plantatiousSpider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Light
- Bright, indirect light
- Watering
- When the top of the soil is dry
- Temperature
- 10–24°C
The spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum, also called ribbon plant or spider ivy, is a member of the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. It is native to tropical and southern Africa, and botanists once filed it under names such as Anthericum comosum and Phalangium comosum. Indoors you grow it for its fountain of narrow, arching leaves, often striped with cream, and for the baby plants that dangle from its long stems.
How fast does a spider plant grow?
Fast, for a houseplant. In a bright spot a healthy spider plant keeps pushing out new leaves from its center through spring and summer and soon fills its pot with roots, then slows right down in the short, dim days of winter.
Light sets the pace: the more bright, indirect light it gets, the faster it grows and the stronger its stripes. Once a plant is mature and its pot is fairly full of roots, it sends out long, wiry stems that carry small white flowers and then little plantlets, the babies or spiderettes, each with its own tuft of leaves. Its thick, fleshy roots store water, which is why it shrugs off a missed watering and why it crowds its pot so quickly.
How to care for a spider plant
Give your spider plant bright, indirect light, water it when the top of the soil is dry, and keep it between 10°C and 24°C. It copes with less light than many houseplants, but in a dim corner it grows slowly and striped forms lose some of their contrast, while harsh direct sun through glass can scorch the leaves. Let the top of the soil dry before you water again, then water thoroughly and let the excess drain away: its fleshy roots store water, so too much does more harm than too little. Keep it out of cold drafts and away from radiators, where dry heat browns the leaf tips.
| Light | Bright, indirect light |
|---|---|
| Watering | When the top of the soil is dry |
| Temperature | 10–24°C |
| Native to | Tropical West Africa, Tropical west-central Africa, Tropical northeast Africa, Tropical East Africa, Tropical southern Africa, and Southern Africa |
| Growth form | Perennial plant |
Sources
- Chlorophytum comosum (Anthericum Comosum, Chlorophytum, Ribbon Plant, Spider Ivy, Spiderplant, Spider Plant, Walking Anthericum), NC State Extension
- Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum), Clemson Cooperative Extension
- Govaerts R (ed.). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, CC BY 3.0
Tips
- Pot up the babies once they have small roots of their own.
- Repot in spring when thick roots crowd the pot or push the plant up out of the soil.
- Feed it lightly in spring and summer, when it grows, and not at all in winter.
- Trim brown leaf tips with clean scissors, following the shape of the leaf.
- Grow it in a hanging basket or on a high shelf so its long stems can trail.
Are spider plants toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes, mildly. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists the spider plant among mildly toxic plants for cats and dogs: eating it can irritate a pet’s stomach, mostly causing vomiting and diarrhea. Some lists, including the ASPCA’s own plant list, call it non-toxic, so you will see both; we follow the stricter reading. Keep it where your pets cannot chew it, and if yours has chewed it, call your vet or an animal poison line for advice.
Spider plant care: common questions
How do I propagate a spider plant?
Wait until a baby has small roots or root bumps at its base, then snip it off and plant it in a small pot of moist soil. You can also pin it onto a pot of soil next to the mother plant and cut the stem once it has rooted, or root it in a glass of water first.
Why are my spider plant’s leaf tips turning brown?
Brown tips usually mean the soil dried out too far, the air is very dry, or salts from tap water and plant food have built up in the soil. Water thoroughly whenever the top of the soil is dry, now and then let plenty of water run through the pot to flush it, and trim the tips if they bother you.
Why is my spider plant not making babies?
Young plants rarely make them. A mature plant that gets plenty of bright, indirect light and has filled its pot with roots is the most likely to send out the long stems that carry flowers and babies.
Can a spider plant grow in low light?
It can survive in a dimmer room, but it grows slowly there, makes fewer babies and its stripes may fade. Move it closer to a window for stronger growth.