Propagation guide

How to propagate Spider plant

Chlorophytum comosum · Asparagaceae

Spider plants are easiest to propagate from the small plantlets (“spiderettes”) that form on runners. Plantlets with visible root bumps or roots establish fastest, while mature clumps can also be divided.

Difficulty
Easy
Best time
Spring through summer, when growth is active. Propagation can also work indoors year-round with warm temperatures and good light.

Propagation methods

Rooting attached plantlets in soil

The most reliable method, especially for plantlets that already have root bumps or short roots.

  1. Choose a healthy plantlet on a runner. Select one with several leaves and small root bumps or roots at its base.
  2. Fill a small pot with loose, well-draining indoor potting mix and moisten it evenly.
  3. Place the plantlet’s base on the soil surface or just barely cover the root area. Keep the runner attached to the mother plant.
  4. Use a small stake or bent wire to hold the plantlet in contact with the soil if needed.
  5. Place it in bright, indirect light in a warm, draft-free location.
  6. Keep the mix lightly and evenly moist, but not wet. After about 2–4 weeks, gently tug the plantlet; resistance suggests roots are forming.
  7. Once it is well rooted and producing new growth, cut the runner between the mother plant and the new plant, then grow it normally.

Rooting detached plantlets in water

Small plantlets without established roots, when you want to observe root development.

  1. Cut the runner just below the chosen plantlet, using clean scissors.
  2. Place only the plantlet’s base in a small amount of clean water. Keep the leaves above the waterline.
  3. Set it in bright, indirect light at a warm indoor temperature.
  4. Change the water every few days or whenever it becomes cloudy.
  5. When roots are about 2–5 cm long, transfer the plantlet to lightly moist, well-draining potting mix.
  6. Keep the mix slightly more evenly moist than usual for the first week, then allow the surface to begin drying between waterings.

Division of a mature clump

Overgrown plants with several naturally separate crowns or crowded rooted sections.

  1. Water the mother plant lightly the day before division so the root ball is easier to separate.
  2. Slide the plant from its pot and gently loosen soil from the roots.
  3. Identify separate crowns, each with leaves and its own portion of roots. Separate them by hand; use a clean knife only if roots are tightly joined.
  4. Do not make leaf cuttings or stem cuttings: each division must include a crown and healthy roots.
  5. Pot each division in a small container with drainage holes and fresh, well-draining potting mix.
  6. Set the divisions at the same depth they were previously growing.
  7. Place them in bright, indirect light and keep the mix lightly moist while they re-establish.

Aftercare

  • Use pots with drainage holes and empty any saucer or cachepot that collects water.
  • Water when the upper layer of mix has begun to dry, adjusting for light, temperature, and indoor humidity.
  • Keep new plants in bright, indirect light; moderate light is acceptable but may slow establishment.
  • Protect them from cold drafts and temperatures below about 16°C, as well as harsh midday sun.
  • Do not fertilize until the plant shows fresh growth; then use a balanced houseplant fertilizer at a dilute rate according to its label.
  • Spider plants are generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, but chewing can cause mild stomach upset.

Open the full Spider plant care guide