Spider plants are stunning additions to anyone’s garden, especially if they are keen on producing spider plant babies that are commonly called spiderettes. Initially, you may think that mature spider plants will grow babies over time. But, there are certain conditions to the preference of the plant that induces the production of offspring.
How to make my spider plant grow babies? Spider plants will typically begin to produce spider babies in the late summer or early fall. When the days start to become shorter and the light exposure is reduced. They can also begin to produce spiderettes if the plant becomes stressed.
Spider plants can grow new spider babies or begin to flower in a variety of seasons depending on where you keep them positioned within your home or outside.
Spider Plant Propagation Basics
Under normal conditions, spider plants like indirect heat or light from the sun. If this condition, along with the adequate amount of water, is met – you’ll see new plants shooting off the parent plant.
A good potting mix or soil is also essential for favorable growth and reproduction. It is amusing to see the offshoots as if they are real spiders parachuting from the parent plant.
Another condition that contributes to the production of baby spider plants is the excellent drainage of the pot or container. It will ensure an adequate amount of water is absorbed by the roots for proper nourishment favorable to the production of the spider runners.
In addition, it is an eye-catching view in the garden when many spiderettes are seen spawning from the parent.
And if you are still not lucky to have babies from your spider plants despite these good conditions, patience is a critical aspect that will be crucial. As with most growers, the plant’s maturity is said to be the foremost factor in its reproduction.
Do not expect runners to sprout if it’s barely a month or two since you planted it. Even under the best environmental conditions, there will be no new offshoots when the plant is not mature enough to reproduce. It even takes years for some mature plants to spawn their first baby.
If you want to catalyze reproduction, you can use either natural or artificial growth enhancers. For natural ones, worm casts or perhaps the well-known compost products are best for use. However, there are numerous options for artificial growth enhancers in liquid and solid forms.
Cutting Spider Plant Babies
In spider plant propagation, one of the most common techniques is to cut away the spiderettes from their parent plant. However, there is an appropriate time to do this.
When to take cuttings from spider plants? When you see the spider plant babies are beginning to grow roots it is time to cut the spider plant babies and separate them from the parent plant. If no roots are forming yet, spend more time growing them until you see roots.
You can put them in soil or in water and wait for them to grow roots, however, waiting until you see them begin to sprout can give you a higher success rate.
Should I cut the babies off my spider plant? If you want to start more spider plants then let them develop and then cut the spider plant babies and place them in the soil so you can begin growing them. However, if you do not want more plants, it is less important when you cut them, the sooner the better.
Spiderettes can grow their spider plant babies as they reach maturity and get adequate nourishment from sunlight and water.
If you opt for this, you’ll exert extra effort in making sure that the mother plant receives the proper nutrition as well. Since it is the one hosting the spiderettes, it will need added nutrients.
Aside from the natural nutrition, it can get, you may want to use fertilizers like the commercially-available quick release fertilizers and soil enhancers essential to restore soil nutrients necessary for plant growth.
Starting Spider Plant Babes
Another option in spider plant propagation is growing the cuttings in water. It is relatively easy to implement this technique.
How to root spider plant babies in water? Fill an empty, clear bottle with non-chlorinated water. Place the spiderette, ensuring that most of its foliage should be outside the bottle, not touching the water. Place the bottled cutting in an area where it can receive indirect sunlight.
Another critical factor that will make the cuttings grow faster is the frequent change of water.
Rooting Spider Plant Babies While They Are Still Attached
If you choose to grow another parent plant out of the spider plant babies while still attached to the initial parent plant, you will need a good soil potting mix. Have another pot or perhaps a container where you will pour in the potting mix.
Then, just let the spiderettes stick their roots to the soil until it becomes deeply attached or rooted. With this, you’re on your way to having more parent plants. In due time, you will see that your garden is starting to be filled with spiderettes spawning from all of the parent spider plants.
When are spider plant babies ready to be planted? Spider plant babies will be ready for planting when roots are formed. Typically, you have to observe the adequate length of the runners from the parent plant before roots can also start developing.
Wait until roots are clumping before you plant them anew.
Planting Spider Plant Babies
Potting spider plant babies as part of your spider plant propagation is a good start for small-scale reproduction.
What Size Pot For Spider Plant Babies? Use a 4-inch pot and fill it with your potting mix. In some instances, smaller pot sizes can be chosen. Potted spiderettes are good gift ideas. They even make good giveaways on special occasions such as baptismal and weddings.
It is a good idea to start multiple spiderettes in multiple containers to ensure success in growing.
What type of Soil For Spider Plant Babies? Spider plants are not that picky in the soil used on them to host their growth. So typically, any good soil mix will be okay. However, you also can use cactus and soil mix to enhance drainage of excess water from the soil.
To improve the soil’s nutrition and nourish the baby plants faster, garnishing the soil with vermicasts is also a good idea.
Spider Plant Baby Care
How often should you water spider plant babies? Spider plant babies or the spiderettes have different watering needs than adult plants. Occasional watering at least once a week will give these offshoots the adequate amount of water it needs to quench their thirst for moisture and to enable it to photosynthesize.
Just like the adult plants, make sure that the soil is dried up before watering it again. It will prevent the plant from being overwatered. Make sure also that it is watered as scheduled to avoid being dehydrated. Both conditions will cause damages to the spiderettes, such as its leaves starting to show signs of discoloration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Give the plants less sunlight and they will produce more babies or pups once the plants have begun flowering. Another strategy is to leave your plants outside, rather than inside where growing conditions may be more optimal.
Spider plants will not produce babies when they are growing under too optimal conditions. For example, if the plant has too much fertilizer or the plants may be receiving too much sunlight.
Baby spider plants can sprout roots and begin growing within days of being planted in soil or put in water. In addition, spider plant babies will grow quickly until they fit the container that they are in.
Your spider plant babies are likely dying due to not having enough nutrients, not enough water, or not enough sunlight. However, having too much water, too much fertilizer, and too much direct sunlight can also kill them. You need to balance the resources for your new plant.
Spider plants are not male or female. Every spider plant has the ability to reproduce on its own without any other outside spider plants being available.
Conclusion
In conclusion, propagating spider plants is not that complicated. However, it can make you nervous when trying to start your own spider plant babies if you have never done it before.
Just let them fully develop on the plant before clipping them off, use a decent general use potting soil that drains well, and make sure to not overwater or underwater them as they grow. You want the soil to be moist, but you want to let the surface of the soil dry out between waterings.
Place them near a light source, but not in direct sunlight and your spider plant babies will do great!
