Hardiness Zone: 9a
Thanks,
Tami from Charleston, SC
A: Tami,
You can root spider plant babies in water or soil. Putting them in water will cause them to root the fastest (2 to 3 weeks). Alternatively, rooting them in soil will produce hardy, more adaptable roots over the long haul. If you want to root them in water, use either a narrow necked bottle (so only the baby bottoms touch the water) or use Popsicle sticks, chop sticks or skewers to create a square support over a jar with a wide mouth. Spider plants also love getting outside in the summer, and since you have so many babies to root, this might be a good option for you. Simply move you plant outdoors and peg down the babies into the surrounding soil using bobby pins, baggy ties, etc. At the end of summer, bring the mother plant back indoors and you'll have 15 new spider plants to dig up and share with friends.
Ellen
About The Author: Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com
This is so simple that even a person with a brown thumb will come out looking like a gardening pro. All you have to do is cut the baby off the mommy plant. Then place it in a pot of dirt with the leaves above the dirt. Water and you are done! (05/01/2006)
By Ginny
You don't even have to cut off the plant - just put the sprout in a new container of potting soil and let it root before cutting. I have outdoor spider plants in Calif. that are propagating themselves outside without my help! (05/01/2006)
By
I've had better luck starting the babies in water first. Once some roots have grown, then I put the plant in soil. I've tried putting them directly into soil--it didn't work so well for me (but then, I'm a pretty lazy gardener!). Just put the baby in a container almost full of water and float the "root stubs" in it. I like using glass jars, so I can watch the roots grow, and narrow mouth is best so the plant doesn't fall in! Good luck!
**I added some new babies into the original "mommy" pot to fill it out--the mommy can die back a bit as more water and nutrients go to support the babies. Worked great! (05/02/2006)
By Marisa
The only way I have done it is to cut the baby and place it in water. They have always rooted very easily. I didn't know you could just place in dirt without them having roots first or even removing them from the plant first, but it is good to know. I have 4 babies I need to do something with before my cat gets them. (05/31/2006)
Sorry, I'm a novice at this, but do you place the spiderplant baby's stalk in water or the head of the baby?
Steven (07/20/2007)
By
Spider plants are so easy, I wouldn't worry so much about it! You can place the ends in water to let the root, or just simply place them in soil in a pot (ends only, ofcourse!) - they will take off and grow! They are about as prolific as the Wandering Jew plant (which I adore!).
A lot of people around here (southern Virginia) plant them in their outdoor gardens, and most seem to make it through the winter. I'm planning to plant a few baby plants today, and see how they do outside.
Good luck! (04/04/2008)
By Sasha
Can Spider Plants servive in the Tucson, Az outdoor weather and in the ground near pool areas..How much sum can they take? (03/02/2009)
By Rebecca Deal
I put my baby spider plants in a glass of water, not to deep in the water. Once the roots start showing transfer them into soil. Spiders plants love to be pot bound, so don't put them in a big pot. When the roots grow close together, it forces, more growth and babies at the top. jjs (10/22/2009)
By jeannette
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