Houseplant
Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum' · Asparagaceae
Also called: Airplane Plant, Ribbon Plant, Spider Ivy, St. Bernard's Lily, Hen and Chickens
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum') is a low-water houseplant well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a fast-growing houseplant. Expect white blooms spring through summer.
Spider Plant at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Bright indirect light indoors gives the best variegation; tolerates moderate/low light. Avoid harsh direct desert sun, which bleaches and scorches the foliage.
- Mature size
- About 1-2 ft tall and 1-2 ft wide, with runners extending 1-2+ ft beyond the foliage.
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Bloom
- White, Spring through summer; small flowers appear on arching runners, followed by plantlets.
- Cold hardiness
- Frost-tender; keep above ~50F. Grown indoors in Tucson; can summer outdoors in shade but must come in before frost. Min comfortable indoor temp ~50-55F.
- Soil
- Well-draining general potting mix; tolerates a range but prefers loose, fertile soil.
- Native range
- Coastal southern Africa (South Africa); 'Vittatum' is a variegated cultivar with a central white/cream stripe
- Best used as
- Indoor decor, Hanging basket plant, Air-purifying houseplant, Easy propagation/beginner plant, Shaded patio container (warm months only)
- Wildlife
- None indoors.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic and pet-safe (listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by ASPCA); safe around children. Cats may chew the leaves, occasionally causing mild stomach upset, but it is not poisonous.
How to grow Spider Plant in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Keep lightly moist in the growing season, watering when the top inch dries, roughly every 5-7 days, and less in winter. In Tucson's dry indoor air, brown leaf tips are common and worsened by salts/fluoride in hard tap water, so use filtered or rainwater and let excess drain. Tolerant of occasional dryness.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light feeder; balanced houseplant fertilizer at half strength about monthly in spring/summer. Over-fertilizing promotes brown tips and reduces 'spiderette' production; flush soil occasionally to clear salts.
Pruning & care
Trim brown leaf tips and remove dead foliage. Plantlets (spiderettes) on runners can be left for display or potted up to propagate. Remove runners to redirect energy if desired.
Notes
One of the safest, easiest houseplants for homes with pets and kids, grown indoors (or on a shaded patio in warm months) in Tucson. The most common Tucson issue is brown leaf tips from dry air and hard/fluoridated tap water, so filtered water and modest humidity help. Produces abundant spiderettes for easy propagation. The 'Vittatum' cultivar has a central creamy stripe (vs. 'Variegatum' with white margins).
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (Pima County Master Gardeners) houseplant guidance; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder; ASPCA Non-Toxic Plant List; NASA Clean Air Study