Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
A popular evergreen perennial houseplant featuring long, slender, arching leaves that are green with central white or cream stripes.
- Light
- Bright, indirect sunlight for about 6 to 8 hours daily; avoid direct harsh sun which can scorch the leaves.
- Water
- Water moderately, allowing the soil to dry out partially between waterings. Use filtered water if possible to prevent leaf tip browning from fluoride or chlorine.
- Growth
- Herbaceous perennial growing in a rosette form, reaching heights of 1 to 2 feet and spreads of 1 to 2 feet with a fast growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide bright, indirect sunlight, water when the top two inches of soil are dry, use well-draining potting mix, and feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during the growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Bright, indirect sunlight for about 6 to 8 hours daily; avoid direct harsh sun which can scorch the leaves.
Watering
Water moderately, allowing the soil to dry out partially between waterings. Use filtered water if possible to prevent leaf tip browning from fluoride or chlorine.
Soil
Well-draining, loamy potting soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.
Hardiness zone
USDA Zones 9 through 11 when grown outdoors; grown universally indoors.
Growth habit
Herbaceous perennial growing in a rosette form, reaching heights of 1 to 2 feet and spreads of 1 to 2 feet with a fast growth rate.
Bloom season
Small, star-shaped white flowers appear sporadically on long stems throughout spring and summer.
Propagation
Propagated easily by dividing mature root clumps or by detaching and potting the small plantlets that form on flowering runners.
Common pests & issues
Brown leaf tips caused by dry air, underwatering, or chemicals in tap water; prone to mealybugs and spider mites if kept in dry indoor environments.
Similar species
Ribbon grass (Phalaris arundinacea) and Pandanus amaryllifolius, distinguished primarily by flower structure, growth medium requirements, and finer leaf details.