How to prune spider plants properly? A detailed guide to the latest pruning methods

Spider plants are one of the most traditional hanging houseplants and grow very quickly. Some flower lovers have spider plants at home that have grown so lush that the pots are almost splitting apart, with many roots reaching down to the bottom of the pot. But many flower lovers do not want their spider plants to grow too large, so how should spider plants be pruned to make them look better and grow better? Let us take a look together below at how to prune spider plants properly!

How to prune spider plants?

1. When pruning spider plants, remove the dead branches and yellow leaves around the outer edge, and also cut off the scorched parts on the leaf tips.

2. When pruning spider plants, do not cut straight across; cut at an angle. It is best to make one angled cut on each side so it looks more natural.

3. Spider plants should have yellow leaves removed at any time during normal care. Once a year in March, they can be repotted, removing old roots, rotten roots and excess fibrous roots.

4. In early to mid-May, cutting off some of the old leaves of spider plants will encourage more new leaves and small spider plantlets to sprout.

How to propagate spider plants?

1. Cuttings: Spider plant cuttings can be taken at any time from spring to autumn. Cut off the clustered stems and leaves on the stolons and plant them directly into a flower pot, water thoroughly and place in a shady spot for care. When taking cuttings, do not bury them too deeply, otherwise the crown is prone to rot. The number of cuttings depends on the size of the pot; generally 2 to 3 plants for a small pot, 3 plants for a medium pot, and up to 5 to 6 plants for a large pot.

2. Division: When dividing spider plants, lift the plant out of the pot, remove the old soil and decayed roots, cut apart the old roots so that each divided plant retains three stems, then transplant and grow them separately. You can also cut off the clustered stems and leaves on the stolons and plant them directly into a flower pot to grow.

3. Sowing: Seed propagation of spider plants can be carried out every year in March. Because the seeds are not large, after sowing the covering soil should not be thick; generally 0.5 cm is enough. At a temperature of 15°C, they sprout in about 2 weeks. After the seedlings take shape, transplant and grow them. For varieties with variegated leaves, when propagated from seed the offspring revert to an all-green variety.

How to grow spider plants?

1. Light: Spider plants like a semi-shady environment and are very sensitive to light. In summer and autumn, direct sunlight causes the leaves to turn yellow and withered, and even the whole plant to die. In winter, because the sunlight is not strong, spider plants can be given some direct sunlight as appropriate.

2. Temperature: Spider plants like a warm and humid climate and cannot tolerate severe cold or intense heat. The most suitable growing temperature is 15 to 25°C, and the winter room temperature must not be lower than 5°C. During hot periods avoid strong direct light, while in cold, cool conditions they should get more sunlight.

3. Watering: Spider plants like water and have fairly strong drought resistance. From March to September during the peak growing period they need a large amount of water, so water and mist them frequently to keep the potting soil completely moist. During the winter dormant period, water again after the top about 1 cm of potting soil has dried.

4. Fertilizing: Spider plants are relatively tolerant of fertilizer. Insufficient fertilizer and water easily causes scorched tips and aging, with leaves turning yellow and losing ornamental value. For spider plants that have begun to produce small plantlets, apply a nitrogen fertilizer once every half month; well-growing spider plants can also go without fertilizer.

5. Soil: Spider plants are suited to loose, fertile sandy loam, and the soil needs to contain humus and have strong permeability. For potting, use a mix of equal parts leaf mold or peat soil, garden soil and river sand, plus a small amount of base fertilizer as the growing medium.

6. Repotting: Spider plants should be repotted once a year in March. If the pot is deeper and the base fertilizer is sufficient, they can be repotted once every two years. When repotting, tip the plant out of the pot, cut off dead and rotten roots and excess roots, replace with new growing soil and apply enough base fertilizer.

7. Pests and diseases: Spider plants generally are not prone to pests and diseases. When problems occur, they are usually root rot caused by waterlogging in the potting soil and poor ventilation, and pesticide should be sprayed promptly for control. When the plant clump is dense and ventilation is poor, it is susceptible to scale insects, so prevention should be the main approach.

8. Pruning: Spider plants should have yellow leaves removed at any time during normal care. Once a year in March they can be repotted, removing old roots, rotten roots and excess fibrous roots. In early to mid-May, cutting off some of the old leaves will prompt the spider plant to sprout more new leaves and small plantlets.