How do I care for this growing spider plant?
by
Janet
+8
I have a spider plant that has very long leaves. So long it is making the leaves flop over the sides of the pot so you can see the center of the plant. It is not root bound so a bigger pot is not necessary. I have been searching on the net but all I see is how to prune it. It says to cut the leaves down closest to the root. I would have to do this with the entire plant! If I trim all the leaves down a few inches would I kill the plant? I would hate to lose this plant, I've had it about 6 years. i have separated it into several plants over the years and they are all growing long like this.
FYI: The leaves will grow longer with less sunlight. But you don't need to move it. If you want to trim the lower leaves, just cut them diagonally at the point you want them to be. The diagonal cut makes them look a little more natural then straight across. The plant will be fine if you do this. I wouldn't trim it all the way down, though. The plant needs a certain amount of leaf structure for photosynthesis.
The plant is in my kitchen which is very bright. It gets indirect sunlight most of the day and some direct at the end of the day. It's been in that same spot for all these years. Is that not enough sunlight? Someone actually told me it gets too much light. Is that possible? It never gets brown tips and has had a lot of baby plants. I am just afraid it will start breaking off as it's getting so long. Not sure why suddenly it's doing this. I wondered if it was because It was once part of a bigger plant and last summer I separated it into three different plants since I had to re-pot it anyway. All three are as long and droopy. Other than the droop it's very healthy.
As long as it's healthy I would keep it as is and try to put it higher! I am battling brown tips with one of my spider plants now, grr.
It's fine-healthy, leave it be-that is how they grow-brightest light possible,do not transplant better root bound to fill pot then will make babies/bloom. All green can tolerate less light variegated more light. https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&tbs=simg:CAESvAIJhQ_1ZZg5LaboasAILELCMpwgaYgpgCAMSKOMVzRbQFdkLyhbSC4YezxbTC9cLjyLYN7su2zfXKdc3szKQItMp_1CoaMJ6C-SxTdq7ntoZBb28N99d7TeFBZ3WgxbsHa22TayJKyORyN7iSTKGNtBDP3jjoKSAEDAsQjq7-CBoKCggIARIER-Go4QwLEJ3twQkaqAEKHgoLZGVzZXJ0IHBhbG3apYj2AwsKCS9tLzA1emRzcQofCgtmcml0aWxsYXJpYdqliPYDDAoKL20vMGI5dGdzaAojChB4YW50aG9ycmhvZWFjZWFl2qWI9gMLCgkvbS8wNDRzNTcKIgoOZGlwbG9jYXVsb2JpdW3apYj2AwwKCi9tLzAzaDVybF8KHAoJZmxvd2VycG902qWI9gMLCgkvbS8wZm0zemgM&q=full+grown+spider+plant&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiMs9SgjenhAhXnxFQKHUo9CB0Qsw56BAgGEAE&biw=1366&bih=657
I have two spider plants that are on the overhang on the north side of the house. If you hang it, you can't see the bare middle from the leaves dropping over. I bring them in every fall and put them in a room that gets south light in the winter to keep them healthy. They are so easy to care for and such beautiful plants.
That's how it is supposed to grow. Now it's time to hang it up, or put on a high shelf.
They grow huge in a hanging pot and send offshoots that you can cut off and plant in other pots.
That's just how they look. Lots of times people put them in a hanging basket so you see the bottom part. That's how I have mine. I love it.