To manage its growth, early summer or spring is the best time to prune your spider plant to speed up its recovery process. You should also trim damaged or unwanted foliage if you see signs, such as leggy appearance, yellow leaves, brown tips on the leaves, etc.
Cut away any leaves that are brown or yellow.
Take your clean shears and cut off damaged leaves near the center of the spider plant. Avoid simply cutting off the brown part of the leaf, since this will leave an open wound on the leaf. If the leaves aren't a healthy green, the plant may be getting too much sunlight.
A: For propagation purposes, you can cut or leave the babies on the spider plant and root them while still connected to the stolons. If you don't intend to multiply the plant, you should cut the spiderettes during pruning sessions.
Brown Leaves
If just the tips of the leaves are brown, your spider plant is probably fine, and you can trim them. "Be sure to trim off the brown tips with sharp, sterile pruning shears or use a florist knife," says Bendall. "Cut at an angle to recreate the sharp tip shape of the leaves.
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.
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.
Spider plants will put up with most light conditions, but will flourish in brighter spots in your home. Keep your spider plant away from harsh, direct sunlight; he'll enjoy being on a desk or hanging from a shelf.
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.
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.
Try to water your spider plant about once a week. Letting the soil dry out a little between waterings is a good idea. If you start to see fungus growing, yellowed leaves, or root rot occurring on your spider plant, you may be overwatering.
A spider plant baby that's left to grow attached to the 'mother plant' may also develop roots of its own and eventually grow babies itself.
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.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
They appreciate the nutrient boost from coffee grounds. Benefits: Enhances foliage growth. Helps maintain soil health.
A spider plant likes bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight as it has the potential to scorch the leaves. Spider plants will grow in low light, but they'll grow slowly and may not produce plantlets. In low light, striped spider plant leaves may lose their variegation.
Prune in spring/early summer for best growth and recovery. Trim leggy, discolored foliage and spiderettes to maintain shape and health. Use sharp tools; cut at 45° angle above a leaf node for proper healing.
Yes, spider plants like to be bottom watered, especially when they are fully dried out and in need of a drink. Bottom watering ensures that the plant is receiving deep watering, and this technique is normally used when your plant is dehydrated.
You can make your spider plant bushier by pruning it regularly. To do so, firstly, prepare your sharp scissors or pruning shears by sterilizing them. When you're ready to trim, cut the fronds at the base, at a 45° angle.
Do not mist plants with fuzzy leaves, like African violets and piggyback plants (Tolmiea) – water on their leaves will lead to permanent spotting.
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.
In addition to food, you need to provide fresh water for your spider. You can use a plastic bottle cap as a water bowl if you have a small spider in a small cage. If you have room, give your spider a small bowl of water. Spiders will also drink the water off of damp webbing.
If you want to give your spider plant a boost, feed it some liquid fertiliser once a month during warmer seasons.
The container you choose for your spider plant can have a significant impact on its overall health and well-being. Spider plants prefer to be somewhat pot-bound, so selecting a container only slightly larger than the root ball is ideal.
Plant spider plants in Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. After a month, begin feeding regularly with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food. Divide when the plant is too large for its container and give the extra plants to friends.
Spider Plant's Needs Are Simple
Place the plant in bright to moderate light in a room that's a comfortable temperature for everyone. Keep the soil slightly moist. Once-a-week watering is sufficient in spring and summer; in winter, allow the soil to dry a bit more between waterings.