Spider plants are among the most popular house plants, partly for the fact that they are renowned for being easy to look after. These stripy green friends seem to grow and reproduce at the speed of light and even flourish with the most minimal care. However, they still deserve a little care and attention.
One of the clearest signs your spider plant needs some TLC is when the tips of the leaves start turning crispy and brown. There are several causes of spider plant brown tips, and your plant could be suffering from one or several of these. The good news is that all of them are relatively easy to solve with some simple spider plant care.
Once you have identified what might be causing your spider plants’ brown tips, use the advice below and they will be looking lively and fresh again in no time!
Spider plants are one of the most popular houseplants, thanks to their easy care, fun trailing leaves, and ability to produce babies that can be propagated. But even low maintenance spider plants can encounter problems. If your spider plant starts looking a little under the weather, don’t give up on it just yet! With some troubleshooting and TLC you can get your spider plant thriving once again.
Signs Your Spider Plant is Struggling
The first step in saving a dying spider plant is identifying the signs of trouble. Here are some common indicators your spider plant needs a little help:
- Wilting or drooping leaves
- Brown tips or spots on leaves
- Yellowing or withered foliage
- Mushy or blackened roots
- Slow growth
- Leaf drop
These issues signal your spider plant is stressed. The causes typically trace back to improper care. Armed with the right knowledge, you can diagnose the problem and get your plant back to good health.
Common Spider Plant Problems and Solutions
Spider plants are prone to a few key problems Here are some common spider plant pitfalls and how to fix them
Overwatering
Too much moisture is deadly for spider plants. It leads to root rot and a host of other issues. Check for soggy soil, yellowing leaves, foul odors, and black mushy roots. Repot in fresh, well-draining soil and hold back on watering until the top inch of soil dries out between waterings.
Underwatering
On the flip side, not enough water causes wilting, drooping, and crispy brown leaves. Check the soil moisture before watering. Spider plants like evenly moist soil, not bone dry. Water thoroughly when the top inch is dry.
Inadequate Lighting
Spider plants need bright, filtered light. Too much sun scorches the leaves, but too little light causes leggy growth and faded color. If your plant looks stretched out or poorly colored, move it to a brighter spot out of direct sun. An east or west-facing window is ideal.
Fluoride Toxicity
Those unsightly brown tips? Fluoride and chlorine in tap water are likely the culprits. Use distilled or filtered water for hydrating your spider plant. And consider misting occasionally to boost humidity, which spider plants appreciate.
Potbound Roots
If your spider plant seems stunted or roots are poking from the drainage holes, it’s potbound. Repot in a container one to two sizes larger with fresh potting mix. This gives the roots room to spread out and the plant can resume healthy growth.
Pests
Spider mites, mealybugs, and other creepy crawlers can infest spider plants. Isolate affected plants and treat with neem oil, insecticidal soap, or other organic pest control methods. Pay close attention to the undersides of leaves and crevices around the stems where pests like to hide.
Caring for a Recovering Spider Plant
Once you’ve diagnosed and addressed the issue, a few extra care measures can help nurse your spider plant back to health:
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Prune off any dead or dying leaves and stems with clean, sharp scissors. This tidies up the plant’s appearance and prevents disease.
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Consider repotting the spider plant even if it doesn’t seem potbound. Fresh, well-draining soil revitalizes roots.
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Move the spider plant to a bright, warm spot. The bathroom or kitchen are great options for extra humidity too.
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Hold off on fertilizing until your plant regains its strength. Too much fertility stresses weak plants.
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Scale back on watering and pour water directly into the soil, not on the leaves or crown.
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Monitor your plant closely for signs of improvement. Adjust care as needed.
With time and TLC, most spider plants can make a full recovery. Just be patient and focus on providing optimal care.
Preventing Spider Plant Problems in the Future
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to plant health. Here are some tips for keeping your spider plants thriving:
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Water only when the top inch of soil is dry. Spider plants are prone to root rot if overwatered.
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Use distilled or filtered water instead of tap. Fluoride and chlorine harm spider plants.
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Situate in bright, indirect light. A north or east-facing window is perfect. Rotate periodically for even growth.
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Repot when roots fill the container. Potbound roots lead to stunted plants.
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Prune off any dead or dying leaves to prevent disease spread.
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Check frequently for pests like spider mites. Isolate and treat infested plants immediately.
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Maintain moderate humidity around 50-60%. Spider plants enjoy a humid environment.
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Avoid direct sun exposure which can scorch the leaves. Filtered light is best.
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Use well-draining potting mix and containers with drainage holes. Wet feet spell trouble.
With proper preventive care, your spider plants will continue thriving for years to come, providing their signature graceful greenery to your indoor garden!
Too much or too little water
Both underwatering or overwatering your spider plant can cause a spider plant to develop brown tips.
If you allow the soil to dry out entirely between watering you are not giving your spider plant enough water. Although you may be watering your spider plant regularly, if it is in a very warm or dry environment such as above a radiator, the soil will quickly dry out and need regular watering.
If your spider plant’s leaves look limp, this is an indication that you are not watering enough. Letting this happen repeatedly can cause spider plant brown tips.
On the other hand, if your plants are left to sit in excess water, the roots will begin to rot. It is the roots that absorb water for the plant so, ironically, this can cause the plant to lack water, and cause spider plant brown tips.
If left unattended, root rot can eventually kill your spider plant. So, if you think overwatering might be the cause of your plants suffering, it is important to take action!
To inspect for root rot damage, take your spider plants out of their pots and brush off the soil from the roots. You will need to remove any parts of the roots that are rotten. Try to remove as much of the soil as possible, as it contains the microbes that are causing the root rot. After, fill the pot with fresh soil.
To avoid this, follow these 2 important spider plant care tips. Firstly, check there are sufficient drainage holes in your plants pot. Secondly, always check your plant 20 minutes after watering, and pour away excess water left in the dish to ensure your plant isn’t left sitting in water.
If the root damage is extreme your plant may not recover. However, spider plants are renowned for their constant growth and many offshoots. Therefore, it is likely that even in the worst-case scenario some of the offshoots growing from your original plant will live on!
Getting your plant’s watering schedule right is the best way to keep it happy. Try to only water your stripy pal when the top inch of the soil is dry. Increase your watering schedule in the summer, as your plant will be growing faster and the heat will dry out the soil quicker.
Too much direct sunlight
By far the easiest problem to solve, and therefore the first thing to check, is whether your spider plant is suffering because of direct sunlight.
Although spider plants like sunlight, they are like vampires when it comes to direct sunlight. They certainly won’t thank you for placing them on a sunny windowsill!
Direct sunlight will burn their leaves, causing their colour to fade and develop brown tips. As lovers of humidity, spider plants are very content in shady environments. They also don’t like getting too hot and will suffer for this reason if in direct sunlight.
One of the simplest spider plant care tips: just move your spider plants out of direct sunlight! They will be able to cope with dappled sunlight but their long stripy leaves will be more at home in the shade.
Spider plants love humid environments such as a steamy kitchen or bathroom. If they are in a very dry environment, particularly if they are above a radiator, this may develop spider plant brown tips.
If your spider plant’s brown tips appeared during the winter, it could likely be related to lack of humidity. Having the heating turned up to the max causes the air in your home to become very dry, which isn’t so great for your spider plant.
To resolve this you can move your spider plant into the bathroom or kitchen where there is greater humidity. Alternatively, you can group your plants as they’ll release moisture into the air.
You can also place your plant in a humidity tray. This is a shallow tray of pebbles with a small amount of water at the bottom. You can place it near or under your plant to work. As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity around your spider plant. The pebbles are there to stop your plant from actually touching the water.
If your house is particularly dry you can up your spider plant care by giving your plant the occasional spray with a mister.
My Spider Plant is Dying? What Do I Do?
FAQ
How do you treat a dying spider plant?
Fixing the yellow leaves on your spider plant is easier than you think. Avoid overwatering your plant by letting its soil dry out completely before watering it again. Prevent your spider plant from exposure to extreme temperature fluctuations and ensure its growing environment is neither too hot nor too cold.