12 houseplants that are hard to kill
Serial plant killer? These 12 tough houseplants survive low light, missed waterings and dry air — plus the one mistake that still kills them.
Indoor Plants
Spider Plant
Pet-safe, fast-growing and generous: it makes baby plants you can pot up and give away.
Chlorophytum comosum
A spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) in flower. Photo: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Light
Spider Plant tolerates: medium / indirect, bright indirect or some sun. Put it within a few feet of a window; a dark corner will make it weak and leggy.
Watering
Water when the top inch (2–3 cm) is dry, about weekly. Thick roots forgive a missed week.
Is spider plant safe for cats and dogs?
Non-toxic to cats and dogs (cats love to chew it — a little upset tummy at most). Source: ASPCA — Spider Plant.
Size and humidity
Typical size indoors: 1–2 ft (30–60 cm) with hanging babies. Humidity: not fussy at all.
Top tips
- Brown tips are often from fluoride in tap water — try filtered or rain water.
- Pot the "spiderettes" in soil while still attached.
- Looks best in a hanging basket.
Guides that mention the spider plant
Plants that are toxic to cats
Lilies can kill a cat; a poinsettia mostly causes drooling. Here's which houseplants and flowers are truly dangerous for cats, and what to grow instead.
Pets & Plants
15 pet-safe houseplants
Non-toxic houseplants that are safe for cats and dogs, organized by how much light you have — from dark corners to sunny windows.
Pets & Plants
Brown tips on leaves
Crispy brown tips are usually dry soil, dry air, or salts and fluoride in tap water. How to tell which one by the pattern, and which plants are most sensitive.
Plant Problems
