The spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum (kloe-roe-fy-tum koe-MOE-sum), is one of the most popular houseplants around. It’s easy to grow, it throws off baby plants like confetti, and it’s non-toxic to dogs and cats.
Sooner or later, though, that easygoing plant fills its pot. Spider plants grow thick, fleshy roots, and left alone long enough they can push hard enough to crack the container.
So when do you repot, how often, and when is it smarter to leave it snug? Let’s sort it out.
Does Your Spider Plant Need Repotting?
A spider plant doesn’t need a bigger pot the minute you bring it home. University of Missouri Extension says plants just brought home seldom need immediate repotting, and that repotting right away puts added strain on a plant that is still adjusting to its new spot.
The time to repot is when the plant is pot-bound, meaning the roots have outgrown the pot. A pot-bound plant may need watering too often and may grow poorly.
Here’s what to look for:
- Roots pushing out of the drainage holes or circling the top of the soil.
- The pot bulging, tipping or cracking. Clemson Extension says spider plants form thick, fleshy tuberous roots, and to divide and repot them before the roots expand enough to crack the container. The Missouri Botanical Garden says the same, especially for plastic containers.
- Water running straight through and the soil drying out much faster than it used to.
How Often Should You Repot a Spider Plant?
UF/IFAS Extension says a potted spider plant will thrive with repotting once a year while the plant is young, and then every other year once it matures. In other words, every year or two, which matches the RHS advice to repot every year or two into a slightly larger pot.
University of Wisconsin Extension explains why young plants need it so often: spider plants grow quickly, their roots easily become too crowded, and they need frequent repotting to do their best.
Is Being Root-Bound Bad for a Spider Plant?
Not a little. Spider plants grow and produce plantlets best when slightly pot bound. The key word is slightly. A plant jammed so tight it needs water far too often, or one whose roots are straining the pot, is past the helpful stage.
Want to keep a spider plant small? Leaving it a bit snug works, but keep an eye on watering and on the pot itself, and divide it before the roots crack the container.
Will Repotting Make It Flower?
Not on its own. Bigger roots aren’t what triggers blooms. NC State Extension says the stolons (the long flowering stems) and plantlets are light dependent: they develop when the plant gets short days and long, uninterrupted nights (less than 12 hours of light a day) for at least three weeks. Spider plants produce most of their offshoots when the days shorten in the fall.
Too much feeding can work against you here. Over-fertilizing decreases plantlet formation, and heavily fertilized plants may not form as many new plantlets.
When Is the Best Time to Repot?
Whenever the plant needs it. You can repot spider plants at any time of the year, so you don’t have to wait for spring if roots are cracking the pot in October.
Advice for houseplants in general leans toward spring. Penn State Extension says the best time to repot a plant is in the spring, and University of Illinois Extension says repotting is typically done in spring or early summer. If you have a choice, spring works; if the pot is cracking, don’t wait.
What Soil and Pot To Use
Keep it simple. A general-purpose potting soil with good drainage works, and so does a soilless medium. Avoid adding garden soil to a potting mix in most cases, because it often leads to poor drainage, overwatering and root diseases.
Drainage matters more than the brand on the bag. Root rot usually results from a soil mix that does not drain quickly or from excessive watering, and spider plants are susceptible to root rot if waterlogged. Pick a pot with drainage holes, a bit larger than the one the plant is in now.
How To Repot a Spider Plant, Step by Step
- Water a day or so ahead so the root ball slides out more easily.
- Ease the plant out. Tip the pot on its side and slide the plant free. If the roots have locked into a plastic pot, it is often easier to cut the pot away than to yank on the leaves.
- Look over the roots. Those thick white roots are normal; they store water. The fleshy roots and rhizomes evolved to store water, which is why spider plants tolerate uneven watering. Trim off anything mushy or dead.
- Set it at the same depth in the new pot, on a layer of fresh mix.
- Fill in and firm gently. Avoid excessive damage to the root system, and firm the soil gently around the root ball without pressing so hard that the soil becomes compacted. Leave enough space at the top of the pot so water can be added easily.
- Water thoroughly, then wait. Water newly potted plants thoroughly, let them drain, and don’t water again until necessary. Spider plants should dry out briefly between waterings.
Divide While You Repot
A big, crowded spider plant is the easiest plant division you’ll ever do. Division is the recommended way to propagate spider plants, and larger plants can be divided.
Once the plant is out of its pot, pull or cut the root mass into two or three sections, each with leaves and a good share of roots, and pot each one on its own. It’s a handy fix when you want a smaller plant and a couple of extras to give away.
Let the Babies Pot Themselves
Those dangling spiderlings can root right next to the mother plant. Set a plantlet, still attached, on the surface of a pot of soilless potting medium, let it root, and only then cut the stem that connects it to the mother. A bent paper clip or piece of wire holds the plantlet against the soil until it roots.
New plantlets root when they come into contact with soil and can be detached once roots have formed and potted directly into moist growing mix. Spider plant spreads by long shoots that develop pre-rooted plantlets at their tips.
Florida gardeners, one caution: spider plant is predicted to become invasive in Florida’s natural areas and is no longer recommended there. Keep those extra divisions in pots indoors.
Feeding and Watering After Repotting
Fresh potting soil means you can put the fertilizer away for a while. Wait four to six months before feeding newly potted spider plants, then feed during active growth with a water-soluble or time-release houseplant fertilizer, following the label.
Spider plants aren’t heavy feeders anyway. Your plant will not run short of nutrients because its tubers store reserve food, so don’t over-fertilize. Spider plants don’t generally need feeding if they’re repotted regularly using fresh compost.
What about tap water? Spider-plant sources point at fluoride. Avoid watering with tap water, because the chlorine and fluorides can cause leaf tip burn. Spider plant is particularly sensitive to fluoridated water, so rainwater or distilled water is best if your tap water is fluoridated. Leaf tip burn can also come from too much fertilizer or water high in soluble salts.
Recommended Reading
How long has your spider plant been in its pot? Tell us whether it’s cozy or cracking at the seams!
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I repot my spider plant?
Repot when it is pot-bound, whatever the season. Spider plants can be repotted at any time of year and should be divided and repotted before their thick tuberous roots crack the container. A pot-bound plant may need watering too often and may grow poorly, while a plant just brought home seldom needs repotting right away. For houseplants in general, spring is the favored season.
How often do spider plants need repotting?
About every year or two. A potted spider plant thrives with repotting once a year while it is young, then every other year once it matures. Spider plants grow quickly, their roots easily become too crowded, and they need frequent repotting to do their best. Check the drainage holes and the pot itself for signs it is getting tight.
Do spider plants like to be root-bound?
A little. Spider plants grow and produce plantlets best when slightly pot bound. Don’t let it go too far, though: the fleshy roots can expand enough to crack the container, so divide and repot before that happens. Flowering stems and plantlets develop with short days and long nights, not root room.
What soil should I use to repot a spider plant?
Use a general-purpose potting soil with good drainage; a soilless medium works too. Root rot usually comes from a mix that does not drain quickly or from excessive watering. Avoid mixing garden soil into potting mix, because it often leads to poor drainage and root diseases.
Should I fertilize a spider plant after repotting it?
Not right away. Wait four to six months before feeding newly potted spider plants, then use a water-soluble or time-release houseplant fertilizer during active growth, following the label. Spider plants won’t run short of nutrients because their tubers store reserve food, and heavily fertilized plants may not form as many new plantlets.