I have 3 or 4 little tiny spider plants, a girl friend gave me. She just plucked them off and said to stick them on some dirt. Will this work? I have only done this after they grew roots while still attached to the mom plant. Can they be coaxed to rooting,or is it more likely they will dry up or die of rot. I don't mind trying anything, but I would rather not fuss over them, if it is unlikely they will survive? Thanks for any tips you have.

Hi I would root in distilled water or fresh with no chemicals! Once you see roots put in well draining soil. I fertilize with compost tea with worm castings!

Thank you. I really had not thought of distilled water, and I will try that. I will look into making compost tea with worm castings.
I am glad to know someone here doesn't feel it is too hopeless, Seems I am awesome at propagating when the plants root really fast. When they take a month or so, I really have to fight the urge to peek.

I have quite a few of these little things, all in soil. The two that look a little iffy are two very tiny Bonnie spiders, of course; those are the ones I was really hoping to grow.

Thank you Alisa!

Hi I am curious how your baby spiders are doing and do you have a picture?

Laurie - Spider babies will produce roots whenever they are in constant contact with moisture. That could be sitting in a bowl of water or set in damp soil or even attached to a damp sponge. Filtered or distilled water is necessary only if your local tap water is on the hard side.

I have done water, direct to soil, seem to have better results with direct to soil. A friend roots hers in some Sphagnum moss. I've used the sphagnum moss to root some Hoya's and it works great. I had roots in a weeks time.

Bonnie was a slow starter for me, everything else was putting out new growth in 3 weeks, the Bonnie took more like 5. It's growing great now. I have 12 different spiders and now that they have some size to them it's vert clear the different characteristics. "Bonnie"is a slower grower for me.


These spider pups went to soil, about 3 weeks in this photo.

Hi All:

Thank you for such good advice. And thanks for commenting on your experiences. It is so nice to know what worked for someone else.

Alisa, @Purplebloomcactus; here are pictures, such as they are. And thanks so much for the help, and the interest. The spiders were planted today. They are in 4 inch pots. I did lose the little tiny Bonnies, dang it. One even started a tiny root, but just withered away. Too much humidity for it I believe.


Steve, @madcratebuilder, I have only found around 7 varieties of spiders. 12 is amazing. I would love to hear all the names. Your propagation is impressive. Nice!

I would bet the ranch all you guys know the name of my two spiders. I am guessing one is Chlorophytum comosum, and the other, Reverse Variegatum.

The reverse variegatum has two plants in the pot. Is that ok?

And @WillC, its a relief to hear about the h2o, because I didn't use it at first. Thanks. Now that I have it, I will use it at least for a while. My water is bad, here.

It was quite fun, something I hope to definitely do again, and I will ask for your help again too.
Below are the pics, Thank you guys, all tips are so appreciated.

Laurie, here are the names to the best of my knowledge.
Chlorophytum comosum
C. comosum "Bonnie"
C. "Mandaianum"
c. ""Variegatum"
C. "Vittatum"
C. "Streaker"
C. "White Lightning"
C. "Golden Glow" aka "Hawaiian"
C. "Milky Way"
C. "Ocean"
C. "Pacific"
C. "Atlantic"
C. "Green Bonnie"

Your pups look like they are putting on new growth. I can send you some Bonnie pups when I get some. Gonna be awhile. I have 5 spiders in 8" pots and the rest are in the 4" starter pots.

I bought my pups off evil bay and had them in dirt the fourth week of May. I was seeing new growth in 3 weeks, 4 weeks for the Bonnie. Once the Bonnie got going it has cauth up with the others.

I'm big fan of filtered water for house plants. I had a few spiders years ago and I sure don't recall this kind of growth rate, I'm pleased with it.

Bonnie on left and Atlantic on right



C. comosum



Hawaiian, a robust grower.




Vittatum and Variegatum

I pasted your list into my plant file on the puter. It will be fun to hunt these down. Of course I would love a little bonnie very much. I bet I may have some kind of trade, I have a tiny Pony tail Palm, a Jade and Pearl Pothos that I have not seen available often. I have golden pothos, just starting, that should have a couple good starts in time. I have sedums outside, I really love. I have more, I am forgetting. By the time you have baby bonnies, I bet I have more to choose from as well. I would really love a trade. Steve.

I'm sure we can find something to trade, I'm always looking for more sedums to add to my collection. I'm starting to like Hoya's also, I have 4 different ones going, they are slow growers compared to the spiders.