Should I cut the runners off my spider plant?

Author: Sabina Moore  |  Last update: Sunday, August 17, 2025

For the most part, spider plants do not need pruning. To prevent your spider plant from forming its poisonous seeds, prune away any withered flowers. You can also cut off the offshoots, known as spiderettes or pups, and use them to propagate spider plants. Pluck any completely withered leaves off the plant.

Should I cut the shoots off my spider plant?

Those spiderettes dangling from your Spider Plant are cute, but left unchecked, they can take over. Pruning them not only keeps the mother plant robust but also gives you the chance to propagate. Snip off a spiderette, pop it in some soil, and voilà – you've got yourself a new plant.

Where do you cut spider plant runners?

There are two ways to take the plantlets off the ends; you can gently pull them off, or use scissors to snip them off near where they attach to the stem from the mother plant.

What do you do with the runners on a spider plant?

Spider plants put out these runners with babies all the time. It's kinda their thing. So there really isn't anything to do. If you don't like them you can cut them off and water prop them once they have some aerial roots.

What happens if you don't cut the babies off a spider plant?

The stem may shoot out more babies before it's ``done it's job''. The stem itself will eventually die back, and other stems may grow in the same general way to put out more in the future. Spider plants only do this when their conditions are met, so you may find it not doing this in future unless it's ready to do so.

Should I cut the brown tips off my spider plant?

Can I put spider plant babies straight into soil?

Propagating a spider plant in soil is the easiest and quickest method. Plus, it usually produces stronger roots as they weren't sitting in water prior to being transplanted. Some plantlets may have small roots starting to develop, meaning they are more mature and will develop root systems sooner, says Langelo.

How often should I water a spider plant?

How often should I water my spider plant? A light drink every week or so is all your spider plant needs, watering less frequently in autumn and winter. You're just looking to dampen the compost. A good way to check if it needs watering is to dip your finger into the soil, up to the second knuckle.

How do you make a spider plant happy?

Water thoroughly and discard of any excess water in the saucer. Your Spider Plant will do well in normal household humidity but will thrive with a bit more humidity. Brown leaf tips may indicate the air is too dry, so mist your Spider Plant regularly using a Mister. Your plant prefers temperatures between 60–80° F.

What to do with spider plant offshoots?

To ensure survival, leave the plant babies attached to the long offshoots until they're at least 2 inches long or have at least five leaves. Another sign it's ready for cutting is it shows new growth. Cut the spiderette away from the mother plant by clipping away the stolon as close to the soil base as possible.

Do spider plants do better hanging?

Plants grow and produce plantlets best when slightly pot-bound. Because they grow quickly and the roots can easily become too crowded, they need frequent repotting to do their best. Spider plant is well suited to hanging containers. Allow the soil to dry slightly between thorough waterings.

How to make spider plant bushier?

  1. Nov 24, 2023. Tips to make your spider plant bushier and more beautiful. ...
  2. Choose the right pot. Go for a slightly smaller pot than what you have in mind as it encourages root growth and foliage expansion. ...
  3. Repot at right time. ...
  4. Prune the leaves. ...
  5. Regular feeding. ...
  6. Light matters. ...
  7. Moisture and humidity. ...
  8. Soil drainage.

What do brown tips on spider plants mean?

The humidity is too low.

If the air around a spider plant gets too dry, its leaf tips can dry out and turn brown. Spider plants are tropical plants that need 50% to 60% humidity. You may naturally have this much humidity in your home during the summer, but in winter, indoor humidity levels tend to drop.

How long do spider plants live?

When well-cared for, these plants can live anywhere from 20-50 years! Ready for this? The typical lifespan of a chlorophytum comosum vittatum or chlorophytum comosum variegatum, the two most common varieties, is around 20 years.

Do coffee grounds help spider plants?

You can keep your spider plant healthy and pest-free by sprinkling coffee grounds into its pot. Naturally high in caffeine and compounds known as diterpenes, both of which are highly toxic to insects, coffee grounds are the perfect defense against pests that plague spider plants, like mites, aphids, scales, and flies.

How to trim a spider plant indoors?

When you're ready to trim, cut the fronds at the base, at a 45° angle. This not only gives a clean cut but also helps the plant heal faster. Make sure to remove any baby spider plants, called plantlets or spiderettes, as they take up the energy of the mother plant. Gently snip them near their base.

What is the stem coming out of my spider plant?

Spider plant babies

Long, vine like stems will emerge from the centre of your plant when it is mature and happy. Spider plant babies grow at the tip of these long stems. To make new plants from spider plant babies, either snip off the spider plant baby or grow it on while it's still attached.

What are the shoots coming out of my spider plant?

The 'babies' you see growing from your spider plant are a form of reproductive growth from which a new spider plant can develop, and are a sign your plant is happy and healthy.

What are the benefits of spider plants?

Acts as a Natural Humidifier. By releasing moisture into the air, spider plants help maintain humidity levels, preventing dry skin, throat irritation, and other discomforts caused by dry indoor air.

Should you cut the shoots off a spider plant?

For the most part, spider plants do not need pruning. To prevent your spider plant from forming its poisonous seeds, prune away any withered flowers. You can also cut off the offshoots, known as spiderettes or pups, and use them to propagate spider plants. Pluck any completely withered leaves off the plant.

Is Miracle Grow good for spider plants?

Fill the container one-third of the way with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix, which is designed to be less prone to gnats (it contains no compost or bark to shelter them), a common issue with spider plants. The mix also contains coconut coir, which holds and releases water to help maintain even moisture.

Why is my spider plant crying?

Signs of an Unhealthy Spider Plant

Wilting leaves can be the plant's cry for help, often a sign of either too much love (overwatering) or neglect (underwatering). Check the soil's moisture before reaching for the watering can. Browning leaves are like the plant's way of saying it's stressed out.

How do you perk up a spider plant?

If you want to give your spider plant a boost, feed it some liquid fertiliser once a month during warmer seasons.

What does an overwatered spider plant look like?

Brown Leaves

If you notice the leaves turning brown, your spider has likely been overwatered with tap water.

Should I cut brown tips off a spider plant?

This usually means watering approximately once a week, but it may be less frequent during the winter months when the plant's growth slows down. Q2: Should I cut the brown tips off my spider plant? Yes, you can cut the brown tips off your spider plant.

Is sugar water good for spider plants?

Since we now know that using sugar in our waterings won't help plants effectively, we must also consider the potential harm. The number one effect that most studies have found is that sugar can reduce the plants' ability to absorb or take in any water.

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