Gardening Houseplants How to Plant and Grow Spider Plant With several long, narrow leaves that curve outward from a central growing point, it's easy to see where this popular houseplant gets its name. By Sharon Greenthal Sharon Greenthal Sharon is a writer and contributor at Better Homes & Gardens, where she writes, edits, and updates content on the website, refreshing recipes and articles about home design, holiday planning, gardening, and other topics. Before joining Better Homes & Gardens, Sharon began her career as a blogger, then became a freelance writer, focusing on home design and organization, midlife and empty nesting, and seniors and eldercare. Her work has been published on a range of websites, including Angi, Purple Clover, HuffPost, Grown and Flown, Seniors Matter, AARP’s the Girlfriend and the Ethel, and many other outlets. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on May 2, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Where to Plant Planting Tips Care Pests and Problems Propagation Types FAQ Close Photo: BHG / Juli Lopez-Castillo Spider plants have long, arching leaves that can be green or striped green and white. Small flowers form at the end of the leaves of mature plants, which can then form plantlets to start new potted plants. Spider plants are easy to grow, tolerate all light levels, and don't mind if you miss a weekly watering. Also called airplane plant, spider plant grows well in containers or hanging baskets. This clump-forming perennial is hardy only in Zones 9-11 outdoors, one of the reasons it's so popular as an indoor plant. Spider Plant Overview Genus Name Chlorophytum comosum Common Name Spider Plant Plant Type Houseplant Light Part Sun Height 6 to 12 inches Width 6 to 24 inches Flower Color White Foliage Color Blue/Green Season Features Fall Bloom, Spring Bloom, Winter Bloom Propagation Division Where to Plant Spider Plants Spider plants look best where their long leaves can hang freely over the sides of their planters. If you place them on shelves, a pedestal, or a tabletop, don't let them get so big and heavy that they topple over. Grow them indoors in most climates and outdoors in the warmest spots. Because spider plants are native to tropical places, they appreciate humidity and warm temperatures. They do great in a bathroom, soaking up the steam from showers. How and When to Plant Spider Plants Adopt a tropical spider plant as a houseplant at any time of the year. Choose a container with good drainage for your spider plant depending on where you plan to place it. A hanging plant calls for a lighter weight pot that's a couple of inches larger than the nursery pot. If you intend to place your plant on a surface, opt for something with some weight—a terra-cotta pot that wicks away excess moisture is ideal. Fill the container with potting mix and remove the plant from its nursery pot. Loosen the roots and place it in the new container. Fill around the plant with soil and water it well to settle it into its new home. Plant spider plants anytime from a plantlet or seed. Snip off plantlets from a mother plant and place them on top of a smaller pot filled with potting mix. Moisten the mix, put it in indirect light, and wait for the roots to grow. 11 Bathroom Plants That Thrive in Humidity Spider Plant Care Tips Spider plants are great for new gardeners because they're forgiving of neglect. Water them, plant them in well-drained soil, and place them in a bright spot near a window, and they'll do fine. Light A spider plant likes bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight as it has the potential to scorch the leaves. Spider plants will grow in low light, but they'll grow slowly and may not produce plantlets. In low light, striped spider plant leaves may lose their variegation. 31 Best Low-Light Indoor Plants to Brighten Up Your Home Soil and Water Spider plants prefer it if their soil dries out a bit between watering. Check the soil every 4 or 5 days. If it's dry to the touch, water the plants thoroughly until excess water drains out of the bottom of the pot. If possible, use rainwater or distilled water for spider plants to keep their leaves from discoloration. Temperature and Humidity Humidity and warm temperatures are best for spider plants. Keep them away from fans, air conditioners, and cool drafts. Temperatures above 50ºF are best for these tropical plants. If your home is dry, a few mists with water each week will be beneficial. Fertilizer Fertilize spider plants monthly in spring and summer using a water-soluble fertilizer. Follow the label recommendations for application. Brown leaf tips are a sign of over-fertilization. Pruning Prune away dead leaves when you see them. If your plant seems to be slow in growing, pull out plant shoots to focus the plant's energy on new growth. Potting and Repotting Spider Plant Use pots that aren't much bigger than the plant root for spider plants—about 1/3 larger. Planters should have good drainage holes. Repot spider plants in fresh potting mix every two to three years, but keep the new planter only a couple of inches larger than the previous pot. Pests and Problems While spider plants are usually trouble-free, they are occasionally bothered by whiteflies, spider mites, scale, and aphids. Good air circulation, adequate water, and bright light prevent most insect pests from finding a home in spider plants. If they do show up, wash them off with a strong spray of water in a shower or outside. The 12 Best Garden Hose Nozzles for All Your Watering Needs How to Propagate Spider Plant Healthy, thriving spider plants send up long wiry stems with little plantlets at the end. The plantlets can be removed and placed on top of moist potting soil, where they will quickly take root, forming a new plant. Another option is to tuck the plantlet into the soil around the mother spider plant and create a container full of spider plants. Types of Spider Plant Orchid spider plant Jay Wilde Chlorophytum orchidastrum 'Green Orange' has deep green lance-shaped leaves that more closely resemble those of Chinese evergreen than a common spider plant. Its orange leaf stem and central vein glow in bright indoor light. Solid green Spider plant Dean Schoeppner Chlorophytum comosum, with solid green leaves, is much less common than variegated forms. Grow it just as you would one of the striped varieties. Variegated spider plant William N. Hopkins Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum' has bright green leaves with a central white stripe. The width of the stripe varies from nearly the entire width of the leaf to a narrow band along the main leaf vein. Variegated 'Bonnie' spider plant Denny Schrock Chlorophytum comosum 'Variegated Bonnie' has curled green leaves striped with creamy white. Frequently Asked Questions What do spider plants symbolize? In Asian cultures, spider plants are believed to bring luck and good health. Spider plants' sturdy and long vines represent stability. Do spider plants purify the air? Spider plants do have an air-purifying quality. In large numbers, spider plants can purify the air in a home or office, but it would take dozens of plants in an average size home to make any major improvement. Why does my spider plant look unhealthy? Some reasons a spider plant isn't thriving include low humidity, salt accumulation or chemicals in the soil (especially fluoride or chlorine), or excessively dry soil. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit