Plant
Spider plant.
Chlorophytum comosum
A southern African clump-former whose fleshy, tuberous roots store water and whose arching runners carry baby plantlets. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
How to help it thrive.
Light & placement
Stripes stay crisp at 5,000–15,000 lux, within 1–2 m of a bright window. It tolerates about 2,500 lux but fades and rarely makes plantlets there, while hot summer sun through glass scorches the leaf tips.
Water & drainage
Water when the top 2–3 cm (about 1 in) of mix is dry; the tuberous roots buffer short dry spells. Brown tips often come from fluoride or salts, so flush the pot with 2–3 times its volume of water every few months or use rainwater.
One thing to remember
Pin a plantlet with visible root nubs onto moist mix while still attached, then cut the runner once it has rooted in 2–3 weeks.
Further reading: Horticultural source
