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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> Tue, 06/23/2015 - 01:31

Spider plants are quite heat-tolerant. The suggested air temperatures for spider plants is between 70 and 90°F for best growth.  If you temps go above 90°F, it will not directly damage spider plants, but it won't grow well.

 <span>Circa</span> Thu, 05/28/2015 - 01:25
I was passed down a spider plant from my Nana about 5-6 years ago. She had this plant in her kitchen for as long as I can remember, 30+ years. Is there a life expectancy for these plants? Still producing babies and has never been transplanted. Too afraod to hurt the olant
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 05/28/2015 - 12:36

Spider plants can tolerate almost any conditions and grow indefinitely. It sounds like you're doing all the right things. Kudos!

 <span>Keith Harris</span> Tue, 04/14/2015 - 11:04
Avoid leaving them exposed to canaries - if you let your canaries fly around they will savage the plant by chewing through the leaves. Must be something in the plant that canaries like ...
<span>Troy S.</span> Thu, 01/08/2015 - 17:53
Plant sitting a spider plant for my mother that is over two hundred years old my mother says.not sure if its that old itself or what but the ends of the leaves are dying off and not sure what i need to do!!! it is getting sunlight and watered once a week.I have it hanging near a basement window.very warm area.wood heat.more heat that it is used too.need Help Please !!!! Thanks Troy
<span>Ann Y Mouse</span> Sat, 06/20/2015 - 09:23
I've heard to certain birds and pets spider plants can be poisonous.
<span>Dwiser</span> Fri, 04/03/2015 - 09:07
I read somewhere that the fluoride and/or chlorine usually found in tap water can cause leaves to brown at the tips. They recommended distilled water.
<span>Harley R</span> Sat, 03/07/2015 - 06:28
Cut the dead ends off with sicssers and it sould be fine thats what i do to my spider plant
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 01/09/2015 - 12:01

Hi Troy,

Spider plants need bright light and 65-75°F temp. If the plant is close to wood heat the air is very dry. Mist the plant with water a couple of times a week and make sure the soil is moist. Do not overwater in the winter months.

 <span>Troy S.</span> Sat, 01/10/2015 - 11:28
Thanks.i moved them today to a much brighter and a cooler area.Hoping this helps