Long, striped leaves that arch over like a fountain, and lots of plantlets on long stalks. Robust, non-toxic and quick to propagate – the plant for passing on.

What it does for you

The spider plant is considered one of the easiest houseplants of all¹. It stores water in its thick, fleshy roots and so survives the odd forgotten watering². And it's non-toxic – for cats and dogs³ as well as for people⁴. On top of that, it grows little plantlets on long stalks that people love to give away. That's how it became one of the most widespread houseplants in the world⁵.

Origin & history

In the wild, the spider plant grows in tropical West Africa to Cameroon and from Ethiopia to South Africa⁸. In South Africa you'll find it in the undergrowth of wooded river valleys, in scrub and on cliffs, from the coast to over 1000 metres⁵.

Carl Peter Thunberg, the "father of South African botany", described it in 1794. Its species name comosum goes back to the Greek kome, a tuft of hair, and refers to the leaf rosette. The Nguni in South Africa traditionally use it as a medicinal plant and to protect mother and child⁵.

Caution

Good news: the spider plant is non-toxic for cats and dogs³, and the Bonn poison information centre rates it as non-toxic for people too. Still, it isn't meant to be eaten: larger amounts can cause stomach upset and nausea⁴.

Care

Light. Bright, but without direct sun – harsh summer sun scorches the leaves. It copes with less light, but then grows more slowly and the stripes fade¹.

Water. Keep the soil slightly moist¹ and let the surface dry a little between waterings⁹ – as a rule of thumb about once a week in summer, less often in winter. Tip away water in the cachepot. Fluoride in tap water can brown the tips, rainwater is ideal¹.

Temperature & humidity. 18–24 °C during the day, a little cooler at night is welcome⁹, ideally not below 10 °C¹⁰. Normal room air is fine – just don't put it right next to the radiator¹.

Soil, pot & repotting. Peat-free houseplant soil¹ and a pot with a drainage hole. A hanging basket shows off the arching stalks nicely¹¹. Repot every one to two years into a slightly bigger pot¹. It forms the most plantlets when it's a little cramped in the pot²; a pot that's too big holds back flowering¹.

Feeding. From spring to early autumn liquid fertiliser about every two months¹; too much fertiliser holds back the plantlets¹¹.

Extras

The small white star-shaped flowers sit on the same stalks as the plantlets. The stalks are triggered by short days: if the spider plant gets less than twelve hours of light a day for at least three weeks, it forms them¹¹. Well-known varieties are 'Vittatum' with a white central stripe and 'Variegatum' with white edges².