Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Beginner’s Guide: How to Care for your Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is one of the easiest houseplants to grow- perfect for beginners. It is a popular houseplant sought after for its beautiful, grass-like foliage and for the fact that it is a hard-to-kill houseplant. Spider Plants are versatile houseplants that do well as hanging houseplants with their cascading foliage perched on a desk or bookshelf. Here is a beginner’s guide on how to care for your spider plant.

Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider Plant Houseplant Care at a Glance

NameSpider Plant
Scientific NameChlorophytum comosum
Care LevelEasy
LightMedium Light
Daytime Temperature70 to 80 F (21-26C)
Night Time Temperature60 to 70 F (15-21C)
WaterModerate Water
HumidityModerate Humidity
PottingWell-draining, organic, all-purpose potting mix
FertilizerFertilize every 2 weeks at half strength
Air Purifying Plant Removes formaldehyde
Toxic to Pets and HumansNon-toxic to dogs and cats
Spider Plant Houseplant Care Profile

Light

Spider Plant: Sun or Shade?

Spider Plant will grow best in a bright filtered light environment although it is quite tolerant of lower light conditions. It does well in an east-facing window since it can tolerate a few hours of direct sun. Avoid south and west-facing windows, too much sun will burn the leaves of your spider plant.

Water

How Often Should You Water Your Spider Plant?

Your Spider Plant has moderate water requirements. Water your Spider Plant when the soil feels dry. The best way to tell when it is time to water your Spider Plant is to feel the soil. Stick your finger in the soil 1 inch deep. If it feels dry, it’s time to water your Spider Plant. 

How Do You Know When to Water Your Spider Plant?

Water your Spider Plant when the soil feels dry. The best way to tell when it’s time to water is by sticking your finger into the soil. Stick your finger in the soil 1 inch deep. If the soil feels dry, then it’s time to water your Spider Plant. 

Can You Water Spider Plants with Tap Water?

Spider plants are sensitive to fluoride in tap water. It can suffer from fluoride toxicity which can cause brown leaf tips. If your tap water contains a high level of fluoride, water your Spider plant with rainwater or distilled water. 

How Do You Make Sure There is Proper Drainage for Your Spider Plant?

Your Spider Plant needs good drainage. You don’t want your Spider Plant to sit in soggy soil. Make sure there are drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. After watering your Spider Plant and you see water draining out of the pot’s drainage holes, make sure you empty out the accumulated water in the saucer. Don’t let your Spider Plant’s pot sit in this puddle of water. It will cause root rot! 

Do You Need to Mist Your Spider Plant?

Your Spider Plant is a houseplant that likes moderate humid conditions. It will benefit from occasional misting.

Soil

What Type of Potting Mix is Best for Your Spider Plant?

Your Spider Plant needs a well-draining, organic all-purpose potting mix. 

How Do You Know When To Repot Your Spider Plant?

At a minimum, repot your Spider Plant once every 2 years however, it will benefit from yearly repotting. When you repot your Spider Plant, move it to a container that is 3-4 inches in diameter larger than the current pot. Be gentle when you handle your spider plant because the roots are prone to breakage.

Fertilizer

Do You Need to Fertilize Your Spider Plant?

Fertilize your Spider Plant every two weeks at half strength during the growing season. Feed your spider plant once a month in the winter.

What Fertilizer Should You Use on Your Spider Plant?

Use liquid or powder, organic fertilizer with a higher ratio of nitrogen on your Spider Plant. 

Propagation

How Do You Propagate Your Spider Plant?

Your Spider Plant is easy to propagate. You can propagate your Spider Plant plant by division. Below are steps on how to propagate Spider Plant Plant by division:

1. Cut the Spider Plant Babies

Spider Plants have runners that make Spider Plant babies or plantlets. Cut the runner into 2 or more pieces. Make sure each piece has its own roots, leaves and stems.

 2. Plant the Spider Plant Babies in Potting Mix

Plant the Spider Plant Babies in potting mix. It’s important to keep humidity high. You can do this by putting plastic bag or a glass jar over the new planting. Make sure to remove the bag or jar every few hours to let air in. Keep the new planting in a warm location with low light.

3. Wait for Spider Plant runner to establish roots

Once the roots grow and it’s actively making new leaves, you can remove the bag or jar cover. 

Common Problems of Spider Plant Care

The most common problems that affect Spider Plant are root root, leaves turning brown, and spider mites.

Spider Plant Problem: Yellow and Brown Spots with Spider-Like Webs on Leaves and Stems

Problem: There are yellow and brown spots on the leaves of your Spider Plant. You also see spider web-like webbing on the leaves and stems. 

Cause: The spider webbing and yellow and brown spots are signs of spider mites attacking your Spider Plant. Spider mites are tiny pests that are too small to see with your bare eyes.

Solution: To treat spider mites on your Spider Plant, spray off the leaves with water from a garden hose. The force will cause the little spider mites to wash off the leaves. You can also wash mites off with soapy water or rubbing alcohol. There are also horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps that you can use to kill off spider mites.

Check out our article on how to make your own homemade pesticides using baby shampoo: How to Make Horticultural Oil and How to Make Insecticidal Soap

Spider Plant Problem: Looks Wilted (Soil is Wet)

Problem: Your Spider Plant looks wilted even if the soil is wet. Check for root rot by pulling the plant out and examining the roots. If the roots of your Spider Plant plant look mushy (healthy roots are firm) and the roots are gray to black in color, these are telltale signs of root rot. 

Cause: Root rot is caused by fungus and is a serious problem for your Spider Plant. Root rot is a result of wet soil due to overwatering or poor drainage. 

Solution: When your Spider Plant is afflicted with root rot the chance of survival is slim. Your best course of action is to throw your Spider Plant out and start over with a new plant. This time don’t overwater your Spider Plant and make sure there is good drainage in the pot.

Spider Plant Problem: Tip of Leaves of Your Spider Plant Turning Brown

Problem: The tips of the leaves of your Spider Plant plant are turning brown. 

Cause: When the tips of the leaves of your Spider Plant turn brown that is a result of not enough water or your Spider plant is suffering from Flouride toxicity. The tips of leaves are turning brown because they are dying. 

Solution: Increase watering frequency but do make sure to feel the soil first to check that it is dry before watering. Another reason for the brown leaf tips is the tap water you use may have too much flouride. Try watering with distilled water or rainwater to see if that resolves the issue.

Spider Plant: Air Purifying Plant

Spider Plant is an effective air purifying plant. It will clean the air by removing air pollutants such as formaldehyde. In a NASA research study, the green Spider Plants are effective in removing formaldehyde from the air.  

Spider Plant: Common Names 

Spider Plant is also called Hens and Chickens, Ribbon Plant and Airplane Plant.

Spider Plant: Varieties 

Popular spider plant varieties are Chlorophytum comosum ‘Vittatum’,Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’, Chlorophytum comosum ‘White Stripe’ and Chlorophytum comosum ‘Milky Way’.  All of these spider plant varieties have some variation of green and cream foliage coloring.  

Spider Plant: Size

Your Spider Plant is a small houseplant that can grow 12-15 inches tall. 

Spider Plant: Toxic to Pets?

Spider Plants are not toxic to cats and dogs.

You May Also Be interested in these Hanging Houseplants

How to Care for your Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

How to Care for your Satin Pothos

How to Care for your Heartleaf Philodendron

How to Care for Your String of Pearls Plant

How to Take Care of Your Boston Fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata)

String of Hearts Plant Care