Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum'
Iconic retro houseplant with arching green-and-white striped leaves and cascading runners bearing baby plantlets. Practically impossible to kill. One of NASA's top air-purifying plants, removing formaldehyde and xylene.
Best rooms for spider plant
Light requirements
Best near a window with filtered light — avoid harsh direct rays.
Tolerates shade and north-facing windows with limited natural light.
How to care for spider plant
Thrives in almost any position from bright to low light. Water when the top 2cm dries — fleshy roots store water, so it tolerates forgetting. Brown tips are usually from fluoride in tap water; switch to rainwater or filtered. Feed fortnightly spring-summer. Minimum 7°C.
Watering
Water when the top 2–3cm of compost feels dry. Roughly weekly.
Propagation
- Pot up plantlets while still attached to the runner
- Division
Toxicity
This plant is not known to be toxic to cats or dogs.
Common problems
- Brown leaf tips from fluoride in tap water
- No babies in immature or root-bound plants
- Floppy leaves from low light
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