Hi, this spider plant has produced a few 'baby' spiders. How long does it take for the roots to develop? It seems to be growing bigger and bigger, but there are no roots so far. Thanks :)

Your spider is very pretty, the babies will go roots rather quickly when in contact with soil or water

It usually takes about 0.16 seconds once they touch soil.

If you're concerned about chopping them off without roots, you can place little saucers of soil underneath them, wait 7-10 days, then voilà, roots will have begun to form.

By the way, your plant looks so healthy and well-cared for. I'm impressed.

Do they grow without any contact with soil or water? I have seen them on Youtube with roots on when not having been in anything

They might. I've never actually waited.

Remember the plants you've seen on YouTube may be in a humid environment or may be misted. That will cause root formation more quickly, too.

Funnily enough I have never misted any of my plants as I have seen a lot of negative things about misting. Maybe I will leave them on a little longer and see what happens. This is the plant back when I got it in December, it's grown rather a lot since then

Yeah, that's a lot of growth. Do you keep it there in the window in the first picture?

I don't mist my spider plant either. I frequently cut off babies (much smaller than yours and without roots) and put them in moist potting soil then give them away.

It has always been kept in front of a window, either north or west facing and I only give it rain water. I think that makes a lot of difference will keeping it attached to them main plant do it any damage or does it not matter? Maybe I will try putting a pot with some soil under it.

If an offset grows past a certain point and does not come into contact with soil/water (i.e. has no impetus to form roots) I'm guessing that the offset will die, but the parent plant will continue growing and send offsets in other directions instead (where there could theoretically be soil).

How is this? I will give it a bit of water

Well done!

The only thing negative about misting is that it doesn't raise humidity significantly as is commonly believed. However, it does no harm unless the leaves are fuzzy.

Well, not exactly. Misting does raise humidity, albeit locally and for very short periods of time. Unless water is frozen, you cannot introduce it and not raise humidity at least temporarily.

The raised humidity lasts as long as the water droplets remain on the leaves, about 10 minutes in most environments. Ten minutes out of a 24 hour day is not a way to increase humidity SIGNIFICANTLY.

How long does it normally take for the roots to start growing?

I'd check in a week, then again in 2 weeks. That's usually the time frame I notice when I just cut off the offsets. It may happen quicker (or slower) with them still attached though.

Due to the leaves becoming so long, I have noticed a couple of the leaves developing a bend or curve in them. Is this normal? Is there anyway to prevent this?

In my experience, this happens when the babies get "too big" on the stalk. I wouldn't worry about it. Even if the leaves break and fall off, the plantlet is concentrating on forming new roots right now anyway.

It's actually on the main plant, if you look at the picture it's the leaf on the far left. I have since straightened it by pressing the edges together and it seems to be holding up now. I have had the window open today so perhaps the wind caught it.

I checked for any roots this morning and one has emerged. Should I wait any longer or can I just go ahead and cut it off? Thanks

You can cut it off.

Isn't it exciting? hehe