Spider Plant Babies — When & How to Propagate Spiderettes

Your Spider Plant is producing babies (spiderettes) on long runners. Learn the best time to remove them, three propagation methods, and how to grow them into full plants. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Here are the key things to understand: Spider Plant babies (spiderettes) grow on long arching runners produced by mature plants. Babies can be rooted while still attached to the mother or after cutting. They root easily in water, soil, or sphagnum moss — one of the easiest plants to propagate. Wait until spiderettes have small nubs of aerial roots before removing for best results. A single mother plant can produce dozens of babies per year in ideal conditions. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.

The most common reasons this occurs include: Spider Plants produce runners and babies when they are mature and slightly rootbound. The babies are the plant natural reproductive strategy — each one is a potential new plant. Bright light and being slightly potbound triggers more prolific baby production. Propagating babies is the classic beginner-friendly houseplant project. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.

To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Wait until spiderettes are 2-3 inches across with visible tiny roots at their base. Method 1 (water): cut the baby off with scissors and place in a jar of water — roots develop in 1-2 weeks. Method 2 (still attached): place a small pot of soil next to the mother and pin the baby into it — cut once rooted. Method 3 (direct soil): cut the baby and plant directly in moist potting mix — keep consistently moist. Once rooted, grow in bright indirect light and water when the top inch of soil is dry. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.

This article is part of our Foliage Plants collection on Houseplants Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.