# Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/spider-plant · Updated: 2026-10-05
Source: Ghaf Gardens (https://plantguide.ae/plants/spider-plant)

Spider plant · نبتة العنكبوت · also called Ribbon plant, Spider ivy  
indoor · exotic · family Asparagaceae · grows 0.2–0.4 m tall, 0.3–0.7 m wide · moderate growth  
part shade · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 2 · salt 1 · drought 3 · shade 4 · ease of care 5  
Uses: indoor, container

A fountain of arching, striped leaves that tolerates bright or dim rooms and is non-toxic to cats and dogs. In Dubai its brown tips come from dry air, salts and tap water, not neglect.

## About

Meet the spider plant, the houseplant that reproduces in public. Once mature it sends out long, arching stems, each ending in a miniature copy of the parent, complete with roots hanging in the air; the RHS calls them spider babies. A hanging basket of it, with the plantlets dangling around the rim, is one of the most recognisable shapes in indoor planting.

Underneath is a plant built for forgiveness. Its roots are thick and fleshy, it tolerates both bright and low light, and it copes with a certain amount of over- and underwatering, as the RHS puts it. It comes from tropical and southern Africa (NC State). What it dislikes is the air and water of a flat: the leaf tips brown in dry air and with chlorine, fluoride and salts in tap water. In Dubai that is a cosmetic matter that can be trimmed away.

The mood is friendly and relaxed. Its pale-striped leaves lighten a corner, and it suits a kitchen shelf, a study or a child's room, where the pet-safe and forgiving qualities matter more than a perfect leaf tip.

Chlorophytum comosum is an herbaceous perennial from tropical and southern Africa (NC State), usually sold in green-and-white striped forms. A plant reaches about 30 to 45 centimetres tall and 30 to 60 centimetres wide (NC State), with arching stems that carry plantlets; Clemson says a plant in a hanging basket may trail 60 to 90 centimetres.

It is happy in bright or low light, according to the RHS, although growth slows and the leaves can lose their stripes in dim light, and direct sun scorches the variegated forms. A bright spot out of the afternoon glare suits it. It does not need high humidity, but the RHS says very dry air may brown the tips.

Brown tips are the one common complaint and in Dubai have several overlapping causes. The RHS lists too much or too little water, fluoride in tap water, bright sun and very dry air; NC State adds chlorine; Clemson adds soluble salts from water or fertiliser. Filtered water, light feeding, an occasional flush and keeping it clear of the AC vent all help, and the browned tips can simply be snipped off.

It rarely needs feeding if repotted regularly (RHS). Plantlets appear on plants at least a year old, and NC State says they form when the plant gets less than 12 hours of light a day for three weeks, and that over-fertilising reduces them. Pin plantlets into compost or root them in a glass of water. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs and cats.

## Through the year

Spider plant is evergreen and looks much the same all year, so its calendar is about pace and plantlets. From March to October it makes new leaves, and the RHS says it does not generally need feeding if repotted regularly. Plantlets tend to appear when the days shorten, with Clemson placing the peak in autumn, which in Dubai means from around October. In July and August keep it out of hot afternoon glass, which scorches the leaves. From December to February growth slows, and the RHS says to water slightly less often.

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mar–Aug | New growth: New leaves | Growth is strongest in warmer months with bright, indirect light. |
| Sep–Dec | New growth: Plantlets form on arching stems | NC State says short days trigger them; over-feeding reduces them. |
| Apr–Sep | Feed: Feed only if needed | The RHS suggests a balanced liquid feed every other month only if a brighter spot does not cure yellowing. |
| Jun–Sep | Heat stress: Hot glass scorches leaves | Keep out of afternoon sun; brown tips from dry air show first. |
| Mar–Oct | Pest watch: Check for aphids | The RHS says to wash them off soft new growth as soon as you spot them. |
| Dec–Feb | Dormant: Growth slows | Water slightly less often. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Water regularly, aiming to keep the compost just lightly moist (RHS), roughly weekly in a cool AC room; always pour away water that collects in the saucer. Use filtered water if you can.
- **Watering in winter:** Water slightly less often as growth slows (RHS).
- **Soil:** A peat-free multipurpose or houseplant compost with good drainage (RHS).
- **Feeding:** Spider plants rarely need feeding if repotted regularly; if leaves yellow after moving it brighter, a balanced liquid feed every other month in the growing season (RHS). Over-fertilising reduces plantlets and browns the tips.
- **Pruning:** Snip off browned tips, or whole damaged leaves, to tidy it up (RHS); remove spent flower stalks.
- **Planting:** Repot every one or two years into a slightly larger pot, since the thick roots fill it quickly; an oversized pot can discourage plantlets. Mature plants can be divided.
- **Pests and problems:** Aphids; Root rot from standing water
- **Toxicity:** Non-toxic to dogs and cats, according to the ASPCA, and NC State's Plant Toolbox lists it as non-toxic to horses as well. Cats are often drawn to the arching leaves, so expect some chewing; a nibbled leaf is not a poisoning, but the plant itself can be shredded.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
- Happy in bright or low light, and tolerates some over- or underwatering (RHS)
- Produces free plantlets that root in water or compost
- Arching leaves suit hanging baskets, high shelves and plant stands

**Cons**
- Brown leaf tips in dry air or with salty, chlorinated or fluoridated water
- Variegation fades and growth slows in very low light
- Scorches in hot afternoon sun through glass
- Rarely makes plantlets in its first year or in a cool, dim room

## Common mistakes

- Chasing brown tips with more water. The RHS says both over- and underwatering can cause them, as can fluoride in tap water and dry air, so look at the whole picture first.
- Feeding heavily and watering with untreated tap water. Clemson links brown tips to soluble salts, and NC State says over-fertilising reduces plantlet formation.
- Choosing a pot far too large. The RHS says an overly large pot can discourage plantlets and keep the compost wet.
- Leaving the pot in a saucer of water. The RHS says it dislikes standing in water for any length of time.
- Putting it in hot afternoon sun through glass. The RHS says direct sun scorches variegated leaves.

## Good to know

- The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs and cats, and NC State's Plant Toolbox adds horses.
- Plantlets form when the plant gets less than 12 hours of light a day for at least three weeks (NC State); in Dubai's indoor light that means from around autumn.
- It is often sold as an air purifier; a 2019 review found potted-plant chamber results do not translate to ordinary ventilated rooms.
- It can be divided as well as grown from plantlets: its thick, fleshy roots can be cut apart with a knife (RHS).

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Hanging basket, High-shelf trailer, Pet-friendly greenery, Kitchen or study

Spider plant is the easy answer for a hanging basket, a high shelf or a plant stand where the arching leaves and plantlets can fall freely. It suits a bright kitchen, a study or a child's room, away from the hot afternoon glare and the direct stream of an AC vent. Because the ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to cats and dogs, it is a sensible choice in a pet household, though cats often chew the arching leaves.

- [Areca palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/areca-palm.md): Both are pet-safe, and the palm's fine feathery fronds make a taller backdrop to the spider plant's arching, striped leaves in a bright corner.
- [Pothos](https://plantguide.ae/plants/pothos.md): Pothos trails in the opposite direction from the spider plant's upward-arching fountain, giving two different cascading lines at once.
- [Snake plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snake-plant.md): Snake plant's stiff upright blades contrast with the spider plant's soft arching ones, and both tolerate low light and irregular watering.

## FAQ

**Why are the tips of my spider plant brown in Dubai?**  
The usual suspects are dry air from air conditioning, salts or fluoride and chlorine in tap water, over- or underwatering, and too much sun (RHS, NC State, Clemson). Use filtered water, flush the pot, feed lightly and keep it clear of the AC vent; snip off the browned tips.

**Why isn't my spider plant making babies?**  
The RHS says most plants will not flower or make plantlets until they are at least a year old, and too little light, cool temperatures and an overly large pot can discourage them. NC State adds that over-fertilising reduces plantlets.

**Is a spider plant safe for cats and dogs?**  
Yes. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to both dogs and cats. Cats often chew the leaves, which can still shred the plant, but it is not a poisoning risk.

**How much light does a spider plant need?**  
Bright, indirect light is best, but the RHS says it is happy in low light too, with slower growth and fading variegation. Hot afternoon sun through glass scorches the leaves.

**How do I propagate spider plant babies?**  
The RHS says to detach good-sized plantlets once they have their own roots and pin them into pots of moist compost with a U-shaped piece of wire, or place them in a glass of water and pot them up once the roots lengthen.

## Related plants

[Areca palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/areca-palm.md) · [Pothos](https://plantguide.ae/plants/pothos.md) · [Snake plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snake-plant.md) · [Philodendron](https://plantguide.ae/plants/philodendron.md)

## Photos

![Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum'](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Hierbabuena_0611_Revised.jpg)  
Photo: Hierbabuena_0611.JPG: Dtarazona derivative work: Peter coxhead / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hierbabuena_0611_Revised.jpg))

![Botanical specimen in the Botanischer Garten - Heidelberg, Germany.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Chlorophytum_comosum_-_Botanischer_Garten_-_Heidelberg%2C_Germany_-_DSC01199.jpg)  
Photo: Daderot / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chlorophytum_comosum_-_Botanischer_Garten_-_Heidelberg,_Germany_-_DSC01199.jpg))

![The flower of Chlorophytum comosum.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Chlorophytum_comosum_flower.JPG)  
Photo: Reaperman / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chlorophytum_comosum_flower.JPG))

![A picture of several plantlets (also known as spiderettes or pups) alongside opening flowers.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/SpiderPlantPlantlets.jpg)  
Photo: Jamzze / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SpiderPlantPlantlets.jpg))

## Sources

- [RHS: How to grow spider plants](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/spider-plants/growing-guide)
- [NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Chlorophytum comosum](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/chlorophytum-comosum/)
- [Clemson HGIC: Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)](https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/spider-plant/)
- [ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants — Spider Plant](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/spider-plant)
- [Cummings & Waring (2019): Potted plants do not improve indoor air quality — J. Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-019-0175-9)