The Curling Garden
Bonnie Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum ‘Bonnie’
Curled green-and-cream ribbons give Bonnie a lively, compact shape. Let the leaves turn naturally in bright indirect light, with room for the plantlets that develop as it matures.
Explore the care guide
Care at a glance
Know your plant
Light and placement
Bright indirect light supports growth and striped foliage. Protect the leaves from strong direct sun, which can scorch or discolour them. In lower light, growth slows and the variegated display may become less distinct. [3]
Watering
Let the mix dry slightly between thorough waterings. Feel the surface and check the moisture beneath it before adding more water. A pot that remains wet needs more time; a plant in a warm, bright position may use water more quickly. [5][3]
Water the potting mix evenly, let excess water leave through the drainage holes and empty the saucer or outer pot. Keep the root zone lightly moist through active growth, with a little drying between drinks rather than prolonged soaking. [3][5]
If brown tips keep returning, review water quality along with watering consistency, humidity and feeding. Spider plants can be sensitive to fluoride and other dissolved constituents. Distilled water or suitable collected rainwater offers an alternative when the water source is contributing to tip damage. [5][6]
Soil and pot choice
Use a general-purpose houseplant potting medium that drains freely. A peat-free multipurpose or houseplant compost is a suitable option. Choose a container with drainage holes and treat a decorative outer pot as a cover that must be emptied after watering. [3][5]
Spider plants have fleshy roots that fill their container as the clump grows. Select a pot that suits those roots, then check crowding as the plant develops. A slightly larger container gives a crowded root system fresh growing space. [3]
Temperature and humidity
Feeding
Repotting
Inspect the roots when the plant becomes crowded or loses vigour. Dense fleshy roots filling the container are a useful reason to refresh the mix and move up to a slightly larger pot. An oversized mature clump can also be divided. [3]
Growing new plants
Place a small pot of moist potting medium beside the parent. Rest the plantlet on the surface so its base touches the mix, and secure it gently with a bent wire or clip if needed. [5]
Leaves, growth and colour
Let Bonnie keep its natural curls. Routine shaping is unnecessary: retain healthy leaves and remove dead or damaged foliage near its base. Trim a finished flower stem if its plantlets are not wanted, or use rooted plantlets to start another pot. [4][3][6]
Problems and next checks
Brown tips on otherwise firm leaves
- Possible causes
- Long dry spells, dry indoor air or strong sun.
- Fertilizer salts or water constituents contributing to tip injury.
- Checks to distinguish them
- Check moisture below the surface and review recent watering.
- Compare the damage with placement, room dryness, feeding and water source.
- Low-risk next step
- Correct the growing conditions one at a time. If water quality is implicated, try distilled water or suitable collected rainwater. Trim damaged tips for appearance with clean scissors.
- When to seek expert help
- Seek a horticultural assessment if fresh damage continues despite consistent moisture and a suitable position.
Declining foliage with persistently wet mix
- Possible causes
- Overwatering, poor drainage or trapped water below the pot.
- Crowded or damaged roots reducing healthy growth.
- Checks to distinguish them
- Check deeper moisture, drainage holes and collected water.
- Inspect the roots if the plant continues to decline or the clump has filled its pot.
- Low-risk next step
- Empty trapped water and let the mix begin to dry before the next drink. Improve drainage and assess whether the root system needs fresh medium or a different container.
- When to seek expert help
- Ask for local horticultural help if the crown is soft or a large part of the root system is deteriorating.
Slow growth or few plantlets
- Possible causes
- A young plant, lower light or cool conditions.
- Heavy feeding or an overly large container.
- Checks to distinguish them
- Review light, recent growth and whether the plant is mature.
- Check the pot against the root system and review fertilizer use.
- Low-risk next step
- Give the plant bright indirect light, steady moisture checks and modest feeding. Let a young rosette establish itself before expecting a trailing display.
- When to seek expert help
- Seek an assessment when growth remains poor after suitable light, watering and root space have been established.
Cottony patches, attached bumps or insects on new growth
- Possible causes
- Mealybugs, scale insects or aphids.
- Loose surface material resembling a pest.
- Checks to distinguish them
- Inspect leaf bases, the undersides of leaves and growing stems.
- Look for attached insects rather than treating ordinary markings or loose dust.
- Low-risk next step
- Separate the pot from nearby plants while checking it. Identify the pest before choosing a treatment, and follow the label for any product used on indoor ornamentals.
- When to seek expert help
- Ask a horticultural adviser to identify unfamiliar pests or a spreading infestation.
Seasonal indoor care
As lower light slows growth, check the mix before watering and allow more time between drinks. Resume more frequent checks as the plant begins growing actively again; let the pot’s actual moisture guide the routine. [3][2]
Children and pets
SafetyASPCA’s plant directory classifies Chlorophytum comosum as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Keep the leaves and plantlets beyond chewing reach: eating plant material can still upset a pet’s stomach. [9][12]
If a pet becomes unwell after chewing a plant, contact your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control at 888-426-4435. Keep the plant label available so the professional can identify what was eaten. A consultation fee may apply. [13][10]
Keep houseplants, cuttings and loose potting material beyond young children’s reach. Grow this plant as an ornamental display and keep plant material away from food and drinks. [11]
For a human plant ingestion in the United States, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or use webPOISONCONTROL for advice specific to the exposure. Elsewhere, contact your local poison service. Keep the supplied plant name available. [11]
Similar plants
Sources
- Chlorophytum comosum - Plants of the World Online
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Accessed October 5, 2026
- Chlorophytum comosum - Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
NC State Extension
Accessed October 5, 2026
- How to grow spider plants
Royal Horticultural Society
Accessed October 5, 2026
- Chlorophytum comosum Bonnie
Royal Horticultural Society
Accessed October 5, 2026
- Spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum
University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension - Susan Mahr
Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: Revised January 6, 2025
- Why does my houseplant have brown leaf tips and edges?
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Aaron Steil
Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: Last updated February 3, 2026
- How to Propagate Houseplants by Division and Offsets
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Aaron Steil
Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: Last reviewed January 2025
- Repotting houseplants
University of Illinois Extension
Accessed October 5, 2026
- Spider Plant - Toxic and Non-toxic Plants
ASPCA Poison Control
Accessed October 5, 2026
- Is That Houseplant Safe for Your Pets?
ASPCA
Accessed October 5, 2026 · Publisher date: February 27, 2019
- Poisonous and non-poisonous plants: An illustrated list
National Capital Poison Center
Accessed October 5, 2026
- Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants - directory precautions
ASPCA Poison Control
Accessed October 5, 2026
- ASPCA Poison Control
ASPCA Poison Control
Accessed October 5, 2026

