The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is a popular houseplant recognized for its arching, grass-like foliage. Mature plants develop long, slender stems that trail away from the main rosette of leaves. Miniature versions of the parent plant begin to form and dangle at the ends of these stems.
The Correct Names for Spider Plant Offsets
These small, developing plants are most accurately referred to by the botanical term plantlets. They are also widely known as spiderettes or pups. The simple term “babies” is a casual but understood description of these offshoots.
Plantlets are a product of asexual reproduction, meaning they are genetic clones of the parent plant. They emerge on specialized, trailing structures called stolons or runners, which are modified flower stalks. Plantlets begin to form after the small, star-shaped white flowers on the stolon have finished blooming. This natural process allows the spider plant to multiply itself quickly.
How to Use Plantlets to Create New Plants
The presence of plantlets offers an easy method for propagation, allowing you to create new plants. Select a plantlet that has already developed small, white or brown root nubs at its base before attempting separation. Waiting until the plantlet has grown at least three to five leaves and developed these rudimentary roots ensures a higher success rate.
Rooting in water is a simple and popular technique. Use clean, sharp shears to cut the plantlet from the stolon, leaving a small stub of the stem attached. Place the base into a shallow glass of distilled or rainwater, ensuring the leaves remain above the water line to prevent rot. Roots typically form within seven to ten days, and once they reach an inch or two in length, the new plant can be potted.
Direct potting is another successful method that can produce a stronger root system faster than water rooting. Fill a small pot with a well-draining potting mix. You can plant the plantlet directly into the soil, covering the root nubs and base, or use the “still-attached” method. For the latter, place the small pot next to the parent, anchor the plantlet onto the soil surface while still connected to the stolon, and cut the runner only after the plantlet has firmly rooted.
Maintaining the Parent Plant’s Health
Producing numerous plantlets requires a significant energy investment from the parent plant, known as the mother plant. While attached, these offshoots act as metabolic dependents, drawing resources through the stolon until they are self-sufficient. If the parent plant appears stressed, dry, or is producing fewer new leaves, removing some or all plantlets can redirect energy back to the main plant.
It is advised to remove plantlets if you do not intend to propagate them, especially if the mother plant is young or struggling. Use sterilized scissors to snip the stolon near the plantlet’s base. Environmental conditions also influence the production of these offsets, as they are a form of asexual reproduction often triggered by maturity or stress.
Providing bright, indirect light and allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings encourages a healthy plant that will naturally produce offsets. Conversely, heavily fertilizing the plant may result in fewer plantlets, as energy is directed toward vegetative growth instead of reproduction. If you wish to minimize pups, proactively remove the developing flower stalks before the plantlets form.