoid overfertilization.
  • See more Houseplant Growing Tips.
Spider plant hanging in a window
Photo by Olga Prava/Shutterstock

Harvesting

  • Healthy spider plants may eventually produce pups, offshoots from the adult plant that can be removed and replanted to start new plants. For the best results, allow pups to reach approximately 2 inches in diameter before removing them from the mother plant.

    Alternatively, set the still-attached pups into pots of soil placed next to the mother plant. Once the pups have rooted themselves into the soil, they can be cut loose from the mother plant.

    Learn more about propagating spider plants and other houseplants to share with your friends.

Pests and Problems

  • Spider plants are prone to tip burn, which can be caused by dry soil, low humidity, or a buildup of salt and chemicals found in some public tap water. Keep the soil slightly moist. Avoid watering with fluoridated or chlorinated water, and cut off brown tips if they do occur.
  • To get rid of the brown discs on the leaves, use your fingernail to scrape off the brown residue every few days.
  • Mealybugs and Scale

Types

  • The most common varieties are the variegated forms:
    • ‘Vittatum’ has green foliage with a single off-white stripe down the center of each leaf.
    • ‘Variegatum’ is the inverse of ‘Vittatum’, with an off-white stripe running along the edge of each green leaf.
  • Solid green varieties are also available.

Wit and Wisdom

Houseplant Guides

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening, so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 12/06/2017 - 15:09

Hi Loretta,

Now that the babies are in soil, it would be better to leave them. Initially, you can put them in water for a few days or soil--either works just fine. One possibility for the plants not doing well is if they are in direct, hot sunlight. Spider plants like bright indirect light, so if yours are being exposed to too much direct light, that could be the problem. If so, move them to a spot away from the direct light but that still receives bright indirect light. If that's not an issue, the plants could have been watered too much or are simply shocked from the change in living situation. For both of those, the recommendation would be to let the plants be for a week or so, waiting only to water when the soil is dry up to an inch deep in the soil. Give them consistent, not constant, care. We hope this helps!

 <span>Cheryl Alopogianis</span> Tue, 11/14/2017 - 19:21
I recently brought my plant indoors, way before any type of frost. Initially it looked really healthy now all of a sudden many of the leaves have turned brown and are dead. The offshoots are also beginning to turn brown where the roots would be. Is the plant in shock? The soil is moist to the touch so I'm not sure what to do. it is by a window but doesn't have direct sun on it. Can you help?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 11/16/2017 - 16:40

Hi Cheryl,

It sounds like your spider plant is in shock from the drastic change in environment. When bringing a plant indoors for the winter, it's good to slowly let it adjust by bringing it in at night and leaving it out during the day over a two week period. Since you have already brought your plant inside, don't water or move it for a while: That could just shock it further. If it's still not doing well in a week or two, try moving it to a different window. Spider plants are extremely resilient and can bounce back from near-death experiences!

 <span>Nell Bly</span> Sun, 11/12/2017 - 14:04
I have what may be fifth or sixth generation of a spider plant found growing on a trash heap in Center City, Philadelphia in 1969. It has evolved to nearly indestructible, and I actually believe it takes itself to the sink for water at night after a period of neglect. It sits indoors during the winter wherever there is room and outdoors in summer. It gets re-potted occasionally and just as occasionally a plant food stick might be stuck into the soil. It is currently full of blossoms and offsets and surrounded by a half-dozen rooted "children." Innumerable other offspring live in the homes of friends and acquaintances. Benign neglect is the key.
<span>Nina</span> Thu, 11/09/2017 - 20:34
I purchased a solid green Spider plant about 25 years ago. This variety is very vigorous. Mine gets to be about 2 1/2' wide by 3 1/2' or more in length (including the trailing plantlets) in about 1 year. At this time the plant is "very" root bound. Every year, during the summer, I snip off a nice sized plantlet, chuck the mother plant in the compost pile and pot up the baby. Then I'm good for another year. This plant produces a phenomenal root mass in 1 years time. My 1 gal. pot is completely filled with roots in 1 year. Nice, easy to care for plant. The white flowers are a little messy. Also, don't let these plants get to dry, or you'll have ugly shriveled and brown tips on the leaves.
<span>C. Keith</span> Tue, 10/24/2017 - 11:29
I have just potted a baby but would like to add another plant in with it.Is that alright to do, or not, and if it is, what plant can be added?Thanks.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 10/24/2017 - 14:27

The first thing to consider is how large your pot is. Your spider plant is small now, but will eventually fill in quite a bit—as will any other plant you add to the pot. Plus, the roots of the two plants will be competing for resources if the pot is too small. Additionally, the growth pattern of the spider plant doesn't lend itself particularly well to being planted alongside other plants, as they grow outward in all directions and tend to drape down, out of the pot.

That being said, if your pot is large enough, then you could certainly give your spider plant at least a temporary companion. In this case, look for something like a peace lily or pothos vine, as they both enjoy having consistently moistened soil. These may eventually overcrowd the spider plant, but they can be companions for now!

 <span>Richard</span> Fri, 10/20/2017 - 18:14
My plant developed brown tips after only a few days so I chopped them like it says above but I was wondering, will they grow back to normal if maintained?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 10/24/2017 - 14:00

Unfortunately, the brown tips will not grow back in. As the entire plant grows, the oldest leaves will die off and be replaced with healthy, full leaves.

 <span>Tawnya Lee</span> Sun, 08/06/2017 - 05:20
I have had my spider plant for a year now from babies, how long does it take to mature?