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Do Spider Plants Flower? Best Ways to Trick Them to Bloom

Most Spider Plants normally have inflorescence on growing stems, but the blossoms sometimes emerge on the tips of existing stems.

Generally, Spider Plants flower occasionally during spring or summer. They develop decorative small white flowers with 3-6 petals measuring 2-4″ long (without any scent) that give way to seeds for propagation and help the plant reach maturity.

Some Spider Plants get flowers early at the early stage, whereas others wait about 2-5 years to mature and bloom. 

Read on to discover when Spider Plants blossom and how to get the plants to flower.

Overview of Spider Plant Flower 

Spider Ivy or Ribbon Plant, popularly known as Spider Plant, is an evergreen flowering plant from South African tropical rainforests.

Some Spider plants develop single blossoms, whereas others assemble loose panicles.  

FactorSpecification
Scientific NameChlorophytum comosum
Flowering TimeSpring and summer
Blossom ColorWhite, and Greenish-white, or yellowish-white
Blossom PatternA bud 3-6 petals that will get 2-4” long
Flower Life Span2-3 weeks
PollinationSelf pollination (Arabica Coffee plants)

Cross pollination (Robusta Coffee plants)
FragnanceSmells like Citric blossom, pleasnt, sweet and mild
GerminationSeedling (4-5 weeks)
ToxicityNon Toxic

How Often Do Spider Plants Flower?

Some varieties will uniformly blossom when young but stop once they hit maturity, while others will only begin producing flowers once they become mature or pot-bound.

Most Spider Plant species will produce white blossoms, whereas a few species have exceptionally greenish-white or yellow-white flowers.

spider plant flower
The Spider Plant blossoms are short-lived and will only stay for a few weeks.

It is a myth that Spider Plant flowers and turn them into babies. Rather, they produce blossoms that consist of tiny white flowers, along with Spider Plant Babies.

Babies, also known as pups or siderites, are offsets at the end of leaves and resemble the Spider Plant.

People also rumor that Spider Plant dies with the flowers blooming.

When do Spider Plants Flower? 

The plant has four life stages (Baby, Young, Maturity, and Old Age), where flowering mainly occurs in the second and third stages.

1. Baby Plant

The baby plant marks the initial stage of the Spider Plant, including germination or propagation.

As the plant is in an early stage, it will be too delicate to produce bushier leaves and flowers.

A baby Spider Plant would take 5-6 months to become a young plant.

2. Young Plant

Young or grown-up Spider Plant is known for producing signature snake-like leaves.

The young plant will give out flowering buds and later blossoms when the conditions are right.

You would know it when the plant begins to form relatively larger leaves with a broader shape.

However, you would have to wait to witness flowering if the maturity is reached by winter, and the plant will usually grow flowers in the next blooming season.

Interestingly, some Spider Plants send flowers as young plants, whereas others bloom after maturity. 

3. Mature Plant

The mature plant, also known as the reproductive stage, will significantly grow in size and give out new offshoots or baby plants.

It is when the flower buds will develop to give birth to new pups. The young flower buds appear at the end of the aerial runner or leaves.

The buds will turn into white blossoms with multiple petals within a few weeks. A few species will give out greenish-white or yellowish petals instead of white.

The maturity stage is the longest in the life of the Spider Plant, where it will keep growing new stems and pups almost every year.

Besides, the drop in new stems and flower production marks the end of the Spider Plant’s life.

How to Get Spider Plants to Flower? 

If you notice your Spider Plant failing to blossom and produce plantlets, nature and the growing environment should be blamed.

However, here are some proven tips to ensure healthy blossoms.

1. Root-bound Condition

Most Spider Plants prefer slightly root-bound conditions to bloom, which may surprise many gardeners.

When it gets root bound, it signals the plant to redirect its energy towards flowering and plantlets as it has limited space to expand.

However, this does not apply to all Spider Plants necessarily. 

2. Regular and Controlled Fertilizing

Provide only a low-dose fertilizer like 4-4-4 or 2-2-2 or a fertilizer focusing on Phosphorus to boost flower production.

Ensure to dilute the solution to half-strength by mixing it with water (diluted by mixing 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water) every month in spring and summer.

However, these plants do not need excessive fertilization to thrive.

Too much plant food will increase bushy green leaves, but flowers and plantlets will dwindle, which can be contradictory.

Moreover, excessive fertilization can increase the soil’s salt buildup risk.

3. Adequate Indirect Sunlight

A pan-tropical plant thrives in dappled sunlight, where harsh sunlight can burn the leaves.

Keep them in bright, indirect sunlight and turn them occasionally to ensure all sides get equal light. Otherwise, resort to LED grow light in places with low sunlight.

However, another crucial factor is the optimal amount of darkness to get flowers.

As a photoperiodic and long-night plant, it prefers a longer duration of darkness than light to get blossoms. Provide anywhere about 12 hours of darkness to your plant.

4. Loamy and Moist Soil

Spider Plants thrive in loamy and moist soil with a pH balance of around 6.1-6.5.

Although the plant survives in a wide range of potting mediums, the likelihood of flowering will increase when the soil is loamy, moist, and well-draining.

Similarly, water the plant every week or when the top two inches of soil dry out to keep it evenly moist.

Choose a good premade potting mix, such as Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting mix.

Otherwise, consider preparing the mix at home by mixing one part of peat moss or coco coir with the same part of perlite and four parts of pine bark.

5. Provide Optimum Temperature and Humidity

Spider Plant does well in warm temperatures and moderates to high humidity.

Provide temperatures between 70-90°F (21-32°C) and 40-80% humidity in the blooming season.

Similarly, ensure the temperature does not drop below 55°F (12°C) at night.

A too-high or low temperature will affect the flowering, whereas low humidity will affect the plant’s health.

One way to ensure the optimal temperature is to find a brightly lit location around the house.

Consider installing a room humidifier for optimal humid conditions.

Should You Cut Spider Plant Flowers?

Spider Plant flower does not require pruning until you grow them for different purposes.

However, you can trim the flowers in summer to redirect the energy towards larger and healthier leaves.

As flowers begin shedding their petals to form seed heads, all the energy is focused on developing the seeds but flowers.

Interestingly, the seeds of Spider plants look like tiny and cordate green balls and turn black at maturity.

For propagation purposes, you should keep the flower to obtain seeds. Otherwise, it is good to bid farewell to flowers.

You can remove the flowers and use the siderites instead for propagation.

Remove flowers and buds using your finger or pruning shear when pruning blossoms.

Also, remove old and spent leaves and browning foliage to keep your plant looking healthy.

Spider Plant Flower Meaning 

Spider Plant has several positive meanings, such as luck, renewal, fertility, and protection.

Its long, grass-like leaves symbolize the concept of growth, and its many small white flowers are said to represent hope.

Additionally, the spider plant is often associated with renewal and fertility due to its ability to reproduce and fill a space with lush foliage quickly.

Spider plant with flower
Spider plants are also thought to bring good luck into a home and protect it from harm.

All these meanings make the spider plant popular for those looking to bring positivity into their home.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spider Plant

Should I Keep Spider Plant in an Airy Place?

Indeed, the Spider Plant does not do well in crowded or vacuumed spaces. To keep the plant pest-free, always keep it in a well-ventilated space with bright indirect sunlight.

Does Baby Spider Plant Require Frequent Watering?

Although regular watering is crucial to obtaining healthy blossoms and foliage, excess plant watering in the early stage may push back the growth.

The baby Spider Plant does not tolerate excess water and moisture, which may lead to root rot and browning foliage.

From Editorial Team

Decorate your Home with Spider Plants

Locate Spider Plants as borders to walkways or as ground covers in the garden.

You can also grow it with companion plants, including ZZ plants, ferns, and Dracaenas.

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