The Airplane Plant, botanically known as Chlorophytum comosum, earns its common name, the Spider Plant, from its unique reproduction method. This popular houseplant produces long, arching stems called stolons, at the ends of which grow miniature versions of the parent plant known as “plantlets” or “pups.” These plantlets are the key to its remarkably simple propagation. There are multiple effective methods to quickly expand your collection using these pups.
Propagating Using Water
Water propagation is a favored method for many beginners because it allows for a clear view of the root development process. The first step involves selecting a healthy plantlet that is at least one to two inches in diameter and ideally shows small, aerial root nubs already forming at its base. Using clean, sharp scissors or shears, carefully snip the pup from the mother plant, cutting the stolon just above the plantlet’s base.
Place the severed plantlet into a small container filled with water, submerging only the base where the roots will emerge. Keep the foliage completely above the waterline to prevent rotting. Since Spider Plants are sensitive to fluoride and chlorine in tap water, use distilled, filtered, or rainwater to minimize the risk of brown leaf tips.
Position the container in bright, indirect sunlight. Within about seven to ten days, you should observe small, white roots beginning to emerge from the base of the plantlet. Allow the roots to grow to approximately two to three inches before transplanting, which generally takes about one month.
Propagating Directly in Soil
Propagating plantlets directly into a potting mix bypasses the water-to-soil transition. One method is to sever the pup from the mother plant and immediately plant it into a small pot filled with a well-draining soil mix. Place the base of the plantlet, where the root nubs are, just below the soil surface and lightly firm the surrounding mix to keep the pup upright.
A second, highly successful technique is “transplanting in place.” Fill a small pot with moist soil and place it next to the mother plant. Gently bend the stolon and pin the plantlet’s base onto the soil surface while the pup remains attached, allowing the mother plant to supply nutrients until roots establish.
Keep the soil in the small pot consistently moist but not waterlogged during the rooting phase. Once you observe new leaf growth, or if you gently tug and feel resistance, the plantlet has established its own roots. At this point, you can safely sever the stolon connecting the new plant to the mother plant, completing the direct soil propagation process.
Propagating Through Division
Propagation by division is an alternative method best reserved for mature, root-bound plants that need repotting. Spider Plants develop thick, fleshy, tuberous roots that store water. Begin by watering the plant thoroughly the day before to hydrate the roots, making them more flexible and less likely to snap.
Carefully remove the entire plant from its pot, which may require running a knife around the edge or gently squeezing the sides. Shake off excess soil to expose the dense root mass and identify natural separation points. Use clean, sharp shears or a sterilized knife to cut the root ball into smaller sections, ensuring each division has a substantial cluster of healthy roots and foliage.
Repot each division immediately into its own container using fresh, well-draining potting mix. The new pot size should be appropriate for the divided root mass, with the base of the foliage sitting at the soil line. Division is an effective way to rejuvenate a crowded parent plant and instantly gain several large, mature plants.
Ensuring Success After Planting
Once the new Airplane Plants are established in their final pots, attention shifts to proper aftercare. All new plants thrive best when placed in a location that receives bright, indirect light, as direct, intense sunlight can scorch the leaves and cause brown tips. Providing adequate light is particularly important in the weeks following planting to fuel root establishment.
Keep the soil consistently moist for the first few weeks to encourage roots to spread into the new medium. After this initial establishment period, allow the top inch or two of the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Avoid applying fertilizer for the first one to three months while the young roots are establishing their network; once new growth is evident, begin feeding with a diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer during the active growing season.