How often should I water a spider plant?

A spider plant stores water in its thick, white roots, so it copes well with an occasional missed watering but not with soil that stays wet.

Every 7–10 days
A starting point, not a rule — check the soil before each watering and let the top few centimetres dry out first.

Always confirm with the soil: water when the top 2–5 cm is dry, whatever the calendar says.

Light

Chlorophytum comosum grows in most indoor light, but bright, indirect light keeps the striped leaves crisp and is what prompts it to send out long stems of plantlets. In low light the variegation fades and the plant uses far less water. In a bright window in summer, the calculator suggests every 6–8 days.

Pot and soil

The tuberous roots fill a pot quickly and can lift the plant out of the soil, and a pot-bound spider plant dries out fast. Use a standard houseplant compost in a pot that drains freely. Many growers find a slightly crowded plant produces more plantlets, so repot only when the roots are visibly pushing up or water runs straight through.

Through the year

Medium-light starting points are every 7–10 days in spring and summer, 9–13 in autumn, 11–16 in winter, and 15–21 days in low light in winter. A hanging basket in warm air near the ceiling dries out quicker than the same plant on a windowsill, so check high-up plants more often.

Too much or too little

Brown leaf tips are the complaint everyone has, and they are more often caused by fluoride and salts in tap water than by drought; rainwater or filtered water helps. Genuine thirst shows as pale, limp leaves that fold along the centre. Overwatering causes yellowing leaves and soft, brown roots in place of firm white ones. Spider plants are non-toxic to cats and dogs.

The plant watering calculator explains how the intervals are worked out for every plant on the list.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my spider plant have brown tips?

Brown tips are mostly a reaction to fluoride, chlorine and salts in tap water, which collect at the leaf ends. Dry air and letting the soil dry out completely add to it. Switch to rainwater or filtered water, flush the pot through every few months, and trim the brown ends with scissors, following the leaf’s natural point so the cut does not show.

Is my spider plant getting too much water?

Check the roots. Healthy ones are thick, white and firm; overwatered ones turn brown and soft and the pot smells sour. Above the soil, look for leaves yellowing from the base and a crown that feels loose. Because the roots hold their own reserve, let the top half of the soil dry before watering, and allow it to go drier still in winter.

Leaflet works out this schedule for every plant you own and reminds you.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Other free tools