Spider plants are scientifically known as Chlorophytum Comosum. They are popular indoor plants appreciated for their air-purifying qualities and easy maintenance. However, occasional pruning is vital for the spider plants. But most home gardeners don’t know how to prune spider plants effectively.
This process involves removing dead or yellowing leaves, cutting them at the base, and addressing overgrown foliage. Additionally, trimming spider plants contributes to the plant’s overall well-being and prevents competition for nutrients. This blog reveals the dos and don’ts of pruning spider plants along with other useful information. So, read the complete article and increase the vitality of your spider plant!
Why Should You Prune Your Spider Plant
Spider plants have siderites, which are nutrient hogs. They absorb all the water and fertilizer when hanging with the mother plant. It makes the siderites grow their roots quickly and be potted separately. But if you let the siderites hang too long with the spider plant, they will absorb a lot of nutrients and water, which the spider plant needs for its growth. As a result, spider plants suffer from a shortage of nutrients.
Pruning the spider plant and removing the siderites allow it to continue its efficient and healthy growth without lacking nutrients. There is another reason for pruning the sider plant, and that is the brown tips of the leaves. If you have placed your plant in direct bright sunlight and given it water, having too much chlorine or fluoride must have caused the leaves’ tips to turn brown.
Later, these brown tips spread over the leaf, leading them to die. If you are watering your spider plant with tap water, that is the problem. Because tap water contains these chemicals, never water your spider plant with tap water. It will affect the plant’s growth and make its leaves yellow or brown. Pruning is the only option left in that case.
When to Prune a Spider Plant
Spider plants are not so demanding; they require significantly less maintenance for their growth. You only need to prune or trim your spider plant when it has overcrowding, yellow or dead leaves, and more spider ridges. Skip the pruning or trimming for some time if you have pruned your plant too heavily on the first or second attempt. Many reasons make the owners prune their spider plants:
- When the leaves are too crowded
- When you see the signs of nutrient deficiency in the plant
- When new pups are overwhelming
Only prune your spider plant when there is temperature stress, infestation, or root problem. It can kill the plant immediately after pruning, even if you take care of it. You can prune the plant in spring or summer as these are the best times for pruning.
When the plant grows efficiently in seasons from late fall to early summer, that is the perfect time for pruning. The plant will start growing actively again after being pruned in these seasons. If you find any disease, you can also prune the spider plant in another season.
(Expert Tip: Do not prune young spider plants occasionally as they require less pruning compared to the mature plant.)
What You Need for Pruning Spider Plant
Before pruning the spider plant, you will need a few tools to help you remove and cut the leaves. The main tool to prune the plant is pruning shears, however, ensure they are sharp enough. You can also use a knife or scissors. Whatever tool you use for the entire process, make sure to use a sanitized and clean tool.
If your tool is sharp, you will be able to make clean and quick cuts, which will make them heal quickly. Sharp and clean tools will prevent your spider plant from being infected with any disease and reduce the chance of infection in leaves. So, if you are pruning your spider plant, grab the best and sharpest tools and sanitize them before using them.
Spider Plant Pruning Vs Trimming
You will find a big difference in trimming and pruning of the spider plant. While pruning your plant, you will need to cut the unwanted or overgrown leaves of the spider plant. Pruning improves the plant’s growth, saves energy, and prevents diseases. If you see any brown or yellow leaves of your spider plant, you must remove them immediately by cutting them; that is pruning. On the other hand, during trimming you can give a proper shape to your plant.
How to Trim a Spider Plant
There are various steps that you can follow to trim a spider plant. The first is to prune away flower stalks to prevent seed formation. Also, cut the offshoots referred to as spiderettes or pups and use them for propagation. It is also advisable to trim siderites if the plant produces many since this helps maintain its health and stops competition for water and nutrients. Well then, here are brief details on how you can trim a spider plant:
1. Preparing the Tools
Start by preparing the tools needed for this exercise. Pruning shears or scissors that are clean and sharp will serve your needs best. Ensure all tools have been sanitized so as not to introduce plant infections.
2. Inspect Your Plant
Take a closer look at your spider plant. Identify any dead yellow or damaged leaves that need pruning. This step makes it easier for you to concentrate on those areas that need trimming.
3. Remove Dead or Yellow Leaves
Carefully use either pruning shears or scissors to snip off dead or yellowing leaves right at the base of your plant. Remember (heal) these by ensuring they get cuts made through their natural angles one after another without destroying other still healthy foliage nearby.
4. Remove Excessive Foliage
If your spider plant becomes too big for the space, prudently remove only healthy growing leaves close to its base. This removal of healthy leaves helps in maintaining the shape and appearance of the plant.
5. Trim the Spiderettes (Optional)
You can also snip off some siderites of the plant if they are in huge amounts. Their removal is best because the increased number of siderites engulfs the main plant’s entire energy.
6. Cut in the Right Angle
When you are making cuts, do it about 45 degrees towards the joining point. It makes a clean cut and helps in water runoff. If the cuts are flat or jagged, they may obstruct the plant’s healing process.
7. Disposal of the Removed Parts
Collect the cut-off leaves and siderites, and dispose of them properly. In this way, diseases or pests will not spread.
How to Prune a Spider Plant
Pruning a spider plant is a simple process, you can do it with the help of the following detailed steps:
1. Gather the Tool: You can start the process by gathering the required tools, which are clean, sharp pruning shears or scissors. Sterilize the cutting tool to avoid infections.
2. Observe the Plant: Do inspect all parts of the plant for dead, yellow, or damaged leaves that need removal. Besides, observe other imperfections and remove them too.
3. Remove Dead or Yellow Leaves: Now, remove dead or yellow leaves at the base of the plant using your pruning shears or scissors. This will promote healing, reduce disease spread, and ensure clean cuts.
4. Trim Excessive Foliage: If it has grown too big for its space, you may selectively trim healthy leaves near the base to control size and maintain an appealing shape.
5. Prune Spiderettes (Optional): Count how many baby spider pants you have in there. Where there are several, some should be cut off so that more energy and nutrients go towards better growth for the main plant.
6. Make Angled Cuts: Cut away at 45-degree angles when making all cuts on your plants. Doing this helps promote good water flow and reduces the chances of water settling on cut surfaces, leading to possible rotting.
7. Dispose of Removed Plant Material Properly: Collect these trimmed materials, i.e., leaves/siderites, and dispose of them well enough to help avoid spreading diseases while keeping around cleaner where the plant grows.
8. Monitor & Trim Furthur: Keep observing how it responds after pruning its performance about changes that will necessitate additional trims later.
You can effectively prune your spider plant, maintaining its size and improving its overall appearance if you follow these detailed steps.
How Often Do I Need to Prune My Spider Plant
Spider plants are fast-growers and do not take long to produce new foliage after trimming or cutting the dead leaves. If you have a spider plant in your home, you must know its growing situation. If you grow this plant, it will take a short time to start growing and producing foliage.
So, it is better to prune your spider plant after when required. If you recently pruned your spider plant, let it grow for some time. When you see the leaves have grown up to 4-5 inches, then prune the plant leaves and give them a shape. Otherwise, the spider plant does not require a lot of pruning or trimming.
You can prune your plant from late fall to early spring any time. If you see any disease or infection in your plant, no matter what season is ongoing, prune your plant immediately to prevent it from diseases. Pruning the spider plant will allow it to grow healthy and efficiently.
What to Do With the Discarded Spider Plant Leaves
After trimming and pruning your spider plant, the next step is to discard the leaves you removed from the plant. The best option to dispose of those leaves is to throw them away. You cannot propagate or regrow the spider plant leaves because this plant can only be grown with the seed or spinnerette.
All you need to do is collect the removed healthy and dead leaves and fill them in a bag. Throw the bag in the garbage. Spider plants cannot be grown with leaf cuttings, so never regrow them, even using healthy leaves. You can also use the healthy waste leaves in a compost pile.
Post-Pruning Care of Spider Plant
After pruning and trimming your spider plant, there are a few care tips that you must follow for the healthy growth of your plant:
- Place your spider plant pot in bright but filtered or indirect sunlight; the area must be warm.
- Never expose your plant to sudden changes in light or temperature. It will affect its growth, and the plant will start getting brown or yellow leaves again.
- Use suitable and appropriate spider plant potting soil to repot the plant if necessary.
- After pruning, when you see a few inches of the soil dry, water it. Wait to avoid overwatering the plant.
- You can use a diluted liquid fertilizer after a few weeks of pruning to promote new plant growth.
Final Verdict: Can you Prune Spider Plant
Yes, it is possible to prune your spider plant. The procedure is not complicated, yet simple and easy. All you need to do is examine your spider plant and see if there are yellow or brown leaves, too many giant leaves, or an overgrown plant for the pot. These conditions are signs that you must prune your spider plant immediately. You can successfully remove all the leaves that are too large and brown or yellow using the instructions given in the article. Give proper shape and structure to the plant and ensure its healthy growth!
FAQs
1. What Is the Importance of Pruning Spider Plants?
Pruning is essential to ensure that the plant remains healthy at all times and also looks good. Removing dead or dying leaves, correcting excessively grown foliage, and trimming out siderites so they do not compete for nutrients help control their bulk and shapes.
2. When Should One Prune a Spider Plant?
Spider plants don’t require much care; hence, they can be pruned when required. Spring or summer is the best choice when it comes to the best time for pruning since the plant actively grows during these seasons. Avoid cutting during temperature stress, infestation, or root problems, as this will weaken the plant.
3. What Tools are Needed for Pruning a Spider Plant?
Pruning shears or sharp scissors are required for this pruning process. Using sanitized tools ensures that infections do not occur on the plant.
4. Is there a Difference Between Pruning and Trimming a Spider Plant?
Yes, there’s an actual discrepancy between these two concepts. Pruning refers to removing unwanted parts, such as dead leaves or overgrown branches, promoting growth and preventing diseases. Trimming means giving your houseplant a proper shape and size.
5. How Often Should I Prune my Spider Plant?
Spider plants grow fast and only must be pruned when they require it. If it had been pruned recently, let it rise for some time before another round of pruning so that some leaves may have reached 4-5 inches in length.