My spider plant was the first houseplant I ever owned. For years, I dutifully snipped off those baby plants and propagated them, building a small army of spider plants around my home. But when I finally stopped cutting them away and let the spiderettes cascade instead, everything changed. What had been a simple houseplant became a lush, trailing feature that always gets my guests talking.
If you’re familiar with caring for a spider plant, you’ll know those spiderettes grow on long stems from the centre of the plant. Most of us instinctively remove them to make new plants, but letting them mature – and elevating the pot so they can hang freely – transforms the whole look. You end up with clusters of baby plants suspended in mid-air, creating a ready-made hanging display.
If your plant isn’t producing offshoots yet, don’t worry. There are a few simple ways I encourage mine to grow quickly. Here’s exactly how I turn a basic spider plant into a cascading showpiece – and how you can do the same.
3 tips to grow a hanging spider plant
Before you try my tips for creating a hanging spider plant, it’s worth knowing that not all types of spider plant produce spiderettes frequently.
But the most popular type – the classic spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – loves to grow baby plants when conditions are right, making it perfect for elevating into a cascading display.
Here’s exactly what I did to transform mine into a hanging houseplant.
1. Provide Lots of Bright Light
To really encourage your spider plant to produce spiderettes, it needs plenty of bright, indirect light – more than most people assume it does.
While spider plants are famously tolerant of lower-light spots, my own experiments showed a big difference: the plant on my bright windowsill threw up multiple stems of baby plants much faster than the one tucked away on a bookshelf.
Bright light also brought out small white flowers in spring, which then developed into even more offshoots – a lovely bonus amid the variegated foliage.
That said, you don’t want harsh, direct sun. Afternoon rays in a south‑facing window can scorch the leaves, leaving them brown or yellow at the tips. ‘You may want to avoid full sun,’ warns Raffaele Di Lallo, indoor growing expert at Ohio Tropics – too much intense light can harm rather than help your plant.
If your natural light is limited or you’re aiming for spiderettes all year round, consider adding a grow light, just like this adjustable height model from Amazon, to boost brightness without burning delicate foliage.
2. Maintain Consistent Watering and Moisture
When your spider plant is busy producing spiderettes, treat each baby plant as a growing plant in its own right by giving it consistent moisture – and that can make all the difference when you’re aiming for a lush hanging display.
Spider plants thrive with even, lightly damp soil; letting the compost dry out completely can slow growth and even make the tips crisp up.
For confidence in your watering, I use a soil moisture meter so I always know when the pot actually needs a drink. Maintaining consistent moisture in the root zone – without waterlogging – has been key to helping my hanging spider plant produce abundant clusters of offshoots.
In warmer weather – especially in bright spots or near radiators – your plant may need watering more often, and a soil moisture, such as this one from Amazon helps you avoid both under‑ and over‑watering. ‘In hot weather, this could even mean watering daily,’ Raffaele notes, because soil can dry much faster than you expect.
A digital moisture meter, such as this best seller from Amazon, is a little more of an investment, but is more reliable and can detect humidity, too.
This beautiful hanging planter has a self-watering saucer to help maintain consistent water levels for your spider plant.
Use this hanging plant shelf to elevate your spider plant. It comes with a hook to easily install in your home.
Hung with sturdy cotton ropes, this jute hanging planter is the perfect size for small plants like a spider plant.
3. Avoid Over-Fertilizing
Although spider plant fertilizer (which you can find from Amazon) can support growth, spider plants are one of those hardy houseplants you don't need to fertilize often.
In fact, I can’t recall ever giving mine any fertilizer, and they still produce clusters of spiderettes that are perfect for creating a hanging display.
That said, an occasional nutrient boost in spring or summer – when your plant is actively growing – can help support lush foliage and vigorous offshoots. Just be careful: too much fertilizer can burn the roots, which not only harms the mother plant but can also slow or stop the production of spiderettes.
To avoid this, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and start with a diluted, gentle feed. For peace of mind, I like to use products that are specifically formulated for houseplants or even organic options. This Back to the Roots organic fertilizer from Amazon is ideal for houseplants.
Using a light hand ensures your spider plant thrives, and your hanging display stays abundant with healthy, cascading spiderettes.
I keep my hanging spider plant in a bright window where its spiderettes elegantly cascade. By simply providing sufficient light and water, I'm able to keep my hanging spider plant looking healthy.
And once it becomes overcrowded with spiderettes, I just use essential pruning tools to snip some off and propagate them to start the process again - something you might also consider doing once you discover the benefits of spider plants. You can even make your spider plant bushier with this method.
