Curly Spider Plant ‘Bonnie’ – 5 Expert Care Tips and FAQs

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If you are looking for a twist (literally) on the common spider plant, then Chlorophytum comosum ‘Bonnie’ is for you! Commonly known as the Curly Spider Plant, this plant comes in both plain green as well as a variegated form with a white stripe through each leaf center. It is smaller than most spider plants, but the care is identical.

This delightful houseplant is native to Africa and is a member of the Asparagaceae (Asparagus) plant family.

Chlorophytum comosum ‘Bonnie’ Care Tips

Here are 5 main tips for indoor care of the Curly Spider Plant:

1. LIGHT & TEMPERATURE

Although this plant tolerates lower light, the variegation in ‘Bonnie’ will be more pronounced with appropriate light. In lower light, the growth will be slower and it may even lose its stripes.

You don’t necessarily want or need to have this plant in full sun all day, but situate this plant right in front of a window for best results. Anywhere from 100% bright indirect light, up to about 2-3 hours of direct sun will work beautifully for spider plants.

As far as temperature goes, they do like it on the warmer end. I always say that for most houseplants, if you feel comfortable, your plant will too. Avoid minimum temperatures below 55F (13C).

2. WATERING

Spider plants prefer an evenly moist potting mix so try not to allow the potting mix to dry out completely. Doing so repeatedly will result in a very ratty looking plant.

The ideal case would be to allow the top quarter or so of the potting mix to dry out. Simply use your finger to test the moisture.

Be aware that the drier the potting mix gets, the curlier the leaves will be! This can also serve as an indication of when to water, but you should still feel the potting mix to be sure.

When you water, always water thoroughly and allow excess water to escape the drainage hole(s). Never allow your plant to sit in water for long periods of time otherwise you can encourage root rot.

For more detailed information, check out my blog post on how often to water spider plants. The answer may be more complicated than you think, but the post will clarify a lot of misconceptions.

3. SOIL & REPOTTING

A potting mix of 3 parts all-purpose mix plus 1 part perlite is a great blend for this plant. For a more in depth review of potting mixes, check out my blog post on 3 best potting mixes for spider plants.

Under decent conditions, spider plants are rapid growers and will soon require repotting as they will tend to quickly fill the pot with their fleshy roots. Be sure to check out my guide to repotting houseplants so that you know when and how to repot properly.

Repotting is best done during active growth, which in most cases would be Spring and Summer time. Always use a pot with a drainage hole!

4. FERTILIZING

Over-fertilizing can result in the plant producing less plantlets. In addition, these plants store nutrients in their tubers so it is not necessary to worry too much about fertilizing frequently.

That being said, I recommend using Dyna-Gro Grow every 2-4 weeks throughout the growing season. It is an amazing, complete formulation that has all the macro and micronutrients that plants need. I use it on all of my houseplants with wonderful results.

5. PROPAGATION

Like any other spider plant, the Curly Spider Plant will produce runners with abundant plantlets that can be easily propagated. As a result of this, they’re best displayed as hanging baskets.

There are a couple way to propagate this plant.

The first way is to pin any plantlets, while still attached to the mother plant, onto a pot of soil. Once the pup starts growing and is rooted, simply cut it free from the mother plant.

The other way to propagate is to cut the plantlet or pup off the mother plant, place it in water to root (most of the time, they already have small roots visible), and then plant it when roots are about an inch long.

Commonly Asked Questions

That’s all folks! Do you have a Curly spider plant? Comment below. I’d love to hear!