Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
A long-time favorite for good reason. It grows quickly, adapts to a wide range of light levels, and produces small "baby" plants on long stems that you can grow into new plants for free one of the few common houseplants considered safe for cats and dogs.
What is a Spider Plant?
The Spider Plant is native to coastal areas of South Africa. It's known for its long, arching leaves, often striped in green and white, and for producing small plantlets on long stems once it matures. Those trailing stems make it a good fit for hanging baskets or high shelves, where the leaves and baby plants can hang freely.
For more trailing plants that suit shelves and hanging baskets, see our Hanging Indoor Plants guide. If your space runs dim year-round, our Low Light Plants guide covers which varieties hold up best.
Spider Plant care at a glance
Five things worth knowing before you bring one home.
Pet owners, this is the safe pick: unlike Pothos and Peace Lily, the Spider Plant is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, which removes one common concern that comes with other popular houseplants.
Understanding Spider Plant babies
Once a Spider Plant matures, usually after a year or more, it grows long stems that flower and then produce small plantlets at the tip. These "babies" are genetic copies of the parent plant. You can grow them into new plants in one of two simple ways: let them grow roots in water while still attached to the stem, or cut them off and place them directly into soil. This is one of the simplest ways to propagate a houseplant.
Common Spider Plant problems
Most issues trace back to one of four causes.
Brown leaf tips
The most common Spider Plant issue. Usually caused by fluoride or chlorine in tap water, low humidity, or mineral buildup from fertilizer.
Pale, faded leaves
Usually caused by too much direct sun. Move the plant to brighter indirect light instead.
No baby plants forming
Often just means the plant is not mature enough yet, or it needs more light.
Slow or stalled growth
Usually caused by low light or a pot that has become too small for the roots.
Why choose a Spider Plant?
A Spider Plant is a good choice for anyone who wants fast, visible growth and the simple reward of growing new plants for free. It tolerates inconsistent watering, adapts to a range of light levels, and unlike many popular houseplants is considered safe if a curious cat or dog takes a bite, which removes one common concern that comes with other plants on this list.
See the full list in Benefits of Spider Plants.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Spider Plant have brown tips even though I water it regularly?+
Brown tips are usually a water quality issue, not a watering frequency issue. Spider Plants are sensitive to the fluoride and chlorine commonly found in tap water. Switching to filtered or distilled water, or letting tap water sit out overnight before using it, usually improves this over a few weeks.
How old does a Spider Plant need to be before it grows babies?+
Most Spider Plants need at least a year of steady growth before they produce the flowering stems that eventually become baby plantlets. A young plant that otherwise looks healthy may simply not be mature enough yet.
Do I have to cut off the baby plants, or can I leave them attached?+
You do not have to cut them off. Left attached, they will keep growing and hang from the parent plant, which is actually the look many people prefer for a hanging basket.
Is a Spider Plant actually safe for cats?+
Yes. Spider Plants are listed as non-toxic for cats and dogs by the ASPCA. Some cats are strongly drawn to chewing the leaves, and it will not poison them, but chewing too much can still cause mild stomach upset or damage the plant.
Why is my Spider Plant growing so slowly?+
Slow growth usually comes down to light or pot size. Spider Plants grow fastest in bright, indirect light and slow down in deep shade. A plant that has outgrown its pot will also grow more slowly until it is moved to a larger one.