How to Make a Spider Plant Grow Bushier

Climate and Light

• Too little light results in sparser, faded foliage. Spider plants require bright but indirect sunlight all day. A location near a sunny window but without direct sun exposure works best. Direct sun results in leaf scorch, which weakens the plant and causes foliage loss. Spider plants also produce the best, bushiest growth when grown in the proper temperature. Maintaining a daytime temperature between 65 and 75 degree Fahrenheit leads to the fullest growth. The plants can tolerate night temperatures up to 10 degrees cooler.

Water

• Spider plants tolerate some dry soil as long as the soil doesn't dry to the point that the foliage begins to wilt and weaken. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Watering too often causes root rot. Leaves begin to die or fall off, ruining the bushy appearance of the plant. Root rot can eventually kill a spider plant. Help prevent root rot by emptying the drainage tray beneath the spider plant pot after each watering so the soil doesn't reabsorb this excess water.

Fertilization

• Too much fertilizer may initially result in more foliage, but it also causes the roots to grow too quickly. Spider plants that develop large roots too fast decline as the pot becomes too small. Over-fertilization can also cause leaf burn, which results in less foliage and ruins the bushy appearance of the spider plant. Fertilize the plant lightly with a soluble fertilizer two to three times yearly when the plant is actively growing. Repot the plant into a larger pot if it begins to lift out of the soil due to rapid root growth. Refrain from fertilizing repotted plants for six months.

Pruning

• Selective pruning results in a healthier and bushier looking spider plant. Remove the leaf blades as they yellow and die back, leaving only the healthy foliage on the plant. Spider plants produce small plantlets on long stems. These stems are bare where they emerge from the plant and have a tuft of foliage on the ends. Cut the plantlets from the main plant and plant them in their own pot for a new plant. If your main spider plant isn't as full as you like, set the plantlets in the soil surrounding the main plant to create a fuller-looking pot.