What to do with your spider plant in March: 6 expert tips for healthy growth

Spider plants are one of my favorite houseplants, and aside from admiring their spiky leaves, they are easy to care for and among the best air-purifying plants. In fact, in NASA tests, the spider plant comes out on top, removing 95% of toxins, including mold spores. That’s even above the much-loved peace lily, which is another mini air purifier.

Beyond its air-cleansing power, the spider plant is also a highly resilient and rewarding houseplant that transitions from winter dormancy to active growth in March.

With the growth season starting, along with longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures, the plants will begin to produce new leaves. And that’s why March is the ideal time to support their growth by giving them a health check.

Here, Bryan Wu at Tropical, shares his six top tips on how to care for a spider plant in March.

1. Water your plant more often

“Simply adding water to your spider plant thoroughly once a week with well-draining soil will keep them happy and thriving all season long,” says Wu.

However, be careful not to overwater your plant, as it can cause the roots to become waterlogged. To help you know when it’s ready for a drink, Wu advises only giving it a water when the top two inches of soil feel dry.

2. Give it a feed

Spider plants don’t need a constant stream of fertilizer to give them a boost. “Fertilizer is only needed occasionally for these plants, as adding too much will result in brown leaf tips,” says Wu.

“Grab your favorite all-purpose, water-soluble or granular fertilizer and add it to the soil of these plants to keep them healthy,” says Wu.

However, spider plants don’t like to be overfed, so keep to fertilizing your plant once a month, and avoid adding too much feed.

3. Dust the leaves

While you are spring cleaning your home, you can dust your houseplants at the same time. This simple task will optimize photosynthesis, which supports the plant’s growth

Wu explains, “Your plant may appear healthy, but you must dust its leaves to keep its energy directed to new healthy growth.”

He suggests rinsing the leaves with water that’s been standing for 24 hours — this allows the chemicals in the water to evaporate. And he adds, “Make sure to clean both the top and bottom of the leaves, as it will also help deter pests like spider mites.”

And while you’re cleaning the leaves on your spider plant, Wu suggests removing any brown leaves with a sharp pair of pruning shears.

4. Check the roots

“Healthy roots mean a healthy and happy plant,” says Wu. And don’t worry if the roots look swollen, that’s how they are supposed to look, as spider plants form tuberous white roots that store nutrients and water.

You can also check if the plant is pot-bound, although spider plants grow best when their roots are slightly restricted, as this helps to send out the pups or baby spiders.

5. Repot if needed

The best time to repot a spider plant is in early spring, before the growing season, so you may just have time. Wu advises against repotting spider plants in winter.

How can you tell when your plant needs repotting? "Repotting spider plants is only necessary when the roots have become very visible, and the plant is pushing itself up out of the pot,” explains Wu.

If your plant isn’t thriving, it might be time to move it to a larger pot. Just ensure the pot has good drainage holes so the plant isn’t sitting in soggy soil.

Wu also explains that spider plants prefer shallow or wide pots over deep or tall pots, as their root growth system benefits from them. “They provide more horizontal space for the roots to expand, besides improving oxygen availability, reducing waterlogging, and helping warm up the soil, which will dry faster,” he says.

6. Perfectly position your plant

“Spider plants are happy growing indoors as long as they receive medium to bright light throughout the year,” explains Wu.

For this reason, he suggests placing your plant near a wide window or on a kitchen windowsill.

However, keep them away from dry atmospheres as they prefer moisture. “Make sure to add some humidity with cool to average temperatures to keep them shining and growing during the whole season,” he advises.

While it's best to keep them away from heat sources, spider plants thrive in bathrooms.

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