Spider Plants

How to choose a spider plant

The Variegatum Spider Plant is the familiar striped form, with green leaves edged in white. It is the one to hang in a basket or sit on a high shelf, where the runners and their plantlets can trail. The Zebrina Spider Plant is another selection of the same species, grown the same way and suited to the same spots.

The Green Orange Spider Plant is a different species, Chlorophytum orchidastrum. It has broader, glossy green leaves on bright orange stalks, and it grows as an upright clump more than a trailing plant, so it suits a pot on a desk or a bench where the colour at the base can be seen.

Where spider plants grow

Indoors, give a spider plant bright, indirect light: near a window but out of hot afternoon sun, which scorches the leaves. It will live in lower light, though striped forms can fade and the plant makes fewer runners.

Outdoors, spider plants grow well in frost free gardens in shade or dappled light, in baskets on a covered patio or as an edging under trees. Spider plant can spread from gardens in warm, moist districts, so keep it away from bushland and never dump old clumps. In cold districts bring them inside for winter. For more ideas see our indoor plants, the low light indoor plants and pothos.

Planting and spacing

Use a free draining potting mix and a pot with drainage holes. Spider plants have thick, fleshy roots that store water and fill a pot quickly, so move the plant up one pot size when roots push out of the base or lift the plant in its pot. A slightly snug pot is fine and tends to bring on more runners. In the garden, space plants 30 to 40 centimetres apart for an edging that closes over.

Care basics

Water when the top few centimetres of mix feel dry, then let the pot drain. The fleshy roots carry the plant through a dry week, but constant wet feet lead to rot, so never leave the pot standing in water. Water less in winter.

Feed with a liquid fertiliser at half strength every few weeks from spring to autumn. Brown leaf tips are the most common complaint and usually come from dry air, irregular watering or a build up of salts from tap water and fertiliser. Flush the pot with plenty of water now and then, use rainwater if you have it, and snip the brown tips off with clean scissors. Our spider plant guide goes through light, watering and propagation in more detail.

Common questions

How do I propagate a spider plant?

Wait until a plantlet on a runner has small roots of its own, then cut it off and pot it into moist mix, or pin it onto a pot of mix while still attached and cut the stem once it has rooted. Large clumps can also be divided in spring.

Why are the tips of my spider plant going brown?

Most often dry air, uneven watering or salt build up in the mix. Flush the pot through with water, keep watering steady and trim the tips.

Can spider plants grow outside in Australia?

Yes, in shade or filtered light wherever frosts are light or absent. They scorch in full summer sun and are damaged by frost, so in cold areas grow them in pots that can come indoors.

Why is my spider plant not making babies?

Young plants and plants in low light make few runners. Give it brighter indirect light and let it fill its pot, and runners usually follow.