Should I Trim My Spider Plants? (Answered)

by Alex Kountry
Updated on

Another popular houseplant is the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum).

Their long, ribbon-like foliage and stems of spiderettes cascading over the edges make fantastic accents to hanging baskets.

Even those of us with less-than-perfect green thumbs may grow spider plants as houseplants, but first, you must learn how to trim them.

The spider or ribbon plant’s thin, long, bouncing leaves have made it a popular ornamental plant. Spider plant leaves and spiderettes may need to be trimmed.

Should I Trim My Spider Plants?

Should I Trim My Spider Plants

Trimming your spider plant is an essential aspect of raising this plant.

Inconsistent trimming can result in untidy leaves, spiderettes sprouting from all directions, and even a stagnant time for the main plant.

Trimming your elder plants regularly keeps them healthy and blooming for years.

The appearance of spider plants is not the primary motivation for mastering the art of trimming them.

Roots and spiderettes must also be trimmed while removing brown leaves as quickly as possible.

A lot of water and nutrients are used up by spider plantlets. After fertilizing the spider plant, have you noticed any difference?

That’s because the spiderettes eat up all of the food in the sandbox.

The plant produces spiderettes, which are voracious consumers of nutrients.

Most of the fertilizer and water are absorbed when dangling from the mother plant.

Leaving the spiderettes attached for an extended period may result in your main spider plant being malnourished because the roots of the spiderettes won’t have enough time to establish themselves in their pot.

Trimming the plant and removing the spiderettes will help keep it healthy.

If the tips of your spider plants are turning brown, that’s another incentive to do some pruning.

Too much fluoride or chlorine in the water you give the plant can also contribute to this problem, as can too much exposure to direct sunshine.

These pollutants will be found in city water, causing the leaves to turn brown.

The health and growth of plants can be improved with regular trimming.

As a result of trimming, the plant doesn’t need as much fertilizer because it doesn’t have to work as hard.

You can improve the plant’s health and look by removing the brown and damaged leaves that don’t give any nutrients.

Here is an article I wrote on repotting spider plant

What Are The Benefits?

Spider plants, which are easy to grow and maintain, are a favorite choice. Because of this, they are an ideal plant for use on a window sill.

  • There’s no need to worry about its size, shape, or general appearance. Before discussing how to trim a spider plant, let’s take a closer look at its benefits:
  • Pruning removes any dead or diseased sections of the plant, such as yellow or brown leaves and stems, to keep it from becoming excessively long and lean.
  • Because it prevents them from growing overgrown, it aids in their preservation.
  • The best way to keep spider plants compact and maintain their original shape is to prune them regularly.
  • Many of the lost energy can be restored through a process called rejuvenation.
  • A spider plant that hasn’t been pruned for an extended time will produce many spiderettes, which will drain the plant of its resources. To maintain the health of the spider plant, you should remove these tiny specimens by pruning them.
  • The plant’s growth will be stunted if you cease providing nutrients or water. Remove the spiderettes to double-check.
  • Maintaining a healthy plant is more accessible with regular pruning.
  • It provides enough space for the plant to breathe correctly.
  • It enhances the visual attractiveness of your yard by giving your plant a manicured and new appearance.

Do Spider Plants Need To Be Cut Back?

As long as they are given the right conditions, spider plants can grow as large as 2 12 feet in diameter and 1 meter in length.

Therefore, spider plants benefit from periodic pruning. Pruning spider plants improve the health and vitality of the plant.

Should I Cut The Runners Off My Spider Plant?

You can cut off the runner. Because once the babies are off, the runner pretty much becomes useless.

Yes, if you don’t want to create additional spider plants or parent plants for growth, you can. It is up to you to decide what to do with them after they have been severed.

Can I Cut The Babies Off My Spider Plant?

You can cut off the babies of spider plants. Given a proper growing condition, the spider produces more babies.

The more seedlings the plant produces, the more fertilizer and water it requires, which consumes a large portion of the plant’s energy.

Consequently, it is necessary to eliminate the spiderettes.

When planted in water or soil, the cuttings will root in weeks.

As part of the pruning procedure, cutting off baby plants from the parent plant is encouraged.

Also check out this article I wrote on keeping spider plants in the bedroom

How Do I Make My Spider Plant Thicker?

If you want a thicker spider plant, take care of all of its requirements and prune and repot it as soon as necessary.

This will help your spider plant develop to its greatest capacity and maximize its overall thickness. It’s also good to add a few of the spiderettes you cut off when trimming to fill in the gaps.

When pruning, make sure to use sterilized scissors and remove any foliage that is sick, discolored, or decomposing ultimately.

Cut the long stem linking the mother and baby plants at the base when removing the spiderettes.

  • Water

Spider plants usually are watered once a week. You can re-water the soil if it seems dry to the touch at the top one inch of the soil.

Ensure that the soil is always damp without becoming saturated or sloppy. Avoid overwatering your plants since this could cause the leaves to become brown or black.

  • Temperature

Temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit or above 80 degrees Fahrenheit are not ideal for spider plants.

Therefore they should be kept indoors.

However, you can bring your spider plant outside during the spring and summer months when temperatures aren’t too cool or hot for the plant to thrive.

  • Sunlight

Squirrel plants like bright indirect light.

They will not become scorched or wilted when exposed to bright indirect light for no more than six hours per day.

In the spring and summer, you should feed your spider plants at least once a month with a liquid fertilizer, if not twice.

  • Properly Prune Spider Plants

Spider plants should be pruned during the spring and summer months to keep them at a manageable size.

It is also good to remove any dead or brown leaves or leaf tips from your spider plant at any time of the year that you notice them.

  • Propagating

When your spider plant becomes too big, you should divide it.

You’ll need to pay closer attention to watering and fertilizing as your plant develops more kids, or “spiderettes,” because the babies suck up many of the soil’s nutrients and energy.

  • Repotting

To keep your plants healthy, divide the root ball into many portions with good foliage. Then replant each section in a separate planter with fresh potting soil.

Before planting, you may either start the spiderettes you cut out in the water to help them grow stronger roots or plant them immediately into moist soil.

It’s time to move your spider plant to a new pot when its roots can be seen protruding from the drainage holes.

The spider plant should be placed in a pot with enough drainage holes and new potting soil. Use any decent, well-draining organic potting soil for spider plants, as they aren’t particularly picky.

Conclusion

To maintain your spider plant healthy, you must know how to cut its leaves. Learn to cut spider plant spiderettes if you plan on propagating or even giving away tiny plants.

Spiky plants have unusual leaves that can grow to two feet before becoming unkempt and turning yellow as time passes.

The leaves can also be affected by sunlight, mineral-rich water, and parasites. Trimming helps you maintain the plant’s look and health.

It’s time to learn how to prune the roots of spider plants if the yellow leaves keep coming back.

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About the author

Alex Kountry

Alex Kountry is the founder of HayFarmGuy and has been a backyard farmer for over 10 years. Since then he has decided to write helpful articles that will help you become a better backyard farmer and know what to do. He also loves to play tennis and read books

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