Plant care guide
Leggy Spider Plant: Trim Runners, Fix Light, Divide
Updated
Why is my Spider plant getting leggy?
A leggy spider plant usually has one of three things going on: long runners and heavy plantlets pulling the plant out of shape, pale, floppy leaves from too little light, or a crowded, worn-out clump. Each needs a different fix: trimming, more light, or dividing and repotting.
What to do first
Move the plant into bright, indirect light, out of midday sun. Cut off old runners and heavy plantlets at the base, remove dead leaves, and divide or repot a crowded clump. A badly worn plant can be cut back to 5–8 cm (2–3 in) and will regrow from the centre.
A spider plant that has gone leggy is rarely in trouble. It is usually doing exactly what it does best, making runners and plantlets, or it is making do with too little light. Both are easy to fix.
Spider plants do not have a woody stem to prune back like a pothos vine. The leaves rise from a central crown. So the fix is about light, runners and the clump, not cutting above a node.
Which Kind of Leggy Is It?
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Long wiry runners trailing everywhere, heavy plantlets at the ends | Normal runner production | Trim runners, pot up plantlets |
| Leaves pale, thin, floppy, leaning toward the window; stripes fading | Too little light | Brighter spot |
| Lots of soft, fast growth after regular feeding | Too much fertilizer | Feed less |
| Roots pushing up or out of the pot, plant drying out fast | Crowded clump | Divide or repot |
| Many bent, split or browning leaves | Worn, neglected plant | Cut back and regrow |
University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension’s spider plant article says the wiry runners reach up to 60 cm (2 ft). Plantlets form at the ends after flowering.
Fix the Light First
NC State Extension’s Chlorophytum comosum profile says spider plant prefers medium light and can tolerate deep shade. Tolerating shade is not the same as growing compactly.
The RHS spider plant growing guide says growth slows in low light and leaves may lose their variegation. It also links yellowing leaves mainly to a lack of light. Iowa State University Extension calls low light the typical cause of spindly, stretched growth (Iowa State: environmental problems).
- Move the plant to bright, indirect light. Clemson Extension’s spider plant factsheet says it tolerates some direct light but midday sun may scorch it.
- Do not jump straight into hot sun. NC State calls spider plant intolerant of direct sunlight, and the RHS warns too much sun yellows or browns the leaves. See our spider plant sunburn guide if that has already happened.
- Old floppy leaves will not stiffen up. Iowa State notes new growth looks better once light improves, while the old growth stays spindly.
Trim Runners and Plantlets
The RHS says plantlets become gnarly-rooted and heavy over time. At that point, trim them off if you are not potting them up. The plant will soon make new flowering stems.
- Follow each runner back to the crown.
- Cut it at its base with clean scissors.
- Keep any plantlets you want to grow on. Our spider plant propagation guide covers rooting them.
- Remove browned or dead leaves at the base. The RHS suggests pulling them out firmly or snipping them off.
Cut Back a Worn-Out Plant
For a plant with lots of bent, split and browning leaves, the RHS describes a full renovation. Cut all the foliage down to 5–8 cm (2–3 in). A new flush of growth emerges from the centre to replace it, as long as the plant is cared for well.
Do this only when the roots are healthy and the plant is in good light. A plant cut back in a dim corner will regrow just as weakly.
Divide or Repot a Crowded Clump
UW–Madison says spider plants grow and produce plantlets best when slightly pot-bound, but they grow quickly and need frequent repotting. The RHS suggests repotting every year or two into a slightly larger pot.
To divide, the RHS advises pulling the fleshy roots apart, or slicing through the clump with a knife. Pot each healthy piece with at least one growing point.
Feed Less
Iowa State says too much fertilizer promotes excessive, spindly growth. UW–Madison suggests feeding every 3 to 4 months, or more often at half strength. It notes heavily fed plants form fewer plantlets and excess fertilizer can brown leaf tips. The RHS says plants repotted regularly in fresh compost generally do not need feeding.
For general care, see the spider plant care guide and our houseplant pruning guide. Brown tips are covered in spider plant brown tips.
References
- RHS: How to grow spider plants
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Chlorophytum comosum
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension: Spider Plant, Chlorophytum comosum
- Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC: Spider Plant
- Iowa State University Extension: Diagnosing Houseplant Problems, Improper Environmental Conditions
How this guide was put together: RHS, NC State Extension, University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension, Clemson Cooperative Extension and Iowa State University Extension guidance.