Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
📖 About this plant
A beloved, arching houseplant that produces dozens of miniature plantlets (spiderettes) on long, wiry stems, creating a living chandelier of baby plants. The long, slender, arching leaves come in solid green or variegated forms with white or creamy-yellow stripes. One of NASA’s top-rated air-purifying plants, it removes formaldehyde, xylene, carbon monoxide, and other toxins. Extremely easy to propagate — simply snip off the plantlets and pot them up. One of the best plants for beginners and hanging baskets.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Bright indirect
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate (40-60%)
15-27°C
Well-draining, all-purpose potting mix with peat and perlite; tolerates a wide range of soil types
Balanced liquid fertilizer (10-10-10) diluted to half strength every 4-6 weeks during growing season; avoid excess fluoride which causes brown tips
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- South Africa, tropical and southern Africa
- 📏 Max height
- 30-45 cm (plantlets extend 60+ cm on stems)
- 📐 Spread
- 30-60 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring - Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green, White Striped
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to cats, dogs, and humans — one of the safest houseplants for pet-friendly homes; considered edible in some cultures
- 🌱 Propagation
- Plantlets (spiderettes/babies) produced on long arching stems — root them directly in soil or water; division of mature clumps also works
🛡️ Health & Safety
Non-toxic to cats, dogs, and humans — one of the safest houseplants for pet-friendly homes; considered edible in some cultures
Common issues
- Brown tips from fluoride in tap water
- Root rot from overwatering
- Spider mites
- Plantlets failing to root
💡 Care tips
- Produces baby plantlets called spiderettes
- Propagate by planting spiderettes in soil
- Brown tips mean water has too much fluoride
- Non-toxic and safe for households with pets
