Get Almanac's Daily Updates Extended Forecasts Where to Buy Contact Us

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
Photo Credit
t50/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Chlorophytum comosum
Plant Type
Houseplants
Sun Exposure
Part Sun
Shade
Soil pH
Neutral
Bloom Time
Spring
Summer
Fall
Flower Color
White

Growing Spider Plants: Watering, Lighting, Propagation, and Pests

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!

About Spider Plants

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.

Read Next

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

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.

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.

Gardening Products

Pests/Diseases

  • 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

Wit and Wisdom

Houseplant Guides
About The Author
Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the website companion of The Old Farmer's Almanac. She covers gardening, plants, pest control, soil composition, seasonal and moon c...
Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

More Like This

Comments

<span>Doann</span> Mon, 12/29/2014 - 18:22
I'm plant sitting a spider plant for a friend. She started one of the babies off of this variegated mother plant and the new plant has solid green leaves. Why does this happen?
<span>Steven Hartley</span> Thu, 09/22/2016 - 10:17
All green leaves often happens when you are not getting enough bright indirect lighting.
<span>Georgewilson</span> Tue, 12/30/2014 - 09:17

Some varieties of spider plants will produce babies that don't look like mama.

For example, the Hawaiian Spider Plant looks solid green when grown but also produces variegated babies; what happens is that it loses its variegation over time.

Also: If you plant from seed, you can get green babies because the variegated mother may have been a mutation. It's better to plant the offsets because they're usually the same color.

 <span>Jbuligan</span> Fri, 12/19/2014 - 17:59
I have a spider plant that I transferred from New York to Las Vegas NV, the plant can't come into the house because of a gnat infestation, I'm not sure if I should replace the soil or leave it outside until the gnats die out? I have a philodendron inside the house in a glass of water, I don't want it to be near the other plant. What would be the best solution for that plant? Also are rope and fern the only type of hanging plant container that I can use inside the house? Thanks.
<span>Steven Hartley</span> Thu, 09/22/2016 - 10:23
Hanging plants - what else is there besides Rope - Wire - and Chain? I suppose anything you can design - from steel rods attached to a ceiling anchor point - to wall mounted sconces. But I do not believe you will find such eccentric designs commercially manufactured. Good Luck - let us know if you come up with something new - maybe you can patent it and sell it to all of us....
<span>Heather A</span> Wed, 01/07/2015 - 09:58
I have had a spider plant for the past two years that started rooting in a jar with nothing but water. I then just put it in dirt in a plastic hanging plant. Other than having a cat chew it into a Bart Simpson haircut, I have had no problems with it at all.... Hope this helps
<span>Laura Goodall</span> Sat, 12/13/2014 - 22:20
I have 4 spider plants which I separated from one large plant. They are healthy and green but have not produced any babies and I am wondering why. I have just begun fertilizing them for the first time this month (December)and wonder if I just need to be patient and wait; in other words, if the fertilization will do the trick and how often I should do it during the winter months (I'm using Miracle Grow liquid fertilizer.) Thanks.
<span>Gardenho</span> Sat, 05/16/2015 - 09:27
Spiders like crowded roots. The size of the pot will directly affect how the foliage developes, consequently how it flowers. The smaller the pot the more the plant can focus on developing greenery and flowers. When you re-pot the roots will have more room to spread and the plant will direct its energy to growing more roots. This is great information, and it's pretty general as it applies a variety of plants. Sidenote: I wouldn't expect a whole lot of growth during winter months.
<span>Toothette</span> Mon, 04/13/2015 - 21:44
I have two happy, mature spider plants that get fertilizer, I've had them for several years, and they've never produced babies. I'm pretty sure they are male plants.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 12/15/2014 - 14:09

Hi Laura,

A happy mature spider plant will start producing babies. You just need to be patient. Look at our care advice on this page for tips on fertilizing.