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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, 04/18/2018 - 15:41

The shoots will probably form roots when you nestle them into rooting medium/potting soil. That's their natural spreading habit. We can not figure out exactly why they have not developed the nubs/roots.

 <span>New Guy With S…</span> Thu, 03/22/2018 - 08:41
I've had some trouble with plants in the past due to inconsistent watering. What approach do you use to have enough, but not too much? Specifically, what will happen to my spider plant if I over water it? I am starting to see some brown streaks within the inside white (vittatum variety) stripes, near the end. As for underwatering, is tip burn an infection or just dead/ dried out leaf? And last question, sunlight. I have a large east facing window with a nice sized inside ledge. Will this be too direct of sunlight? Thanks for the help! Bryan
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 03/22/2018 - 10:43

Watering: Spider plants don't like to dry out completely, but they also don't like to sit in water. Check the plant every few days and water enough so that the soil stays moist, but not wet. Make sure any excess water is allowed to drain through the bottom of the pot and is disposed of. Overwatering can cause root rot, which is a fungal infection. The most common symptom is discolored leaves, followed by leaf drop, then death of the plant.

Brown tips can be caused by dehydration or too much direct, intense sunlight. This is dead tissue, not an infection, so it won't spread as long as conditions are improved.

Lighting: An east-facing window would be perfect, as it offers bright, morning sunlight. It won't be as intense as afternoon or evening sunlight, which could be too harsh for the plant.

 <span>New Guy With S…</span> Wed, 03/28/2018 - 10:23
Thanks!
<span>Pili</span> Sat, 03/10/2018 - 14:42
I have a black thumb but love plants and just got my first spider plants ever. I heard they’re easy to take care of but now I’m a little scared. For now, since my plants are super healthy my only question is if I have to cut off the pups? I really like how the look hanging down. Will they thrive on the shoots? Or will they eventually fall off? Thanks!
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 03/12/2018 - 12:15

The pups can be left attached to the mother plant if you prefer. They may eventually fall off if they grow large enough, but it will take a long time for them to reach such a size.

 <span>Jenny Leiser</span> Wed, 03/07/2018 - 09:19
Two of my spider plants have the brown discs mentioned. I assume it is scale. I have been removing the discs by hand but when I find a stalk with numerous discs I remove it and try to save the babies if they are unaffected. While I have been diligent at this, they still come back. I even washed the plant with mild soap and water as I read it is a way to get rid of scale. It still comes back. Any ideas?
<span>Mary R</span> Tue, 09/04/2018 - 11:29
I fought scales for over a year on my mother plant. Nothing seemed to work to get rid of them. Everything I found on the internet said to throw the plant out because, once infected, it was nearly impossible to exterminate these pests. Here is what I did and it worked: I snipped off a couple of young pups and submerged them in 2 quarts of water with about a teaspoon of dish soap mixed in it. (I figured young ones would be less likely to be infected and were more resilient for the swishing process)I left them submerged in the water for about 20 minutes. Then I gently swished them around in the soapy water and ran my fingers over the leaves to remove any invisible crawler. After that I rinsed them by swishing them around in fresh water. I then rooted them in water, with just the bottom of the plant touching the water. This has to be done in a room separate from the mother plant. Once the roots were large enough, I planted them in potting mix, again in room separate from mother plant. After I was sure they didn't have scales (I waited about 3 months, which was probably longer than necessary) I threw out the mother plant, soil and all, and thoroughly washed the pot with a bleach solution. I waited another month or so before I put my rooted pups back in the room the original plant was in just to make sure no errant crawlers reinfected them. I now have two beautiful two year old "daughter" plants loaded with "grandpups" and NO scales.
<span>Judy Sakmar</span> Sat, 03/03/2018 - 11:29
I am able to snip and root babies but this past year my plant produced seeds. I collected and am trying to grow. Will this work or not from seeds? Thanks
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 03/06/2018 - 11:20

Yes, you should be able to grow spider plants from seeds. Keep them well-lit, warm, and in moist soil. Note that the babies produced may not have the same foliage coloration as the parent plant, however!