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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
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

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Comments

<span>Carole Corralejo</span> Sun, 11/16/2014 - 19:39
I have a spider plant that is about 7-8 years old. It has beautiful leaves that stay very green, I live in No, CA and have the plant outside in a semi-covered atrium. That plant has so many babies that I don't know what to do. I was thinking about starting to train them to climb, either with plant wire or tape. I haven't ever heard of anyone doing that - do you think it would work? The longest strands are about 5' . The plant itself is about 3' in diameter. I just don't know what else to do... Any more ideas???
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 11/17/2014 - 10:02

In their native habitat, in southern Africa, spider plants spread along the ground. When they form a flowering stalk, a baby plant forms on top with tiny roots; eventually, the stalk (or scape) will bend over and the baby will root in the soil. Eventually, there will be a mass of spider plants forming a groundcover. The spider plant does not have tendrils or other features to help it cling to vertical surfaces. However, you can certainly attach the scape (or "runner") to a vertical surface with ties.

 

Another option is to remove some of the babies--cut the "runner" off close to the base of the mother plant, as well as just before the baby. Plant the baby in soil or place in water until it develops strong roots and then transplant to a pot filled with soil. Once the babies have established, you can keep them or give them to friends.

 

Spider plants tend to form babies if the mother plant is potbound. If you'd like to stop or slow the formation of new plants, check to see if the mother plant needs repotting.

 <span>Jujubee</span> Tue, 09/22/2015 - 22:13
This is the best advice I have seen on this thread. I have had many spideys, and the one thing you need to remember is don't over think them...they like sun but not direct, water once a week, mist the leaves as a treat on really hot days (but not while in direct sun - the reflection of the sun on water droplets can burn leaves) if you want babies - let them get pot bound, if not - repot them into bigger pots. To grow the baby offshoots for repotting I recommend soaking them in a glass full of perlite - but keep it moist always. My babies grow strong roots in about a week with this method. Then they can be re-potted into a pot and GIVEN AS GIFTS! I don't know anyone who doesn't love spideys...!!!!
<span>Keltie</span> Mon, 04/28/2014 - 14:01
I have a large spider plant that has seen better days and would like to move it to another location in my house where it won't get frostbitten but the only other location doesn't get much sun so will it live if I move it.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 04/29/2014 - 15:34

Spider plants do need access to sunlight. It's not important if it's direct or indirect light, but the Sun needs to brighten the room. It also needs real sunlight because growth responds to length of day. Hope this helps.

 <span>Sylvia Gary</span> Sun, 04/13/2014 - 22:16
I just got the plant and it is beautiful and I want it to stay that way. so o need your help. thank you.
<span>Helen T</span> Fri, 06/14/2013 - 13:50
I have found out that to produce spider babies, you have to let the plant get root bound. also by feeding them jobs food sticks once a month will help the babies grow healthier and the mother will produce more babies.
<span>Eva L. Jones</span> Mon, 08/11/2014 - 20:35
I have two Spider plants which are both producing babies. The babies are about 1 month old. How soon can I plant/replant them; also do I start the babies in water or soil?
<span>Heather A</span> Wed, 01/07/2015 - 10:04
Plant the baby in soil or place in water until it develops strong roots and then transplant to a pot filled with soil. Once the babies have established, you can keep them or give them to friends. I read this in the above comment replies, hope it helps