Spider plants are basically the overachievers of the plant world. They’re gorgeous, incredibly easy to care for, and—best of all—they’re super simple to propagate. If you want to turn one plant into a whole jungle, using “babies” (offsets) is the way to go. Here’s everything you need to know to get started.
Propagating Your Spider Plant
There’s a reason the spider plant is such a classic houseplant. Beyond being a total eye-catcher, it’s a natural air purifier that helps filter out indoor pollutants. It’s no wonder so many plant parents want to grow more of them! Since the popular variegated varieties (the ones with those cool white stripes) don’t usually produce seeds, propagating via offsets is definitely your best bet.
Working with Spider Plant “Babies”
You can snip those little plantlets, or “pups,” off the mother plant once their leaves are about two to three inches long. A popular method is to pop them into a glass of water to let the roots develop. Just a pro tip: strip off the bottom-most leaves first so they don’t sit in the water and rot. Once the new roots are about an inch or two long, your baby plant is ready for its own pot.
Sometimes, you’ll get lucky and find that the pups have already started growing little root nubs while still attached to the mom. This saves you a step! You can cut these off and plant them directly into a pot with fresh soil. I recommend mixing in a little compost to give the youngster a nice nutrient boost. Place the pot in a warm spot and keep the soil consistently moist.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even root a pup while it’s still attached to the mother plant. Just pin the baby down into a small pot of starter soil placed right next to the main plant. This way, it keeps getting “nutritional support” from mom while it finds its own feet. Keep the soil damp (but not soggy!), and after a few weeks, the pup should have its own root system. At that point, you can snip the cord!
Spider Plant Propagation: The Quick Highlights
- There are plenty of great reasons to grow more spider plants.
- Variegated types don’t produce seeds, so offsets are key.
- Using “pups” is the easiest and most effective way to propagate.
- You can root cuttings in water until they’re ready for soil.
- If they already have roots, they can go straight into a pot.
- Rooting them while still attached to the mother plant is also a great, low-risk option.
