Learn how to propagate spider plants here. We’re going to cover spider plant care and their propagation, so you can have more of these plants for free.
Native to tropical and southern Africa, Spider Plants are also known as Ribbon Plant, Airplane Plant, St. Bernard’s Lily, Anthericum, and Spider Ivy.
Spider plants have been around the houseplant world for decades. They decorated parlors in the Victorian era and decorate modern homes and apartments today.
Don’t be afraid of bringing some spider plants into your home.
They are so easy to care for, pretty to look at, and healthy for your environment that you’ll be glad you did.
You will mostly see spider plants displayed as hanging plants. The plants form grass-like clumps with long slender stems hanging two to three feet below the container. Spider plants are named for the baby plantlets, or “spiderettes,” that form on their dangling stems and look like spiders on a web.
Available in green and variegated varieties, these plants grow well as a hanging plant or in containers. Several varieties are available with either green or variegated leaves.
One of my favorites, the “Bonnie” spider plant has interesting green leaves that curl and twist down.
Spider Plants are Healthy For Your House Plants
This plant will make a healthy addition to any home. They are safe for pets and can help keep the indoor air free of pollutants and chemicals while adding oxygen back into the air.
Spider plants were in the NASA clean air study and found to eliminate carbon dioxide from the air. Here are more houseplants that can help remove pollutants and toxins from your indoor air.
They are a nice houseplant that is non-toxic to pets. Here are some more plants that are non-toxic to pets.
Spider Plants Are Adaptable And Prolific
One of the most popular houseplants, spider plants are very adaptable and very prolific.
They can adapt to almost any condition.
One of the easiest houseplants to grow, they’re tough, low maintenance, and easy to propagate
- They like evenly moist soil. Water them as needed to keep the soil moist, but not saturated.
- Place them in an area that receives bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves.
- Their favorite room temperature is between 60°F-75°F.
- They will grow to 6 – 12 inches tall and 6 – 24 inches wide at maturity.
- They frequently have white blossoms that turn into the “spiderettes.”
Spider Plants Are Easy To Propagate
Spider plants are one of the easiest houseplants you can propagate! The plantlets or “spiderettes” are the key to success.
- Looking at the “spiderettes,” you’ll be able to see small white knobs and roots on the bottoms of the plants.
There are a few ways to grow these little plantlets into separate plants. In soil, in water, or division. So let’s get to spider plant propagation!
What you’ll need:
- Sharp Shears or Knife
- Small Trowel or Transplanting Shovel
- Containers for Water
- Small Pots for Planting
- Water
- Potting mix
Propagation in Potting Soil
Propagating spider plants in soil is absolutely the easiest method to do it. Once you place the babies on the moist potting mix, they will start to grow roots and you’ll have new plants.
- You can cut the plantlets off of the mother plant and place them on top of the potting mix to root.
- You can leave them attached to the parent plant until the roots begin to grow. Cut the runners and then place the plantlets on the potting mix to grow.
- You can also aim for a thick and bushy pot full of spider plants. Place the plantlets in the soil around the parent plant and they will take root around the mother, eventually filling the entire pot with spider plants.
Propagation in Water
Propagating spider plants in water is a fun way to be able to watch the roots develop before you plant them in potting mix.
- Just cut the “spiderette” off the mother plant.
- Place it in some water in a jar.
- Leave on a windowsill for a couple of weeks
- Plant the baby plant in potting mix in its own pot.
Propagate by Division
Sometimes your mother spider plant grows so much that it is too large for its pot. You’ll know that it’s time to re-pot it. This is an ideal time to divide your one spider plant into two or more plants, and give each one its own container. This is called propagation by division.
Here’s how you do it.
- Remove the entire plant from its pot.
- The root base is a network of tubers. Examine the root base to see where you want to separate it.
- Pull the root base gently apart into 2 – 3 smaller clusters.
- Plant each one into a pot that will hold the entire root base below the soil in the pot, at the same level it was before.
- Water the new plants regularly to encourage the tuberous root base to grow.
- Spider plants will grow very quickly after being divided and transplanted.
Success with Propagating Your Spider Plants!
Successful spider plant propagation is quick and easy. Pretty soon, you’ll have quite a few spider plants and could give them to friends and family!
You can find Bonnie Spider Plants at Amazon. These are my favorites and I have a few of them around the house.