How to Prune Spider Plant
When is the best time to prune?
Spider plants grow actively from spring through fall and slow down in winter, so pruning during the warmer months lets the plant quickly replace removed foliage.
Why Should I Prune My Spider Plant?
Spider plants are prolific growers that eventually produce a cascade of babies on long runners. While this looks charming, all those plantlets pull energy from the mother plant. If yours is looking thin or yellowed, pruning off some babies can help it bounce back.
Brown leaf tips are the most common reason people reach for the scissors. They're usually caused by fluoride in tap water or low humidity, not a sign of serious problems. Trim the brown ends at an angle so the cut blends with the leaf's natural taper. You don't need to remove the whole leaf.
Flower stalks that have finished blooming and dropped their babies can be cut at the base. They won't produce anything new. Removing them keeps the plant looking neat and redirects energy toward new leaf growth.
If the whole plant has gotten overgrown, you can cut all the foliage back to a few inches above the soil. It's drastic, but spider plants recover quickly and will fill back in within a couple of months during the growing season.
Know Before You Cut
What Should I Remove?
How Do I Prune Step by Step?
Got More Questions?
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