3 Best Methods for Propagating Spider Plants at Home

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Have you ever felt like your room or office looks a bit bland in appearance? Then, it's time to try out the charm of interior gardening. Bringing a piece of nature into your house will help you heal your mind and body.

Along with furnishing an attractive look to your indoors, the plants will also purify the air and increase the oxygen level.

According to the studies, they have a role in setting a positive mindset. Houseplants are mostly easy to take care of and will live for a long period. Trust me, you are going to love them in no time!

The Chlorophytum comosum, popularly known as the spider plant or spider ivy is a commonly chosen houseplant. These evergreen tropical plants are African natives and besties with rookie gardeners because of their easy maintenance.

They are perennial blooming with small white flowers. These leafy plants are tough fighters and can withstand most of the negative conditions. Unlike other indoor plants, spider plants are not weak and catch only a few diseases and problems.

If you want to enrich your home garden with so many plants in number, propagating spider plants is one of the most suitable options for you. You can do it yourself and at no cost of buying new plants.

Great, right?

It is no rocket science to propagate these spider-like green plants. Let us have a look at different methods you can try to get healthy spider plant offsprings:


3 Best Methods for Propagating Spider Plants

Method 1: Propagating in water

The key intent of the water method is to grow healthy roots in the cutting. After the roots are grown, we can re-pot them into the soil.

You should wait a little bit for the roots to grow, but it is so amusing to watch the baby plants growing tiny roots. Better roots mean faster growth! This propagation method is suitable to produce many baby plants at the same time.


Step by step procedure for propagating spider plants in water

Step #1: Take a clean jar or cup, preferably transparent to help you see the growth of roots. If your jar is good-looking, then it can also become decor for the house. So make sure to select a nice one. Fill it with water up to half of the jar. Before that, it would be ideal to dechlorinate the water by placing it under the sun for a few minutes.

Step #2: Grab a cutting tool and sterilize it before using it. We don't want our baby plants to catch an infection. The utensil can be clippers or a knife, just pick a sharp one. Carefully, cut out a spiderette or baby plant from the mother plant. You can either cut it from the base or from the long stems where spiderettes grow after a prolonged period. The mother plant should not be disturbed as it can produce more spiderettes over time.

Step #3: Place the spiderette carefully into the water. Make sure that the leaves are not immersed in the water or else they will rot away. If you see the leaves touching the water, reposition the plant without disturbing the baby much. The water should be at the level of the roots.


Where to place the container with the baby plants?

Do not place the jar under direct sun, it will scorch them. Find a place, for example, a windowsill with indirect sunlight.

Now you can sit back and wait for the roots to grow. Also, change the water occasionally to prevent infections. The new roots will appear within some days. When a bunch of healthy roots develops, it's time for the baby spidey to get planted into the pot.

Step #4: Fill the pot with a seed-starting mix instead of plain soil. Do not flood the mixture with water, just sprinkle a little bit to moist the mix. Dig a not-so-deep hole in the mixture with a twig or a pencil and place the baby plant in it.

The plants are still adjusting to the new environment, so make sure not to disturb it. Direct sunlight is a big no-no for these delicate spider plants. Use a screen or shade to lessen the intensity of the light.

After some days, you will see the plants will get stronger and starts to grow new leaves. Then good job, your water propagating method was a success!


Method 2: Potting method

Don't have the time to change the water occasionally and replant at the right time?

Then, you should choose the alternative potting method. The potting method is simple and easy compared to other methods.

However, it will take some time for the baby plants to grow roots directly into the soil. If you want to speed up the process, rooting hormones will help but it is not necessary.

Give the plant time to settle in the new environment. The rooting system should be fine for the plant to survive. Once the new roots start to develop, the plant will appear stronger and healthy. New leaves will start to form when the baby plant becomes adapted to the new soil.

Remember to moist the pot with a little water daily, but do not overwater it.

You can follow the same steps mentioned above for potting method also by skipping step#1 and step #3.


Method 3: Directly propagating the stolons

Last but not the least, stolon is the best method for propagating spider plants. This method is very same as the natural propagation of spider plants. We are not going to cut out stolons from the mother plant before planting it.

Spiderettes are retained in the mother plant and allowed to root in another pot. By using this method, the baby plant will get nourishment from the mother plant during its rooting process.


Step by step procedure of stolon method

Step #1: Take a small pot and fill it with a seed-starting mix or moist soil. You can also use the mother plant's pot if it has space in it. Dig a small but not deep hole in the pot using a pencil. Place the pot right next to the mother plant. Several baby plants can be planted in the same pot to save space.

Step #2: Select a healthy-looking spiderette from the long stems of the mother plant and plant it in the pot without cutting it. The spiderette should not feel tugged or else it will hinder the growth. To give it more freedom, place the new pot closer to the mother plant. The mother will support the baby plant throughout its development.

Step #3: When the plant develops roots and becomes stronger, you can carefully remove the attaching stem with the mother plant.


FAQs 

Why the spider plant leaves are turning yellow?

Yellowish leaves may be due to overwatering or soil issues. You should change the soil annually. If you are using tap water, the minerals can turn the leaves yellow. To prevent nutritional deficiency, fertilize the plant at regular intervals.

You’ll also benefit from reading this article – Spider plants turning brown? Here’s what to do.


Common pests that attack spider plants.

Compared to the outdoor plants, indoor plants face fewer threats from pests as it is protected from the outside. But still, some pests are too stubborn.

Be careful on pests like whiteflies, mites, and mealybugs. If the plant gets infected, try using neem oil on it. An insecticidal soap will also do the job.


My spider plant doesn't grow spiderettes. What is wrong with it?

This is one of the most encountered problems of spider plant lovers. Well, don't worry. One probability can be your plant is still young. Good things take time. The spider plant has to mature enough to produce spiderettes and it takes a pretty long time.

If your plant is old enough but still doesn't produce babies, then it might be suffocating inside a tightly packed pot. Also, check the drainage system of the pot. Place it at a spot where the plant gets adequate light, fresh air, and food. Spiderettes will appear if the growth conditions are right.


Can spider plants grow outside?

The answer is Yes.

Spider plants can grow outside depending on the conditions provided. If you want to grow them outside then first, root the baby plants indoors and later re-plant them in the outdoors. The ideal soil for spider plants should be slightly acidic.

Plant them under a tree or a shade to prevent them from getting burned in direct sunlight (Check out this list of shade flowering plants). Rainwater or distilled water will be good for them as spider plants don't like fluoride and chlorine in tap water. During the wintertime, you can re-pot the plants and keep them inside.


Conclusion

That's it!

You've just read about the three best methods for propagating spider plants at home.

These are the few methods through which you can produce a great number of spider plants for your garden. You can try the method which suits your time and space. Be it for interior decoration or gifting to someone, these greeny spiders are super cool.

Now that you've learned how to propagate them like a pro, your interior garden will look much greener and more refreshing. Comment below which method you are going to try first and feel free to share your gardening experiences with us!