Spider Plant

Chlorophytum comosum

Plantae›Tracheophyta›Liliopsida›Asparagales›Asparagaceae

📍 Coastal southern Africa

The spider plant is a beginner-friendly houseplant that filters aquarium water when its roots are suspended in the tank and its arching leaves kept above the surface. It's exceptionally hardy, safe around pets, and pushes out plantlets ('spiderettes') you can split off to start in other tanks. As with all emersed houseplants, keep the foliage in the air and only the roots in the water.

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Compatible Livestock

Guppy

Easygoing fish that thrive in the well-filtered water this plant helps keep clean.

good

Neon Tetra

Peaceful schoolers that benefit from the nitrate export without bothering the roots.

good

Amano Shrimp

Algae grazers that clean the submerged roots and glass.

excellent

Common Diseases

Root / crown rot

Symptoms

Mushy, blackened, or foul-smelling roots or lower stem; drooping, yellowing foliage — almost always from submerging the leaves or crown.

Treatment

Keep only the roots underwater and the foliage in the air. Trim away rotted tissue with clean scissors, improve surface circulation/oxygen, and let the plant re-establish.

Brown leaf tips

Symptoms

Dry, browning leaf tips.

Treatment

Usually a reaction to hard water or fertilizer/mineral buildup. Top the tank off with dechlorinated or lower-mineral water and ease back on ferts.

Tips from the community 💡

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Quick Facts

co2: Not required
light: Moderate to bright indirect
placement: Emersed only — suspend the roots in the water with the leaves above the surface (hang-on-back filter, tank rim, or lid). Do not fully submerge; submerged foliage will rot.
substrate: None — roots grow directly in the water column
growth rate: Moderate