Discover How to Make a Spider Plant Bushier and enjoy a lush foliage display with these expert tricks!
If you want to achieve that thick, bushy appearance and wondering ‘How to Make Spider Plant Bushier’, following a usual care routine is not sufficient. You need to adopt these expert tricks that will give your leggy houseplant a fuller look!
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8 Expert Tips to Grow Big and Bushier Spider Plants
1. Pick the Right Pot Size
Selecting the right pot size is probably the easiest yet most effective trick that works when it comes to making your spider plant busier. Select a pot that’s just slightly larger than the current root ball. Remember—one or two inches bigger, not more than that. Ensure it has drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
How It Works: A pot that’s not excessively larger than the root ball promotes controlled root expansion. This encourages the plant to allocate energy towards foliage growth, resulting in a bushier appearance.
2. Promote Foliar Density with Selective Leaf Cutting
Selective leaf cutting is a precise pruning technique aimed at making your Spider Plant bushier. Carefully identify older, larger leaves located close to the base of the plant and remove them with sterilized shears.
How it Works: When you eliminate older leaves, you’re essentially directing the plant’s energy toward generating new leaves. This energy redirection leads to a more youthful, rejuvenated plant more prone to bushy growth.
3. Replant Offsets with the Parent Plant
One of the most effective ways to make your Spider Plant look denser is by using its own offsets. Detach the offsets at the end of the long shoots and replant them in the same container together with the mother plant. You can also plant 2-3 spider plants together in one pot.
4. Encourage Growth with Controlled Light Exposure
Surprisingly, a controlled amount of stress can make your Spider Plant grow bushier. Place the plant in an area with direct sunlight for a few hours every day for about 2-3 weeks. Then, move it back to its usual spot with indirect light.
5. Follow Advanced Fertilization through Foliar Feeding
Foliar feeding is a targeted fertilization technique where a water-soluble fertilizer is sprayed directly onto the leaves. Dilute a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer with a 20-20-20 NPK ratio to a weaker strength than you do while fertilizing the soil. Do this every 10-14 days during the growing season.
How it Works: Unlike conventional fertilization methods that deliver nutrients through the soil, foliar feeding makes nutrients immediately available to the leaves. This rapid absorption encourages the leaves to grow denser, contributing to a bushier plant.
6. Speed Up Growth with Special Hormones
If you want to get into the specifics of plant growth, cytokinin-based hormones can be an effective tool. Purchase a cytokinin-based growth hormone such as benzyladenine (BA or BAP) or thidiazuron (TDZ) and apply it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Do remember that these are chemical compounds, so you have to use them with caution.
How it Works: These hormones promote cell division and growth, helping your Spider Plant Grow Bushier and more lush in a typical indoor environment. They work at the cellular level, enhancing the natural biochemical processes that stimulate denser foliage growth.
7. Give a Boost with Epsom Salt
Epsom salt can be a super remedy when it comes to boosting the business of your spider plant. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt in a gallon of water and use this solution to water the plant once a month during the growing season.
How It Works: Epsom salt, rich in magnesium and sulfur, supports overall plant health. Magnesium aids in chlorophyll production, leading to vibrant green leaves. Sulfur assists in the formation of essential amino acids, contributing to lush foliage growth.
8. Promote Foliage Growth through Root Pruning
Root pruning is an often-overlooked practice that can have a transformative effect on your Spider Plant’s bushiness. Remove the plant from its pot and closely inspect the root ball. If you see any long, circled, or tangled roots, trim them back using sterilized scissors. Then, repot the plant in fresh, well-draining soil.
How it Works: When overgrown roots are trimmed, it signals the plant to focus more on top growth. The reduction in root mass triggers the plant to compensate above ground, leading to denser, more vigorous leaf growth. Plus, this controlled root growth absorbs nutrients and water more efficiently, supporting fuller, bushier foliage.
