How to grow spider plant babies – three foolproof ways to propagate like a pro

Always wanted to grow spider plant babies, but not sure where to even begin? We don’t blame you.

If you're successfully caring for your spider plant, you'll find that it will naturally grow its own plantlets - often called spiderettes, babies or pups. These grow directly from the mother plant, with a node where the roots would normally be. 

How to grow spider plant babies

One of our favourite houseplant ideas, spider plants are perfect for first-time houseplant owners or those looking to get into the propagation game. They are simultaneously beautiful and extremely durable – in fact, they are one of the most unkillable houseplants.

If you’ve never grown spider plant babies before, don’t panic. These plants basically do the hard work for you. A happy spider plant will produce long vines during spring and summer. These vines will burst into bloom with tiny white, unscented flowers before culminating in a small leafy plantlet, also known as a spiderette. 

‘These are spider plant babies and can be removed from the mother plant to give you a new houseplant,’ explains Morag Hill, co-founder of The Little Botanical. 

To make matters even easier, there are three foolproof ways to grow your own spider plant babies at home. Take a read, and see which method tickles your fancy the most. Pretty soon your home will be overflowing with these easy-to-care-for houseplants  – you might even have a couple left over to gift friends. 

How to grow spider plant babies from plantlets

One of the easiest ways to grow spider plant babies is to propagate in compost. ‘Simply snip the baby plant away from the mother plant with clean scissors or secateurs making sure that you include at least two brown nodules as these will become the roots. Pot into fresh, damp compost and watch it grow,’ says Morag Hill, co-founder of The Little Botanical. 

If you want to increase your chances of success, dip the bottom of the plantlet in rooting powder – like this Doff Hormone Rooting Powder from Amazon. However, most people find that rooting powder is not essential.

During this process, keep the soil moist but not too wet. Then, when the roots are fully formed, you can finally snip the plantlet from the mother plant and place it in a sunny position to continue growing.

How to grow spider plant babies in water

Another way to grow spider plant babies is to grow them in water. To do this, simply place a plantlet into a tall skinny vase and wait for the roots to grow before potting the rooted plant into the soil. Propagating a spider plant in water is very similar to the technique used to propagate a monstera.

If you are planning on propagating a lot of plants in water, then it might be worth setting up a propagation station – it might even increase your chance of success.

However, you have to be careful with this method. Too much water, or the wrong kind of water, could see your plantlet rot. Home water treatment expert Gene Fitzgerald at BOS has revealed the dangers of growing spider plant babies in hard water, as it contains extra minerals 'which can build up in the soil and affect the roots and water absorption. The minerals can also leave deposits on the plant leaves, which can lead to browning and prevent the photosynthesis process.'

If you live in a hard water area, opt to grow spider plant babies in filtered or rainwater instead.

How to grow spider plant babies by division

Sometimes, a spider plant may not have viable plantlets meaning you can't grow spider plant babies. However, you can still propagate your spider plant using division. Propagating a spider plant by division is best done when the plant has outgrown its current pot and you don't want to increase the size of the pot.

‘To do this, carefully remove the spider plant from its pot and divide the root ball into smaller parts, ensuring each section has healthy roots and foliage,' says Andy Little, houseplant buyer at British Garden Centres. You can do this by pulling apart the plant from the roots or cutting it with sterilised shears or scissors – such as these Micro-Tip Pruning Snips from Amazon. 

When you have this second plant, re-pot. 'Replant each plant in an individual pot with fresh soil, water them thoroughly, and place them in a warm, brightly lit area,’ adds Andy Little, houseplant buyer at British Garden Centres.

However, propagating a spider plant by division isn’t advisable if you have a young or fragile mother plant. Always make sure the roots are strong to avoid killing the mother plant in the process.  

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