If you’re looking for a low-maintenance houseplant with plenty of rewards, Chlorophytum comosum is your answer
Also known as spider plants, they don’t attract or harbor spiders (thankfully), but are so named because of their spidery seedlings that sprout from the parent plant.
These plants are also why the spider plant is one of the easiest, if not the easiest, houseplants to propagate. Instead of cutting a stem and hoping for the best, or cutting leaves and trying to root them, the spider plant does all the work for you.
Chlorophytum comosum it spreads by producing babies along protruding stems that hang from the plant.
With lots of leaves (and even a few roots if you’re lucky), these miniature spider plants can mature very quickly. All you have to do is plant them in individual pots and watch them grow.
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when to propagate
Once you see spider plant babies hanging from a stem, you can begin the propagation process. However, it is best to propagate in spring or summer for faster root growth.
It can take a few years for a plant to start producing babies, so don’t worry if it doesn’t happen right away. Runners also only thrive in the right conditions: indirect sunlight and regular watering. Fertilizing your plant in early spring can also promote seedling growth.
In spring and summer, depending on the plant and region, your spider plant will produce long stems with small white flowers at the ends. This indicates that the seedlings will develop rapidly.
Do not immediately remove them from the parent plant, as they must pick up nutrients from the parent plant before they can establish themselves. It is best to wait until you see small aerial roots forming around the base of the seedling, indicating that it is ready for propagation.
You can also leave the seedlings on the plant for an extended period until you are ready to propagate. They will continue to grow and receive nutrients from the parent plant until you remove them.
When planted in a hanging basket, these babies will spill over the sides and make your spider plant an interesting decorative feature.
How to Propagate Spider Plants
prepare your tools
Before you begin, prepare your tools for distribution. This includes not only collecting them, but also cleaning them to make sure you don’t transfer any bacteria or germs to babies or the mother plant.
Start by cleaning your shears or shears with a 5% bleach solution. This will remove anything that may have been left on your scissors from previous use. You should also thoroughly clean pots and vases, especially if they have been used for other plants before.
When propagated in water, any ordinary glass is suitable. However, using a specialized breeding station is even better, especially when it comes to design. These vases turn the propagation process into a decorative element and provide enough space to grow even more plants.
When it takes root in the ground, a small plastic or terracotta pot is sufficient for the first months of growth. As the plant takes root it can be moved to a larger permanent pot or hanging basket with fresh soil.
remove the plant
Now that the tools have been cleaned and sharpened, it’s time to start spreading. To get started, the process is as simple as cutting the existing babies from the branch. Each seedling should be removed just before the base where aerial roots emerge.
If there are multiple seedlings along the stem, remove the entire stem and cut each individual seedling. If you only want to remove one or two, cut them directly below the base.
Healthy plants can still produce more babies so the stem can stay on the plant. Alternatively, you can remove it at the base of the plant for a cleaner look.
Cut off all the stems around the base until you have a freestanding plant. Be careful not to cut too close to the base to avoid damaging the roots. Long remaining stem pieces will simply rot in water or soil, so it’s best to remove them entirely.
carrots
carrot in water
For the easiest method of propagation, drop the seedling in a glass filled with filtered water up to where the roots are and let it grow. If your glass has a wide opening, cover it first with plastic wrap so that only the roots rest below the waterline. Any foliage left in the water will rot.
You will need to add water regularly to cover the roots. Completely change the water every few days to get a fresh supply.
The long roots should develop in a few weeks, after which they can be transplanted into the ground.
Although seedlings survive in water for some time, they lack the nutrients necessary for plant growth and cannot live forever in water without fertilizer. The longer you leave the baby in the water, the harder it will be for the roots to acclimate to the soil conditions. Therefore, it is best to transplant when the roots are about two inches long.
Carrots in water give the fastest result. Also, you can see root growth firsthand.
However, it does not produce the most reliable results. The roots that the seedling develops in water are much more fragile than the roots it would produce in soil, which can lead to potential growth problems early in the transplant.
Be sure not to leave the plant in water for too long, or just skip the water and go straight into the ground.
root in the ground
Rooting in soil is best to mimic natural spread and develop the strongest root systems.
A light propagation medium is needed to promote strong root growth and prevent rotting of the delicate new roots.
To meet these criteria, it is best to make your own growing mix by combining coir (or peat), perlite and vermiculite to increase aeration and improve drainage. This prevents water from pooling around the roots and provides enough space between soil particles for the roots to grow without too much resistance.
Fill a small pot with this growing mix and plant the baby in the pot, burying only the base of the plant in the ground and leaving the foliage above the soil line.
Water thoroughly after planting to encourage new root growth. It may take longer to root this way, but the roots that develop will be much stronger.
After a few months, place the plant in a larger pot or hanging basket filled with potting soil with added coco and perlite. Plant several in a larger pot to fill the container.
If you want to skip the transplanting step, you can plant babies in this potting mix directly into a larger pot. Root growth may not be as strong, but it limits potential problems when transplanting later.
In this case, group several plants in a pot, with regular spacing between them. The foliage of each seedling should fill in and flow down the sides as it grows, rather than looking flimsy on its own in a large pot.
Concern
When rooting in water, always keep the glass and water clean for healthy root growth and disease prevention. When rooting in soil, keep it moist but not soggy until new growth emerges. Place the pot or container in a bright spot with plenty of indirect light to encourage rapid root growth.
Once transplanted, your new plants should grow their own babies after a few years, starting the reproductive cycle all over again.