The Spider Plant is considered one of the most adaptable houseplants. Few plants are easier to care for than spider plants, leafy beauties grown as perennials outdoors in warm zones but also beloved as hanging-baskethouse plants. Spider plants can grow in a wide range of conditions and suffer from few problems, other than occasional brown tips.
 
The spider plant is so named because of its spider-like offsets, or spiderettes, which dangle down from the mother plant like spiders on a web. The offsets are complete plants that develop roots and can, in time, be clipped off of the stems and planted as separate plants.
 
Indoors or outdoors, spider plants prefer a location with bright, indirect light. Although spider plant can tolerate low-light conditions, it needs adequate light in order to bloom and produce offshoots. Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves.
 
To keep your spider plant looking its best, prune off any brown leaf tips or edges using a sharp pair of small scissors, following the natural angle of the leaf. Also prune off dead or damaged leaves and unwanted runners by cutting them back to soil level. You won’t harm your plant by removing the stems and plantlets, and you will often improve its health and vigor.
 
Spider plants like even moisture but can tolerate some neglect because their thick, fleshy roots are able to store water. A good rule of thumb is to water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.