spider plant rooting

your probally right withad. when I created this thread I had a "baby" that I found on the floor of a flower shop. I was maby 2 inches, I took it home an put it in h20 thinking it would root. It was so small there where no roots started somone must of picked it off the plant. Sence then I came accroust 30 much larger healther ones at my aunts house. They are all in h20 and miracle gro now waiting untill pay day when I can get some more pots and soil.



Should I put more than 1 baby in a pot? I have soo many to find homes for.

I do, depending on the pot size sometimes I put 3-4 in a pot. I don't think I have ever put more than 4 in the same pot. That way they fill out pretty nicely and you tend to get plantlets all the way around the pot once they start sending out new shoots.

I don't get upset unless the conversation turns personal. My position is, and has been, that you can do whatever you want when it comes to propagating plants, but rooting in soil is superior to rooting in water. If someone doesn't agree and wishes to make the point that rooting in water is better, then please provide science, not anecdote. If you cannot refute that statement, you should simply capitulate & allow that there is a better way in spite of your choices. The easy way is not always the best way.

Sorry for cluttering up your thread, Catz. Yes, DG is supposed to be fun, but there are some of us who actually feel obligated to provide accurate information that is rooted in sound science. On threads I participate in, it's very difficult to pass by offerings rife with the luxury of opinion without the inconvenience of thought. My take on things like this is: If misinformation doesn't have the potential to harm or reduce the satisfaction readers get from the growing experience I just ignore it. If it does have the potential to detract from the growing experience, then it's worth discussing.

Even though you may not have a high % of problems rooting this plant in water, it's still not the best way (which is all I ever said) and other plants can be VERY problematic in water as the rooting medium. What I offered was taking advantage of the opening in your thread to provide valuable information for not just you, but for everyone who reads your thread. My hope was that readers would read what I said and not only consider it for spiderplant applications, but would consider it when they decide how to propagate other genera and species as well, where the information would be even more valuable. If you read 100 of my thousands of posts at Dave's, you'll soon see that I'm all about helping people & offering information that comes from a combination of years of study and practical experience.

Sometimes, and in general, in imparting information, some participants feel that their toes are stepped on and get defensive, which is what happened on your thread. It's too bad that some are unable to see that my offering was never intended to try to force anyone to conform or change to "my way". It's not a small mind that says "I know this way is better, but this way is easier, so I'll take my chances, it's only a plant", but it's another story when obfuscation is the order of the day and it prevents others from at least taking in the information they need to make informed decisions. "I'll do it my way because I'm familiar with it and won't even consider allowing there's a better way", and then, because an ego was bruised, a rant against someone trying to point out the better way isn't conducive to the sharing of knowledge, OR information.

Best of luck.


Al

well, i am a beginner and I was only taught how to root spider plants in water

BTW dp72 in no way did I imply you were a male or that anyone else was. When I talk to a group of girls I will call them "you guys" so don't worry about it. But thanks for saying that by thinking that anyone can root a plant however they like to, based on what they believe is correct for them and what works for them I'm promoting ignorance. Hmmmm...it's all in how you look at things isn't it. Well at least it sounds like you guys aren't all worked up (now remember what I said above). Neither am I.

iluvcatz, have you decided how to root you baby yet? :)

You can put as many spider plants as you want in a pot Iluvcatz. I normally only put one in, but that is how I like them. Also I have some which grow huge and take over, so one in a pot of them is ideal. Put in however many you like in a pot, provided that you don't over crowd it.

well, they are in water untill I can get to the store to buy some more soil and pots. I have collected almost 30 babys so I am only going to save the healthy ones. I think I am going to donate some to the nursing homes and I might bring a few to my cousens consinment shop.


I am also trying to start a catnip plant to bring to the animal shelter. When I volenteered there I always gave catnip and treats to the the cats before I started cleaning the cages.

dipsydoodle, do you have a pic of one of your single potted spiders? Since mine is a lone ranger (a very tiny one) I'm curious what it would look like alone as a bigger plant. It looks awful cute right now but it's only a few inches tall. :)

iluvcatz that's really nice or you to donate to the nursing home & animal shelter. I'll bet the cats at the shelter loved you!

yea, I wish I could bring them all home

I don't icanfindroom. I'll try and get some, I have one at home but it's only small and I have 3 larger ones at work but I can't take photo's of them when the office is full. I'll try and remember to take them tomorrow before everyone gets in.

Very cool dipsydoodle! :)

iluvcatz, not sure how you do it. Working at an animal shelter would be very very dangerous for me. I had to go to one quite a bit looking for my friends dog when it disappeared and it was really hard. After the first trip in I went to my car and cried. I couldn't believe how bad some of the animals in there looked. Some people are incredibly cruel. Did better after that trip.

On topic, I know NOTHING about plants and the only ones I own are Spider Plants. I'm a complete novice and my advice is entirely anectdotal... hopefully everyone can handle it.

I have rooted all of my spider plants in soil since I read on most sites that it caused the roots to adapt better than if they were rooted in water. I left the first two large pups attached to the mother for one week and pinned them to the soil with unfolded paper clips. The next five I left attached for three weeks. As long as they start generating their own shoots they should be fine to cut free, but even that isn't probably necessary as they have, as tapla mentioned, enough root to survive on their own.

My mom propagates her pups in water and cuts them free right away. She traded me one of hers for one of mine (since we have different varieties). The pup she gave me is thriving. Not sure how long it took to develop roots.

Bottom line... one may be better than the other, but either method will likely work since spider plants are quite resilient. Should take a couple weeks to take root. You'll know if it worked when you see new shoots but you can always leave them attached to be sure they survive.

tapla... here's a hint: arguing on the Internet is like herding cats. Your point gets swallowed alive by the sheer length of your posts and you come across as arrogant when you spend time formulating these arguments over something so mundane. People got defensive because YOU got defensive over your "theory." This person did not literally mean your science was "theory" but you obviously couldn't let it or any subsequent argument go without more droning on proper argument structure or form, along with bludgeoning anecdote with your cudgel of science. Nobody I recall even argued for water over soil, but good for you and your science... you win. Point proven and I hope it was worth the time investment.

What a ridiculous thing to argue about at such length. I came here to learn more about my plants and this thread frustrated me enough to feel compelled to post. Not even sure why I'm bothering... guess I have my own cats to herd.

I finally got the spiters in soil about a week ago. There was a slight problem tho, The roots were mushy and smelles horrable!!! I am not sure if they will survive. I will deffently try rooting spiters in soil next time around

The issue was pretty much dead, and I'd moved on. Unlike you, sir/madam, I don't come here to hold the hands of people who insist on the luxury of opinion w/o the inconvenience of thought. If you review my thousands of posts here or at another popular gardening website, you'll find them full of lengthy conversations that are intended to enlighten and that are received as such. You'll also find thousands of thank yous, many profuse. Perhaps you can set your modesty aside and point to your own trail of enlightenment and your contributions to the gardening community?

Sure, I run into the occasional person who thinks "It works for me" is a scientific argument and gets their ego bruised when it's pointed out that it's not, or the person on the sidelines who has nothing to contribute, but loves to throw stones and demand their pound of flesh. I do, however, feel it's better that I point to logical fallacies or flawed arguments and identify misinformation than to start hurling around insults like 'arrogant' in my dealings with people like that.

Perhaps, since you're an admitted novice, you're incapable of realizing that the conversation is applicable to a broad variety (almost all) plants, and the idea that rooting in water is somehow better because it seems easier is folly. This isn't about arguing with someone who doesn't know what they're talking about, it's about making sure others have at least what they need to look beyond an inferior method and make up their own minds.

A synopsis of what I've said from the beginning: There is more than one way, but rooting in soil is better, and here is why .....

Too bad some have trouble with that, but until you or they come up with something convincing to the contrary ...... That you do or don't like how the presentation ended up has nothing to do with the facts. The favor of a tip returned: Try staying on topic and arguing the facts instead of allowing your emotions to run roughshod over reason.

Al

The 'arguing' inspired me to perform my own experiment. About two weeks ago, I got some cuttings from my neighbor's coleus, stuck a nice 8" twig (with seven big leaves and a couple of baby leaves in the crotches on it) three inches deep and four single leaves into some MG potting mix, and two single leaves in one of my old brown vanilla extract bottles with water and MG plant food.

The twig in the dirt drooped and sagged for about a week, possibly because the leaves were kinda big - so I pinched four of the big lower leaves off, and left the baby ones that had already started. I kept an eye on it, watered it , misted it occasionally, and kept it out of direct sunlight.

Now, after about two weeks, the twig in the dirt seems perfectly perky and the baby leaves have getting bigger. Two of the single leaves stuck in the dirt are goners. The leaves in the water? One has roots about 1/8", the other has none, and seems pretty rotten.

I suppose I should have had a decent sized twig in water to have a complete experiment, but I didn't. Oh well. I think I was more interested in seeing for myself if a cutting would take in the dirt, and it did.

So, judging by the single leaves (since I did both techniques with the single leaves) I had a fifty percent success rate for both. But, I still have to plant the water-grown roots in some dirt - to see if it will continue to survive. Maybe it won't.

I don't think I've proven anything, though.

Just thought I'd share my anecdote...

Thw whole point of the argument was two people said rooting in soil is better; I then posted and said I AGREE but I have done it this way (I never said it was better, I never said anything) I volunteeered it because it's always useful to know the different options available.

I also think each plant is different.

I rooted my first succulent in soil within the last month, my attempts before all resulted in death (as did water). I rooted a really easy plant in soil - it's doing well. I have another plant (I don't know what it is, it's a cutting and the owner doesn't know what it is). The cutting will NOT take to soil for love nor money, it's currently got roots in water - I've put it in soil; whether it stays alive now is another matter.

The whole argument issue should have been a simple "dipsydoodle whilst you root it in water, I root in soil and it is scientifically proven that soil is better" END OF!...rather than calling me cheap and unexperienced. I don't see the harm in having people put their different inputs, it's always good to know different options in case one doesn't work.

Wow, all this for rooting a spider plant? :^) Can you imagine what a thread on politics would have brought! Dipsydoodle, your last entry summed it up well - "End of" - period. Funny thread for sure. Be blessed in your rooting endeavors! Cynthia

C'mon, Dipsy - that's not what you said, and you're twisting words (again) and using the wounded bird routine (as you have from the outset) for all it's worth. The argument started when you referred to proven science as theory and offered anecdote as the only support for your argument. If you wish to lay the blame at some one's feet, take a closer look at my original post and then your reply. If we want to offer opinions on what shoulda/coulda/woulda, perhaps you shoulda refrained from the inflammatory direct quote and then labeling what I said as theory, then offering anecdote as your only argument. You're the one who dropped the gauntlet & now your acting as if it wasn't your own fault.

Why not have the last word and then move on instead of reviving a dead horse to beat it further?

Al

I'm locking this thread to further replies. This sort of dispute should be handled privately, so if the individuals involved have anything more to say, or any questions, they should contact the DG admin team, or settle it amicably.