How to Propagate Spider Plants: Top 3 Methods

Water Method of Spider Plant Propagation

The water method of propagating spider plants allows you to develop the plant’s roots first, then plant it with already established roots into the soil. This method enables the spider plant to grow faster once in the pot. It takes a bit more time to get the plant from cutting to pot, but it will enable you to watch the roots develop and can make for beautiful decor. The steps are easy:

1. Fill Your Jar With Water

   Gather a clean, clear jar and fill it with water. Let the water sit for an hour to de-chlorinate and come to room temperature. While this is happening, this is a perfect time to get your cutting utensil, whether it be a sharp knife, flower snippers, or clippers, and use some alcohol to wipe the blade clean.

2. Gather Your Cuttings

   Remove the spiderettes carefully from the stolon of the mother plant. Do this by cutting right along their base. Do not worry about cutting the stolon. If it is removed, that is okay, but if it is kept more spiderettes will form from the stolon eventually.

3. Add Cutting to Jar

   Place the new cutting into the water just deep enough to cover the very bottom of the spiderette. Do not let any leaves touch the water, reposition the plant if necessary.

4. Place in Sunlight

   Put the container in indirect sunlight and wait. Change the water when it gets cloudy and wait for roots to develop. After some time, you will start to see the roots form. When you have a good grouping of roots, remove the new spider plant from the water.

5. Fill Your Pot With Soil

   Fill a pot with drainage holes with soilless seed starting mix. Add perlite to ensure good drainage. Use a pencil or dibber to make a deep and wide hole to accommodate just the roots of the new spider plant. 

6. Plant Your Cuttings

   Place the spider plant roots deep in the soil, with the base of the plant level at the top of the soil. Cover roots with soil. Moisten the starting mix but do not soak.

7. Place in Indirect Sunlight

   Place the newly potted plant in a warm place in indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight can kill the tender plant.

8. Check Cuttings

   Give your plant a gentle tug and if it yields, it has not rooted yet; it still needs more time. The roots will eventually establish themselves in the soil and branch out. When you tug and are met with resistance, your plant has taken root.

Potting Method of Spider Plant Propagation

Potting is the easiest but most time-consuming method to establish roots. Using rooting hormone may speed up the process, but it is unnecessary.

Some offshoots may already have roots forming as they hang from the mother plant. Others may not have developed roots yet, but they're still likely to root well in time. Those are the easiest to establish. Take a spiderette straight from the mother plant and place it in the new pot till it roots. Doing it this way, you get a potted plant from the start, but rooting takes longer, and you do not see when the roots develop. 

The benefit of using this method is that the roots will be stronger from the start and will not need to establish themselves further. Water-grown roots can be a bit weak and must acclimate to the soil. The steps to propagating by the potting method are:

1. Clean Your Tools

   Clean your cutting utensil, whether it be a really sharp knife, flower snippers, or clippers, by wiping the blade with alcohol.

2. Gather Your Cuttings

   Remove the spiderettes carefully from the stolon of the mother plant. Do this by cutting right along their base.

3. Fill Your Pot With Soil

   Fill a pot with soilless seed starting mix. Use your pencil or dibber to make a hole deep enough to accommodate just the bottom of the new spider plant. If you've harvested offshoots with roots already forming, make the hole deep enough to accommodate the roots.

4. Plant Your Cuttings

   Place the spider plant as deep as the roots and cover it with soil. Keep the base of the plant level with the soil line. If you would like to use root hormone, dip the bottom of the spiderette into the hormone according to the product’s instructions before planting. Moisten the starting mix but do not soak.

5. Place in Indirect Sunlight

   Place your newly potted plant in a warm place with indirect sunlight.

6. Check Your Cuttings

   Give it some time for the roots to establish themselves in the soil and expand. Lightly tug on the plant; if you are met with resistance, your plant has taken root. If your plant gives, it has not rooted yet and still needs some time.

Stolon Method of Spider Plant Propagation

This method is most akin to what would happen in nature. The plant sets out new stolons that would get covered in soil, the spiderette would root, and the stolon would break or be cut off, propagating asexually. This method is also the easiest; it does not require any tools and can be done in the same pot as the mother plant.

Transplant later, or it can be done into another pot right from the start. It is up to you. Here are the steps on how to use the stolon method:

1. Fill Your Pot

   Fill a pot with soilless seed starting mix. Use your pencil or dibber to make a hole that is only as deep as the tiny starter roots.

2. Plant Your Cuttings

   Put the pot next to the mother plant and place the spiderette into the newly made hole.

3. Maintain Moisture

   Ensure that the soil in the nursery pot remains moist. The mother plant will still be nurturing the spiderette while it is rooting, so your primary concern is keeping the starting mix moist.

4. Separate Your Plants

   Cut the plant away from the mother plant when the spiderette shows new growth. You now have two independent spider plants.