How to Replant Potted Spider Plants
The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is a South African native and a common houseplant in the United States. It is one of the best-performing houseplants and is an ideal choice for beginners. The grassy leaves are dark green or variegated with green and creamy-white stripes depending on the variety. The outstanding feature of the spider plant is the plantlets that grow on the end of the arching stems once the plant becomes root-bound. The plantlets are propagated by planting them in a small pot, allowing them to root, then cutting the stem that connects them to the mother plant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Prepare to replant a spider plant when it becomes root-bound and the roots and offsets are beginning to crowd the plant. Often, by the time a spider plant is root-bound, little potting soil is left inside the pot. Repotting can be done any time of year, but springtime is best, because new growth will begin right away and the plant can take immediate advantage of the new potting soil.
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Purchase a new container for repotting the spider plant. The container should be 2 inches larger in diameter than the previous container. The excess potting soil in a larger container will not be used by the plant and may sour, creating odor and mildew problems.
The container must be well-drained. If planting in a pot instead of a hanging basket, a pot with several drainage holes around the bottom edge is better than one with a single drainage hole. A single drainage hole is easily blocked by the thick roots of the spider plant.
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Fill the new container one-quarter full with African violet planting mix. African violet plant food drains easily and is rich in organic matter.
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Tap the side of the old container to loosen the spider plant. Carefully pull the spider plant from the old container and set in the new container.
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Add potting mix around and over the roots of the spider plant. The spider plant can be planted slightly deeper than in the old container. The roots should be covered with 1/2 inch of soil.
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Water the spider plant thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. Add more potting mix if necessary to avoid leaving air pockets around the roots. Wash any potting mix from the leaves and allow container to drain. Display in a brightly lit location where temperatures are between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep out of direct sun.
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