Spider plant care
Chlorophytum comosum — also called Airplane plant, Ribbon plant. Everything below is the same data Plantroster uses to schedule care for this species.
Care at a glance
| Light | Bright indirect. Tolerates medium. Morning sun fine; hot afternoon sun bleaches. |
|---|---|
| Water | About every 7 days in summer, every 12 in winter. Let the top 1" dry first. |
| Soil | Standard houseplant mix — 7 parts potting mix, 3 parts perlite |
| Humidity | At least 35%, happiest near 55% |
| Temperature | 60–80°F. Cold damage below 35°F; heat stress in sun above 95°F. |
| Feeding | Every ~45 days while actively growing. Nothing in winter. |
| Repotting | Every 2 years, or when roots circle the pot |
| Tap water | Fluoride-sensitive — use distilled or rainwater |
| Pets & children | Non-toxic. Cats are attracted to it and may chew it, which is messy but not dangerous. |
What people get wrong about spider plant
Brown tips are the signature fluoride burn of this species. It is a water-quality problem, not a humidity problem.
Babies ("spiderettes") appear when the plant is slightly pot-bound and getting decent light.
Common problems
Watch for spider mites, aphids, scale. Check leaf undersides monthly — backlighting a leaf against a window is the fastest way to catch mite webbing before an infestation takes hold.
Plantroster tracks this plant's watering, feeding and repotting cadence against your actual weather — and tells you when a cold night or heatwave means moving it.
Open PlantrosterSpider plant FAQ
How often should I water a spider plant?
Roughly every 7 days in the growing season and every 12 days in winter, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule — light, pot size and your home's warmth all shift it. Even moisture in summer, drier in winter. Thick white roots store water, so it forgives a missed week.
Is spider plant toxic to cats and dogs?
No. Non-toxic. Cats are attracted to it and may chew it, which is messy but not dangerous.
How much light does a spider plant need?
Bright indirect is ideal, and it will cope with medium. Morning sun fine; hot afternoon sun bleaches.
Why does my spider plant have brown tips?
Spider plant is genuinely sensitive to fluoride and salts in tap water — brown tips on this species usually mean your water, not dry air. Switch to distilled or collected rainwater and flush the pot to leach out accumulated salts. Filter pitchers do not remove fluoride.
What soil is best for spider plant?
Standard houseplant mix: 7 parts potting mix, 3 parts perlite. Bagged potting soil alone stays too wet in an indoor pot; perlite fixes the drainage.
Other plant guides
General horticultural guidance, not a substitute for inspecting your own plant. Toxicity notes are a starting point — if a pet or child has eaten part of a plant, contact a vet or poison control rather than relying on this page.