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Trimming spider leaves #894286

Asked March 13, 2025, 8:35 AM EDT

My spiders are dragging onto the tabletops. Would trimming them 2-3 inches hurt them or would it promote growth? Thank you, Jim

Olmsted County Minnesota

Expert Response

You can prune the runners in any way and as often as you wish.

For a tidy look, remove them at their base where they grow from the mother plant.  Or simply shorten the runners to get them off the table.  

If the plants are healthy, new runners will emerge, especially when the plants are exposed to long nights and short days.

Use trimmed spiderlings to increase your plant collection if you wish.

Learn more here:

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/spider-plant-chlorophytum-comosum/ 
An Ask Extension Expert Replied March 13, 2025, 11:59 AM EDT
After a second look, I see you are asking about the plants' leaves, not the runners.

In any case it's ok to cut the leaves back a bit.  This might or might not affect the plants' appearance depending upon their growth habit. 
An Ask Extension Expert Replied March 14, 2025, 10:45 AM EDT

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