My mom spiders are very big and healthy and beautiful, but the babies all get these unsightly roots. I've taken plenty of babies to restart other plants, but I'd like to leave lots on the mom too. But these roots look awful. Is this normal and is there anyway to avoid them or remove them?
Hi sherri,
Those "unsightly roots" as you call them are a necessary part of the plantlet's survival. Those roots develop as a way to continue the cycle of life once the plantlet falls off the parent plant (or gets removed or knocked off somehow). That's just the nature of the beast. Removing them is not a solution either as more roots will follow or perhaps you may even kill the plantlet. Sorry. I'm sure this is not the answer you were hoping for.
That is interesting! Mine get roots, too, just not that big. Could it be that there's more humidity there?
to Keep these plants healthy they like to be misted, even the stems and baby roots, every few years I cut the top off the stem right down to where the next baby is growing, pot up the top of the plant into fresh new indoor plant compost, water from the bottom and before you know it, this little plant will soon be as tall as mum, the original plant will flourish with the top cut off. you can cut the whole plant up to give several plants and make sure you leave leaf on the lowest plant.
The question re roots you mention have been answered by Littlebear, these are very necessary for the side shoots to survive and misting will keep them healthy.
Good luck, WeeNel.
I have never seen such large roots in years!! my baby spiders' roots weren't even half the size of those. Now though the took root and are beginning to grow.
