The Spider Plant (Chlorophytum), also known commonly as Ribbon, Spider's Ivy, St. Bernard's Lily, or Airplane Plant, is a perennial member of the lily family. Easy to grow as houseplants, spider plants propagate through the detachment of seedlings, or seedlings, while the mother plant continues to grow in size. When the mother plant has grown so large that it spreads out of the pot, or clings to the pot, it's time to divide and transplant.
Steps
Step 1. Prepare your work area to make cleaning easier
Place newspaper or plastic on your work surface to catch earth spills.
Step 2. Put about (7 cm) or more of soil in each pot
You may need to add more later, depending on the size of the pot and root ball. The ground at the bottom should keep the base of the plant raised to surface level and leave ample room for the plant to grow.
Step 3. Loosen the soil and any roots that have stuck inside the pot of the mother plant
- Insert a butter knife or scoop along the edge of the jar.
- Move the tool inside the vase, keeping yourself close to its inner perimeter. Move the knife from side to side as needed to detach the attached roots.
Step 4. Remove the plant from the pot
- Place the palm of your hand on the surface of the earth. Open your fingers to support as much surface area as possible.
- Turn the pot over using your other hand, letting the spider plant drop into your palm.
Step 5. Shake the loose earth adhering to the tuber-shaped roots inside the pot
Use your fingers to loosen and remove any remaining soil to give the plant's root ball a better look.
Step 6. Separate the tubers to divide the plant
The root base of a spider plant consists of water-rich tuber-shaped roots. A network of roots branches off from each tuber.
- Pull the tubers into 2 or 3 smaller clusters using your fingers. The roots of the plant will separate from each other along with the tuber to which they are attached. Don't worry if you tear off some roots, new ones will grow quickly.
- You can also use a clean, sterilized knife to separate the tubers.
- Determine the size of your divisions based on the size of the pots you will use for the new plants. The root base of the new plant should be entirely covered under the earth in the pot and have room to grow before it needs to be transplanted or divided. The roots of these plants grow rapidly.
Step 7. Plant each division in a new pot
Root under the ground and make sure the base of the plant is level with the surface. Fill the space around the root base with a moist solution of growing soil.
Step 8. Water regularly
Keep the soil moist to help develop the tuber-shaped root base. Spider plants take root quickly when divided and transplanted, and rarely show signs of transplant shock or distress.
Step 9. You are done
Advice
- Spider plants thrive in temperate to cold environments with indirect bright light. They can lose their green pigment or burn if grown in direct sunlight. In areas without sufficient light, the spider plant may fail to develop small seedlings.
- Spider plants are commonly grown as hanging plants, used in windows in gardens, or in pots, or perched on shelves and other areas where they are encouraged to develop small hanging seedlings.
- Spider plants can also be propagated by planting the small seedlings. Place a prepared pot next to the mother plant and have the seedling rest on the ground of the new pot. Roots will develop and a new plant will develop. You can also cut the seedlings off the main plant and root them in water, or you can immediately plant them in moist soil. Spider plant seedlings are easily transplanted.
