Fluoride/salts in tap water, or low humidity. Use filtered or distilled water and trim the tips.

Pale, washed-out leaves

Too much direct sun. Move to indirect light.

Young plant or too little light. Be patient and give brighter indirect light.

Houseplants

How to care for Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Cheerful, pet-safe, and self-propagating, it dangles baby plantlets you can pot up.

The free tool tailors timing to your climate and lets you save this plant.

Light

Bright, indirect

Where to put it

Bright indirect light brings out the variegation. Great in a hanging pot so the babies can dangle.

Watering

About weekly in growth, less in winter.

Soil mix

Standard well-draining potting mix.

Pot

Any pot with drainage; it likes being a little snug, which encourages babies.

Repotting

Every 1–2 years, the thick roots fill pots fast.

Propagation

Pin a plantlet (the dangling baby) onto soil to root, or snip one off and root in water. Extremely easy.

Pets

Non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Brown leaf tips. Fluoride/salts in tap water, or low humidity. Use filtered or distilled water and trim the tips.
Pale, washed-out leaves. Too much direct sun. Move to indirect light.
No babies. Young plant or too little light. Be patient and give brighter indirect light.