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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

<span>D Smith</span> Tue, 02/28/2017 - 21:06
They like to be root bound & will produce babies then. But if the roots are spilling out you should plant in a bigger pot or divide it. They're incredibly easy to grow, divide, cut off babies & plant to give away!
<span>Barb</span> Fri, 02/17/2017 - 21:46
I just potted 11 babies that my mother gave me. On the long runners she cut off there are sharp things that look like they might be the start of leaves. Are these things that can be rooted?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 02/21/2017 - 15:22

Hi, Barb: It's hard to say what these "sharp" things are that you're describing, so, as the old saying goes, "Only one way to find out ... " Good luck!

 <span>Mandy Mallinson</span> Fri, 02/03/2017 - 18:32
mynspider plant has a lot of shoots coming of it which are very long which have babbies on them is it safe to cut them down after i take the babies of
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 02/06/2017 - 12:57

Hi, Mandy: Sure! Cut the long stems off back at where they come from the main plant and also where they attach to the babies. Thanks for asking!

 <span>Cheryl Smithers</span> Wed, 01/25/2017 - 13:36
I bought this large spider plant last year. It has very small flowers on it. It's steam is the width of that of a hair, It does not produce babies, only flowers. Is this a maie plant.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 01/31/2017 - 17:16

Spider plant flowers have both male and female parts, so there are not male or female plants. It's encouraging that the plant is flowering, but a puzzle as to why they are tiny, the stems so thin, and no plantlets form. Usually, as the flowers fade, the stem will form plantlets at and toward the tip after a time. Sometimes, weak flowering etc. can be caused by inadequate light--or not enough changing light with the seasons (is it in a room that is constantly lit?). Decrease hours of light slightly during the fall and winter seasons, to mimic the outdoors if it does not sit by a window. Does the plant look healthy overall? Be sure that it is located in an area with proper light, temperature, water, and fertilizer.

 <span>Kyras</span> Thu, 12/29/2016 - 21:13
I just got a 2" spider plant today from my mom she just picked it up from store as an "assortated foliage upright". From the little research I've done, I'm pretty sure it's a spider plant. My desk is directly oppisite the window in the room I'm keeping it in. Would my desk be the best placement for the little guy? I have my curtains open most days, but some days I'll forget. Would it be ok not getting sunlight everyday? Should I water it weekly, how much? And what about babies? I have another indoor house plant that you can cut as long as it has the lil nubs on the part you're cutting off, but would this plant have nubs? Or do you cut it a little bit before where the leaf grows apart? I'd love to give a piece to one of my friends who loves plants, someday. Thank you, Kyras
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 01/05/2017 - 12:27

You should put it in a place where it will get consistent, daily, indirect light. Taking cuttings is very easily done. Spider plants, when healthy, produce what are called "plantlets" or baby plants. When you see one, snip it off and root it in water. When it has developed a few inches of roots, pot it up.

 

 <span>Eileen Hearn</span> Mon, 10/24/2016 - 14:40
I have a spider plant by a heater register should I move it away from there into a cooler place