Spider plant
Chlorophytum comosum · also called Ribbon plant
Foliage and indoor
- Light
- Part sun, Shade or indoors
- Pot size
- Small pot (up to about 5 litres)
- Care level
- Moderate
- Year round or seasonal
- Kept year to year; in a pot, keep it above about 7.2 °C (45 °F)
- Pets
- ASPCA: non-toxic to cats and dogs
Light and position
Prefers medium light and tolerates deep shade, but NC State says it does not tolerate direct sun.
Size and pot
NC State lists 1 to 1.5 feet tall and up to 2 feet wide. Our pot band: small pot (up to about 5 litres).
Watering
Grows best in moist soil but tolerates dry spells; water less in winter. NC State advises against tap water because chlorine and fluoride can burn leaf tips.
Potting mix and feeding
Well-drained mix. Too much fertiliser reduces the baby plantlets.
Growing through the year
Keep it above 45 °F (about 7 °C). Plantlets on the runners can be potted up to make new plants.
Winter outdoors
Cold limit in a pot: about 7.2 °C (45 °F). NC State says to keep temperatures above 45 °F.
| Your coldest winter nights | What to do |
|---|---|
| Coldest nights 15 °C or warmer | Can stay out through this winter |
| Coldest nights 10 to 15 °C | Can stay out through this winter |
| Coldest nights 5 to 10 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 7.2 °C |
| Coldest nights 0 to 5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 7.2 °C |
| Light frost: nights down to about −5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 7.2 °C |
| Hard frost: nights below −5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 7.2 °C |
A plant can stay out only when its limit is below the coldest night in your band; a limit equal to that night counts as needing shelter. A rare cold snap, wind or a wet pot can still damage plants. We convert °F to °C with NIST’s formula.
Watch for
NC State reports no significant problems.
Pets and people
ASPCA lists spider plant as non-toxic to dogs and cats.
General gardening information, not professional advice. Plant toxicity details are a starting point, not veterinary or medical advice: if a pet or child may have eaten a plant, contact a veterinarian or doctor promptly.
Care level: NC State’s maintenance rating (Medium). Pot band and summary wording are ours, based on the sources below.