when to repot a spider plant

If left unchecked, the roots can break a ceramic or terracotta pot because they grow so quickly. Spider plants have large, tuberous roots, which help the plant survive in periods of drought or when you’re on vacation and forget to hire someone to water your plant. In temperate climates, you can do it into early fall. When you order through these links, we receive a small commission. Dark or soft areas indicate disease or rot.

You’ll need to massage the root ball & gently pull the roots apart a bit. It is recommended that you repot your spider plant every 1-2 years. When possible, knock extra dirt loose from the roots and examine the roots carefully. Pin. I’ve tried 6 times to join your newsletter, but recaptcha is not allowing me through. The leaves had faded and the tips were brown. Get a pot that's just slightly bigger than the pot it's currently in. It is not a problem if you end up cutting off some of the roots in the process. Plant each baby spider plant in its own pot. When a spider plant is kept in a smaller sized pot, they have limited resources to grow and expand their roots.

It should say that it’s formulated for houseplants on the bag. University of Florida IFAS Extension: Chlorophytum Comosum, Clemson Cooperative Extension: Spider Plant, University of Florida IFAS Extension: Spider Plant Production Guide, North Dakota State University Extension Service: Questions on Spider Plant, North Dakota State University Extension Service: Hortiscope, The Best Time to Transplant My Airplane Plant, Brown Bases on the Leaves of Spider Plants. Spider plants grow fairly quickly and can easily become pot bound. Spring through summer. Alternatively, mature plants can be divided during repotting. At some point the plant won't grow any more and maintain its current size. How to Divide/Repot a Spider Plant. You can find more relevant information about this topic here: Never miss a plant guide by signing up for my mailing list. It is not a problem if you end up cutting off some of the roots in the process. How to propagate a spider plant. Use potting soil, not garden soil or top soil. The drainage hole is not necessary, so if you have a beautiful pot you want to use for your spider plant, go for it. This doesn't cost you anything and helps to keep our plant guides free.

Appreciate any suggestions … Thanks . If the rootball is a bit tight, gently massage the roots to loosen them up. Similarly, if your adult spider plant isn’t as full as you would like, plant a couple of spiderettes alongside the mama plant. Wait until the roots are big enough In order to repot the spider plant, you'll need to wait until its roots are ready for this change. Win-win! Spider plants grow best when they are slightly pot bound. Despite a regular fertilizing schedule during the spring and summer, your plant can still fail to put on new growth. Get your own products from the links below and support us The best time to repot your spider plant is when nearing the spring season. Restricted space promotes growth for a spider plant. Or if your babies don't have roots yet you can root them in water. How to Replant Potted Spider Plants. I have a spider plant that's about 6 years old. When you see roots coming out of the drainage holes its a sign that your plant is root-bound. Spider Plant Flowers: Although this plant is grown for its pretty foliage, it does have small flowers, too. Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is a fast-growing, nearly foolproof plant that thrives in a variety of growing conditions with little care. Fill a small pot with a moisture-retaining soil for each baby spider plant. Moving it indoors. The drainage holes allow the excess water to escape the pot, so there is less risk of root rot. Once again, the spider plant is very forgiving. After a month, begin feeding regularly with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food. The spider plant is happiest when it can take over the space of the soil with roots. Repot the Plant . … The container should have holes at the bottom for good drainage and be 4 to 5 in (10 to 12.5 cm) larger than the width of the baby plant. Spider plants will grow in a wide range of well-draining media, including general-purpose potting soil provided that it does not contain fertilizer with significant amounts of fluoride, since this mineral can damage the plant's tissues. These plants grow fast and the tuberous roots can crack open a flower pot. Cut away damaged roots, removing about 1/2 inch of healthy tissue on either side of the bad areas before repotting. Most people prefer planting spider plants in their gardens over other plant types primarily because spider plants do not require too much care. Having never owned a spider plant before, I used this eHow article to split and repot my spider plant. That way you have a vigorous young plant to grow on. In this case, I am dividing a spider plant. Remove the plantlet from the stolon after the roots grow 3 to 4 inches long. they practically propagate themselves! However, if the plant is slightly root-bound, they are more likely to propagate through runners. Rules for Repotting Spider Plants. Although spider plants often do best when pot-bound, eventually they have to be repotted. When this happens, be sure to lift the plant out of the container and check if the roots have gone all the way around the bottom of the pot. While your snake plant might have done well in its pot, it will outgrow and needs to be repotted. Spider plants grow quickly! As with most plants, neglect can cause growth to slow, though the spider plant can handle a bit more neglect than others. Spider Plant Varieties. Menu Ask a Question Share a Post Account Search. It?s important to start spider plant repotting before this happens. donate a plant in order to get a guide for the plant you have trouble with. Repot the spider plant every other year. In a pinch, you can turn one of the plantlets into a great housewarming gift. Water the fledgling spider babies as needed to keep the soil slightly moist, but never saturated, until healthy new growth indicates the plant has rooted. Using Appropriate Soil Mix One of the factors causing spider plant root rot is using any soil. You know that it is time to repot your spider plant when roots are either growing from the drainage holes on the bottom of the pot or when you see roots coming up from the soil. In order to repot the spider plant, you'll need to wait until its roots are ready for this change. Water your plant thoroughly. Spider plants are also known as airplane plant, hen and chickens, St. Bernard’s lily, spider ivy, and ribbon plant. Clay pots often wick water from the soil, making them a poor choice -- the spider plant's willingness to grow tuberous roots so large that they burst fragile pots means that a clay pot can be a disaster down the road. Early in the spring, find a pot with a diameter increase of 2 inches. It’s best to wait until the temperatures have warmed and the days have gotten a bit longer. It’s easy to grow a spider plant indoors, as long as you know what to do.“Mist the plant with distilled water that has been sitting for 24 hours,” says NYBG certified horticulturist Bliss Bendall.. “If your plant receives a lot of full sunlight, I strongly recommend doing this first thing in the morning when the sun is coming up or an hour or two before the sun goes down. This loosened the roots away from the sides of the pot. Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are easy to care for, flexible in their requirements and can tolerate a fair amount of neglect while remaining healthy. Plant each one in well-draining potting soil, then water each pot well. Oct 5, 2016 - When should you repot a spider plant? This means that you need to wait until the roots start to circle around the bottom of the pot and can keep most, if not all, of its soil together by itself. If you read through our other articles, you will find that spider plants ar… This pot contains 5 different spider plants. Lots of hugs. That way you have a vigorous young plant to grow on. Spider plants are also known as airplane plant, hen and chickens, St. Bernard’s lily, spider ivy, and ribbon plant. 1. You may need to add more later, depending on the … They have long green or variegated leaves. This is very exciting because the previously tiny plant is now growing its own tiny plants. However, the plant will thrive for another year or so before it needs to be repotted. In the picture below you can see what I discovered on one of my small spider plants just very recently. Water heavily, drench them, right after you repot.The water on the surface will evaporate relatively quickly, but moisture will still be trapped in the deeper soil… so that's where the roots will do.You'll be encouraging deep, healthy roots that anchor the plant AND provide it … Spider plants are one of the easiest houseplants to propagate: simply pot up the small plantlets. If you follow these guides, you'll start to learn exactly what your spider plants like and how to best take care of them. This is the minimum amount of roots you want to see. Set the plant in the pot at a height that allows you to fill it with enough growing medium to just cover the fleshy roots. Spider Plant repotting did the trick. How to Repot a Houseplant. Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are native to tropical and Southern Africa, but have made their way around the world and are often found as house plants. This means that you need to wait until the roots start to circle around the bottom of the pot and can keep most, if not all, of its soil together by itself. Make sure that the pot is well-draining, with plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. Thus, it is ideal to repot your monstera in a slightly larger pot every two years. N When it’s time to repot, your plant may look limp or even stop growing. Find the Right Pot. Plant the baby spider plants in separate containers. When you repot, water the plant thoroughly the day before. This is a very good sign. If you don't want to repot your spider plant any time soon, you can leave them in the new pot and not repot again. Try to add fertilizer and move the plant to a sunny place. I hope it helps you to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! From there, her meandering career path led to a 9 1/2 year stint in the real estate industry. The style of pot you want to start using for your spider plant is really up to you, but it's easiest if you get a pot with drainage holes. 0. When this happens, we'd love to hear about it! And if you miss this step, your plant will not benefit from the repotting. When possible, knock extra dirt loose from the roots and examine the roots carefully. Waterworth received a Bachelor of Arts in American history from Columbia College. Repotting a spider plant is fairly easy. Spider plants can be grown outdoors as annuals during the summer. This is a sign they have no place in the pot any more. I revitalized my Spider Plant by repotting and moving it to a new location. If, however, it stays in a small container with its roots sticking out, it might not be able to get enough of water and other healthy things it needs, and it will start to die. A root-bound plant doesn’t have enough soil and space to grow, leading to a deficiency of oxygen, water, and nutrients. If you have a spider plant that has grown too large for the pot in which it is planted, you will need to divide and then repot the plant in a different container. Transplant the spider plant shoots to pots once they start to grow roots. Things to look out for that indicate its time to repot: You start to notice that the soil dries out more quickly than usual after watering. Heavy plastic pots are more flexible and will retain moisture better. This plant has grown so much that it's now growing its own sprouts. How to Divide/Repot a Spider Plant. You’ll want to think about repotting spider plants before the plants crack their pots. Flag. I have a simple rule of thumb. © 2021 Roelof Jan Elsinga, All rights reserved, Everything about repotting a spider plant, Read more about taking care of a Spider plant. This article can help with that. When you repot, water the plant thoroughly the day before. No, the snake plant doesn’t like to be root-bound as it can drastically affect the plant’s overall growth. social. Although it is a fast-growing plant, spider plants do not need yearly repotting as most of their growing energy is directed toward producing plantlets. This usually means there is no more space for the spider plant to grow inside of the pot, so it's trying to expand its boundaries. Since 2010, she's written on a wide range of personal finance topics. Click here for additional information. This is just the start and soon you'll be able to see your sprouts making their own sprouts. In the beginning of this guide, we mentioned the spider plant loves to be root bound, this should be your first clue for the size of the new pot. By taking a little care and considering its growing habits, your spider plant will thrive in its new home. Your new spider plant is well on its way, and … When you repot, water the plant thoroughly the day before. Hey there guys and gals, today I wanted to show you how to care for and repot your Spider Plant. Most people prefer planting spider plants in their gardens over other plant types primarily because spider plants do not require too much care. Once again, the spider plant is very forgiving. This guide is about repotting spider plants. 2. If it dries out soon enough that it needs a thorough watering more than twice per week, then it is ready for a pot one size larger. When your spider plant is happy and healthy, its best feature will likely appear: Long, thin stems trail out from its center, each with little babies or plantlets on the ends. Click here for more information. Replant you outdoor plant to a more shaded spot if it currently appears wilted and move your indoor plant to avoid direct sunlight. Fill a pot with potting soil. Spider plants do especially well in a corner of your bathroom where they can get a little extra humidity. Plants get different cultural care, so their growth rates vary. Put 3 or more inches (7 cm) of soil in each pot. It takes a week or so for them to get roots and then you can plant them. Native to … MORE DETAILS ON REVITALIZING MY SPIDER PLANT IN THE POST: https://www.joyusgarden.com/spider-plant-repotting-revitalizing-an-unhappy-plant/THE JOY US … When you have a plant that is very root bound and it is time to repot into a bigger pot, there is one important step that many people miss. By Pauline Morse [1 Post] November 4, 2009. They can survive down to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, but thrive best between 65 and 90 degrees. If you're looking for more guides on specific plants, you can always 5 spider plant sprouts are repotted into one big pot. Spider plants have large, tuberous roots, which help the plant survive in periods of drought or when you’re on vacation and forget to hire someone to water your plant. Lots of hugs. Decide how many plants can be started from the remaining roots. There are quite a few different varieties or "cultivars" which you can find, the four most common are detailed below. Save. Plan to repot a spider plant about every other year. Tip: Planting Spider Plant Babies. Repot the plant before the roots become overcrowded. Learn more about what to do when your spider plant looks wilted in this article so you can refresh your plant as soon as possible. N Don’t wait for your spider plant to outgrow the container. If you use pots with drainage holes in the bottom, the spider plant roots will make its way out of the pot and the roots will start to grow out. If you only have bigger pots, that's also okay, but you'll need to help your plant to grow more quickly by fertilizing it. To better demonstrate this, have a look at the picture below. This is the absolute minimum amount of roots you need in order to repot the spider plant. Keeping a plant in a small pot will result in slow growth and poor health, as the plant’s roots don’t have enough space to grow. It’s important to start spider plant repotting before this happens. I repotted the 1 you see here at the very end of March. Maybe it needs to be repotted. There is really no use in getting a pot that's bigger than that. Most people ask about propagating baby spider plants. New plants can be created from this prolific house plant. This is a good time to divide a large spider plant and create new plants, or just repot in a new planter one size larger. When the babies start to get roots on them you can cut them from the plant and put them in potting soil and they'll grow. Email. Water the repotted plant well with filtered water, allowing the medium to settle. Thank you for reading this post! Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is a fast-growing, nearly foolproof plant that thrives in a variety of growing conditions with little care. The spider plant is a fairly forgiving plant in terms of lighting, as long as it is not in direct sun, which can cause scorching. It has started to grow its first sprouts. Avoid repotting your Spider Plant in winter as it’s the time for houseplants to rest. You may plant the base of the plantlet into a separate pot with soil while still attached to the mature spider plant. Repot in spring if the root ball protrudes above the rim of the pot. Divide your spider plant if you want to keep the size under control, or repot it … They have long green or variegated leaves. request a plant guide or Make sure the plant is well watered 2-4 days in advance. So, once your spider plant becomes too big for its pot and starts sticking its roots through the drainage holes, it is time to move it to a better and bigger place and repot spider plant. "It's difficult to find instructions about exactly where to cut the baby stem away from the mother plant. Click here for more information. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. The roots are filling up the pot, preventing water from soaking to the root system. The spider plant is one of the fastest growing house plants available. They love to have their roots taking over the whole pot. I revitalized my Spider Plant by repotting and moving it to a new location. Give the plant a dose of high quality liquid fertilizer to help it survive transplant shock. You must repot your snake plant immediately if the plant is root bounded. Move up one pot size (do not go to a waaay bigger pot), and use a soil mix that matches the soil mix the plant is already growing in. I hope it helps you to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! How to Replant Potted Spider Plants. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. On a trip to a garden center, we found this mature plant and she bought if for us as a gift. Share. Or when you water it runs immediately out the bottom. The plant sends out fine white delicate flowers in the summer and small baby spider plants grow out of these flowers.

When the roots are this tight, they can’t uptake water. Media composed of about 50 percent peat, as well as pine bark, perlite and foam beads are best because they can provide ideal aeration and hold on to water well. In addition to knowing when to repot, you must know how to repot a houseplant to be successful. The only thing you have to be mindful of is being a bit more careful when watering your plant. Remove the spider plant from the original pot and check the roots for damage or insects. Mine is happy and so am I every time I look at it! These plants grow fast and the tuberous roots can crack open a flower pot. Monstera plant doesn’t like to be root bound. I’ve tried 6 times to join your newsletter, but recaptcha is not allowing me through. They look especially good along the edge of a container or bed, as long as they are kept out of direct sunlight. Some of us have made the mistake of repotting a spider plant too early or into a container that's too large. It is often necessary to repot houseplants as they outgrow their pots, and spider plants tend to grow faster than most.Spider plants are native to the coastal areas of South Africa. Move up one pot size (do not go to a waaay bigger pot), and use a soil mix that matches the soil mix the plant is already growing in. I started to propagate spider plants with a gorgeous, and very large spider plant. Aug 12, 2018 - Wilting spider plants are not uncommon, though they're usually easy to cure. Just remember, don’t rush to repot your Spider Plant and don’t give it too big a home base to grow into. If you want to know when and how to repot these plants, read "Everything about repotting a spider plant" and you'll be well on your way to growing new spider plant babies. You should repot a spider plant when it's roots have taken over the pot and start to grow out of the bottom of your pot. If, however, it stays in a small container with its roots sticking out, it might not be able to get enough of water and other healthy things it needs, and it will start to die. You gently remove the plant from its current pot, rinse and trim its roots, then replant it in a larger pot. So, the plant is like to become slightly root bound within a year. A root-bound spider plant won’t absorb water effectively. Make sure the young plantlets have developed roots. Potting Your Baby Spider Plants. Spider plants can be grown outdoors as annuals during the summer. It?s important to start spider plant repotting before this happens. Plan to repot a spider plant about every other year. Propagate Spider Plants from the Babies. Baby spider plants can grow in a wide variety of soil types, but a ... 2. Spider plants grow fairly quickly and can easily become pot bound.

Repotting spider plants simply means moving spider plants to larger pots. You can read more about this in my "How to care for a spider plant" guide. Lots of hugs. In this guide, I'll explain when you can start to repot a spider plant, and what kind of pot you should look for when you're ready to give your spider plant a new space to grow. Choose baby spider plants that have roots growing at their base and set the root of one of the plants into a new container filled with soil. Plant spider plants in Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix. Therefore, repotting a spider plant can help it take up the moisture that you give it. Follow. I had been eagerly awaiting little root systems to start branching out on the 'babies' and was so happy to see them appear this week! You don’t want to repot when it’s sopping wet but being too dry will cause stress. If you read through our other articles, you will find that spider plants are great house plants that purify the air in your home and they are also easy plants to … Take the plant out of the pot. Spider plants do not appreciate direct, hot sunlight, which can burn their leaves, causing brown tips and spots. in our mission to help people take care of plants like this. Jun 29, 2020 - My Spider Plant was uhappy. Add more growing medium if necessary. Most people ask about propagating baby spider plants. Divide when the plant is too large for its container and give the extra plants to friends. After that, cut the roots into several sections, one for each new plant. It’s easy to grow a spider plant indoors, as long as you know what to do.“Mist the plant with distilled water that has been sitting for 24 hours,” says NYBG certified horticulturist Bliss Bendall.. “If your plant receives a lot of full sunlight, I strongly recommend doing this first thing in the morning when the sun is coming up or an hour or two before the sun goes down. If you have a spider plant that has grown too large for the pot in which it is planted, you will need to divide and then repot the plant in a different container. Dec 14, 2013 - Houseplants require occasional repotting to keep them healthy. Chlorophytum Comosum "Vittatum" - This was the first variegated cultivar of the Spider Plant and was the most popular until the late 1990s. The plant really wants to be able to expand and then set into a confined area. Another trick to see if there are potentially enough roots is by checking the bottom of the pot. Use potting soil, not garden soil or top soil. The babies had dried. The flowers are quite small – only about 1″ in size and look a bit like a miniature lily. One of the things a spider plant absolutely loves is being confined in a tight space. So, once your spider plant becomes too big for its pot and starts sticking its roots through the drainage holes, it is time to move it to a better and bigger place and repot spider plant. Remove the spider plant from the original pot and check the roots for damage or insects. Kristi Waterworth started her writing career in 1995 as a journalist for a local newspaper.