Are you interested in making your spider plant bushier? If yes, then you can check out our article. We have some great tips for you.
To make your spider plant bushier, you should prune it regularly and repot it every two to three years. Pruning will allows air and light to reach new areas of the plant which will make it look denser. On the other hand, repotting will keep the root system healthy, which allows it to grow bigger and stronger.
In this article, we will show you how to grow a bushy spider plant in addition to many other tips that will help you make this plant look more appealing.
So, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
How Can I Make My Spider Plant Bushier?
Pruning
The first thing that you should think about if you want to make your spider plant bushier is pruning. This simple act will help to increase the vigor and height of your plant. By removing lower branches, you create room for new branches to grow. This promotes a bushier appearance and makes your plant more resistant to pests.
To get the best results, Prune your spider plant during its active growth. It is best to prune this plant by the end of winter and during spring and summer. Do this during the warmest part of the day, since it is easier for the pruning tool to cut through the softer tissues.
To prune your spider plant, you should use a disinfected gardening scissor and remove all the dead, diseased, or damaged leaves. For the healthy leaves that look leggy, you can simply cut them back by about half or one-third of their length.
You can check the following youtube video for the exact method of pruning plants:
If you found this content helpful, click here to read our article about growing spider plant in water.
Light
Light conditions are another factor that can make your spider plant grow leggy and spindly instead of bushy. Generally, when you place your plant far from sunlight, it will try to extend its roots in order to reach the sun which will make it look leggy.
If you want your spider plant to grow in full, bushy shapes, you need to provide it with as much bright, indirect light as possible. A bright south-facing window is a perfect place to position your spider plant if you want it to be bushy and leafy.
Planting a houseplant near a south-facing window allows the sun to hit your plant throughout the entire day. But if you don’t have access to regular sunlight where you live, you can still use artificial lighting to grow a bushy spider plant. Just make sure that you put the artificial light source to the side of the plant not above.
By placing artificial light on the side of your plant, you can encourage more growth from the bottom up, and this makes your plant look fuller and bushier.
Temperature
If you want your spider plant to be bushy and leafy, you should also consider the temperature levels around your plant. Too low of a temperature will cause your plant to wilt and will eventually kill it. On the other hand, high temperatures can stress your plant and cause it to transpire laboriously which increases the likelihood of taking toxic micronutrients from the air.
The ideal temperature range for spider plants is between 70 to 90°F. To maintain this temperature level for your plant, you can cover them with old sheets or blankets. simply pull the sheets or blankets over your plant and secure them by tying them together. You can also put a light bulb over your plant to raise the temperature.
Spider plants are known for being able to tolerate temperature levels of 35°F. However, if you are looking for a bushy plant you will need to keep the temperature above 50°F.
Humidity
A low-humidity environment is one of the main causes of spider plant growth reduction, especially when growing this plant indoors. Moisture is key to healthy plant growth. When a plant is lacking in moisture, its growth will slow or halt completely.
The best humidity range for spider plants is 60% and above. You can maintain this humidity level by placing a humidifier near your plant. This device uses steam to create humid air which is perfect for growing plants.
You can also increase the humidity around your spider plant by using a pebble-water tray. This method is not as effective as a humidifier but it can be used as a supplement. Simply fill a small container with water and place it on the ground near the spider plant. This will allow the plant to absorb more moisture from the air and will keep the soil moist.
If you don’t want to invest in a humidifier or a pebble tray, then you can maintain high humidity around your spider plant by misting it. Simply spray the spider plant with a fine spray of water once in a while.
Finally, if you have an aquarium in your house, then you don’t need to take any one of the actions mentioned above. Simply place the aquarium near the spider plant and let it do the work for you.
Moist yet Well Draining Soil
To grow a bushy and healthy spider plant, you should use loamy, moist yet well-draining soil. If you grow this plant in compact soil, you will stress it and cause it to wilt very quickly and produce fewer leaves.
In order to meet the soil requirements of spider plants, you should use all-purpose soil and mix it with elements that will improve drainage while maintaining good moisture levels in the soil. For example, you can add gravel, pebbles, sand, and vermiculite to the pot. You can also use sphagnum moss or a coconut shell as a pot liner in your spider plant container.
Spider plant also likes to grow in soil that has a pH level between 6.0 and 6.5. To maintain the pH level within this range, you can use coffee grounds as a mulch or as a liquid fertilizer.
Water the Plant the Right Way
Overwatering is one of the main enemies of spider plants. Watering this plant too frequently can result in stunted growth and a lack of proper air circulation which in turn causes the plant to wilt.
Generally, spider plants should be watered once a week and the soil should dry completely before watering again. But, to water this plant accurately, you should usually check the moisture level of the soil using your finger or a moister meter. in fact, this plant will have different watering requirements depending on the season, the temperature, and the humidity of the growing medium.
Finally, we highly recommend to avoid watering the spider plant using tap water. Tap water has a number of things in it, including chlorine, salt, minerals, and even bacteria that will harm the health of your plant.
The best alternatives to tap water are filtered and distilled water.
Fertilize Correctly
The spider plant is known for being able to survive and grow without fertilizers. However, if you want to make this plant look bushy and fuller than ever, you’ll need to feed it some fertilizer.
Spider plants can be fertilized with any all-purpose soluble fertilizer. You should only take into consideration that this plant goes into dormancy during winter. So, you should avoid any sort of fertilizing during this season.
The best way to fertilize spider plants is to use an organic fertilizer once per month during the growing season. If you are using a chemical fertilizer try to apply it every other month and use half strength of the recommended application rate
Repot When Needed
The spider plant is known for being able to grow healthy when it’s slightly root bound. However, when the roots start growing outside the pot, then reporting becomes mandatory. If you let the plant grow rout bounded for too long, it may start showing signs of decline.
Spider plants need to be repotted every couple of years. But, if you see many roots coming out of the soil, then you can do it sooner.
The best way to repot a spider plant is by taking it from the old pot, cleaning and loosening the roots, and then placing it into a bigger pot filled with fresh potting mix.
Do you want to learn how to deal with a Root Bound Spider Plant? Click here.
F.A.Q
How Do You Increase Spider Plant Growth?
There are a lot of things that could cause a spider plant to not grow as well as expected. In order to have a healthy and strong spider plant, you should be sure that you’re providing it with enough light, adequate water, high humidity, and all the necessary nutrients.
If you want to increase the growth of your spider plant, you should pay attention to all these things and make sure that you’re doing them right. Additionally, you should be patient because this plant can take up to six months to become fully grown.
Why Is My Spider Plant so Sparse?
The reason why your spider plant looks so sparse could be due to a number of reasons. Maybe it’s not getting enough light or water or maybe the pot is too small. Some of these problems might be difficult to notice until it’s too late, but there are some simple things you can do to help your spider plant thrive again.
Watering: Your Spider Plant needs to be watered regularly, about once a week. If you’re unsure about how often you should water your spider plant, try to check the soil before watering using your finger. If it feels dry, you can water it. If it feels moist, you probably don’t need to water it.
Sunlight: Most of your spider plant’s growth depends on the sun. If you grow this plant indoors, use the best available spot possible. The light that comes from a south-facing window is usually good enough for this plant.
Pot size: If your spider plant is in a pot that’s too small, you’ll need to repot it as soon as possible. When you repot it, make sure the pot is big enough for the new roots and leaves to grow into.
Does Milk Help Spider Plants?
Milk can be used as a natural fertilizer for spider plants which helps them grow faster and stronger. Generally, people use milk as a fertilizer because it is rich in proteins and calcium, both of which are beneficial to the development of roots and leaves. It also helps control mildew and fungi.
Additionally, milk does not harm plants or soil, and it contains vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for plants.
Click here to check our latest article about growing spider plants outdoors.
