← Plant Guides

How to Grow Ruby Spider

Wikimedia Commons

Ruby Spider

Chlorophytum comosum 'Ruby Spider'

flower

Ruby Spider is a striking variegated cultivar of the spider plant featuring deep red or burgundy foliage with green striping, creating dramatic contrast. This tropical houseplant is prized for its ornamental foliage and cascading growth habit, making it excellent for hanging baskets and elevated planters. It shares the hardiness and low-maintenance nature of its parent species while offering more vibrant color.

When should you plant Ruby Spider in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Ruby Spider timeline →

Example Ruby Spider timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Ruby Spider

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. First Ruby Spider blooms

    Mid-to-late summer

    Before the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Ruby Spider dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Bright, indirect light; 6-8 hours daily. Tolerates lower light but color intensity diminishes. Avoid direct harsh afternoon sun which can scorch foliage.
💧
Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during growing season. Allow top inch of soil to dry between waterings. Reduce watering in winter. Sensitive to fluoride in tap water; use filtered or distilled water when possible.
📏
Spacing: 12 inches
📅
Days to maturity: N/A (ornamental foliage plant)
🌱
Planting depth: Plant crown at soil surface; do not bury

Soil

Type: Well-draining potting soil, peat-based or coconut coir blend
pH: 6.0-6.5
Amendments:
Perlite or pumice for drainage Compost for organic matter Orchid bark for aeration

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 10b-11; grown as houseplant in cooler regions

10b 11a 11b

Sign up free to see if Ruby Spider grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.

Get my Ruby Spider timeline →

Growth Stages

1

Establishment

3-4 weeks

Young plant with small rosettes of variegated leaves; root system developing

Keep soil evenly moist. Place in bright, indirect light. Provide humidity. Avoid fertilizing for first 4-6 weeks.

2

Vegetative Growth

2-3 months

Plant develops more foliage with increasingly vivid ruby-red coloring; forms dense rosettes

Maintain bright indirect light to enhance color. Feed with balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during growing season. Ensure good air circulation.

3

Maturation

Ongoing

Full-size plant with abundant cascading variegated foliage; reaching mature dimensions

Continue regular feeding during growing season. Rotate plant weekly for even growth. Monitor for pests. Prune any dead or yellowing leaves.

4

Flowering & Propagation

Spring through summer

Produces small white flowers on long arching stems (runners); plantlets form at nodes

Allow runners to develop and root for propagation, or remove if preferring compact form. Flowers are secondary to foliage in this cultivar.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Pothos Philodendron Peperomia String of Pearls Hoya Tradescantia

Avoid planting near:

Directly beside sources of fluoride (water softeners) Extreme heat sources

Common Pests

  • Increase humidity, spray foliage with water, use neem oil or insecticidal soap if infestation occurs

  • Isolate plant, remove with rubbing alcohol on cotton swab, apply neem oil weekly for 3-4 weeks

  • Manual removal with brush, horticultural oil spray, repeat treatments as needed

  • Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap, improve air circulation, increase humidity

Uses

🏠

Indoor Air Purification

Household

Spider plants, including Ruby Spider, are among the most effective houseplants for removing formaldehyde and xylene from indoor air. NASA studies have demonstrated their air-cleaning capabilities in enclosed spaces. [source]

🎨

Ornamental Hanging Display

Craft

The cascading ruby-red variegated foliage makes Ruby Spider ideal for decorative hanging baskets, macramé hangers, and shelf displays. The color contrast provides year-round visual interest. [source]

🏠

Easy Houseplant & Propagation

Household

Perfect for beginners due to extreme hardiness and ease of propagation. Spider plants tolerate neglect and variable light conditions, making them ideal for offices and homes with inconsistent care. [source]

🦋

Pet-Safe Ornamental

Wildlife

Spider plants are non-toxic to cats and dogs, though the attractive dangling foliage may tempt pets to chew. Safe for homes with curious animals. [source]

Harvest Tips

Not harvested for consumption. Propagate plantlets by placing runners in water until roots develop (1-2 weeks), then pot into soil. Remove dead or damaged foliage as needed for aesthetics.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Ruby Spider's intense red coloring is most vibrant when grown in bright indirect light; the pigment (anthocyanin) develops more prominently under these conditions
  • 🌱 Spider plants produce runners (stolons) with plantlets that can be propagated indefinitely, creating identical clones and making this one of the easiest plants to multiply
  • 🌱 The genus name Chlorophytum comes from Greek words meaning 'green plant,' yet this cultivar's burgundy pigmentation can nearly obscure the chlorophyll

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Cultivar Runner
Shop Ruby Spider plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Ruby Spider planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Ruby Spider seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Ruby Spider timeline →