Spider Plant
The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is one of the most common and cheerful houseplants, famous for the little "spiders" (plantlets) it sends out on arching stems. It's very easy to grow, tolerant of neglect, and great for beginners.
Care basics
- Light: Medium to bright indirect light. It also handles a wide range of conditions well.
- Water: Water when the soil dries out a bit, then water thoroughly. It tolerates some dryness — but not long-term drought.
- Soil: A general-purpose potting mix; it likes to be somewhat pot-bound.
- Temperature: Average room temperatures (roughly 65–75°F daytime); average humidity.
- Fertilizer: Feed lightly a few times a year — heavy feeding can reduce plantlet production.
The 3 most common problems
1. Brown leaf tips
This is the #1 spider plant complaint. Brown tips are caused by low humidity, dry soil, and/or chemical build-up from tap water (fluoride and chlorine). Fix: Let chlorinated tap water sit out to de-gas, or use filtered/distilled water. Avoid letting the soil dry out too much, and raise humidity if the air is very dry. See our brown tips guide.
2. Root rot from overwatering
Spider plants have thick, fleshy roots that store water — that's why they tolerate drought — but constant moisture rots those roots. Fix: Let the soil dry out between waterings and make sure the pot drains. See our root rot guide.
3. Pests (scale and mealybugs)
Occasionally spider plants pick up scale or mealybugs. Fix: Inspect and treat early; wiping pests off the leaves helps. See our spider mites guide for pest control basics.
Spider plants are easy to propagate by planting the "spiders" (plantlets), which makes them great pass-along plants.
Pet safety note: The ASPCA lists spider plant as non-toxic to cats and dogs. As with any plant, a pet that eats a lot of it could still get an upset stomach.
A few extra tips
One of the best parts of a spider plant is that it makes copies of itself — those little "spiders" (plantlets) on the long stems root easily. Set a plantlet in its own small pot of moist potting soil while it's still attached to the mother plant, and it roots quickly before you cut it free; or pot up ones that have already grown roots. Spider plants also like being slightly root-bound, which tends to encourage them to produce these plantlets.
Spider plant at a glance
- Light: medium to bright indirect light
- Water: let the soil dry a little, then water thoroughly
- Likes: being somewhat pot-bound, which encourages it to produce plantlets
- Watch for: brown leaf tips (tap-water chemicals, low humidity, or dry soil) and root rot (overwatering)
Spider plants are forgiving, fast to grow new leaves, and make copies of themselves, which is why they're so often shared between friends. A healthy spider plant looks great in a hanging basket and keeps giving you new plants to share.