Are you having problems with your spider plant? Is the spider plant dying on you, or what is the problem you are facing? There are common spider plant problems you should know about and ways to avoid this problem.
As a gardener, you should be aware that different plants have different problems that affect them from when they start to bloom till they mature. Some problems continue to affect the plant even after it is mature. Knowing which problems affect the plant you have in your garden is important.
The spider plant, also known as Chlorophytum comosum in its scientific name, is among the popular indoor plants that are hung to beautify the room. It’s an easy plant to take care of. However, if you don’t care about it well, you can start having problems such as leaves turning yellow or brown tips.
But for each problem that affects a plant, there is a solution to fixing it. Here are the common problems with spider plants and possible ways to fix them.
Common Spider Plant Problems
Spider plant leaves turn brown.
When the leaves of a spider plant turn yellow, it means that the plant has a problem with water. Usually, it is underwatering; the plant is not getting enough water. Underwatering is common for gardeners who don’t know the amount of water to put on a specific plant.
However, this might not be the only reason the leaves turn brown. Other reasons include:
- The plants require more humidity
- The water has high levels of chlorine
- The plant is exposed to too much direct sunlight.
When you decide to have a garden indoors or outdoors, always check the requirements for the plant to grow into a healthy and fruitful plant. Know the amount of water the soil should have, whether it is dry, moist, or wet. The spider plant requires moist soil, which means you should water the plant regularly and extra water drained from the pot.
When you underwater the plant, it won’t have enough water to sustain itself, while when you overwater, the extra water will make the roots rot.
Humidity in the room is important for a spider plant. You can place a humidifier near the plant if the house is dry.
On the other hand, brown tips can be brought about by chlorine in the water. The possible way to fix this is to switch water from tap water to rain or distilled water.
Another reason is too much exposure to sunlight. The sun burns the leaves, which turn brown. The solution is to change the plant’s location, or you can cover the plant from direct exposure to the sun.
Spider plants turn yellow.
When leaves on a plant start turning yellow, the problem is most likely that it’s not getting enough sunlight. The sun is one of the ingredients for photosynthesis; if it doesn’t get enough of it, the leaves turn yellow or pale.
The solution to this problem is to move the plant to an area with sunlight. Or you can choose to purchase a grow light. Grow lights are not expensive equipment; they can help expose indoor plants to light.
If the plant has enough light and yellow flowers, it can be because of overwatering. Ensure you don’t water the soil until it’s wet and soggy. Put holes at the bottom of the pot to drain excess water. To ensure you don’t overwater, you can purchase a moisture meter.
Leaves turning black
Some spider plant problems occur when leaves turn black. Some reasons why this happens are: Overwatering of the plant, which leads to root rot and, as a result, affects the leaves, the plant is affected by the disease, and the type of fertilizer used on the plant.
Once you see this problem, ensure you remove all the black leaves. Mist the area around the plant for humidity and place the plant in a room with indirect sun or a well-lit area. Dry the soil completely, then start watering with fresh water. Or you can change the soil with fresh well-draining soil.
Also, use less fertilizer and ensure you used to seek professional advice on the type of fertilizer you apply to the soil.
Leaves Curling
The curling of leaves is not common because a variety of spider plants curl their leaves. However, the plant is under stress if this happens to your leaves.
Some stress factors include improper watering, improper light leaves, rotten root, or attack by pests and diseases. Improper watering and light levels can receive more or less than the needs.
The solution to this problem is to find the cause as to why leaves are curling and fix it immediately. If you don’t know how to identify the problem, just water the plant properly, provide it with enough light, and ensure the temperatures around the plant are correct at about 55-85 degrees F.
Droopy Plant
When the plant is droopy, the issue might be watering or over-exposure to the sun. When a plant is drooping, it appears like it’s wilting, but the leaves hang limply from the stem.
The solution to a droopy plant is to water the plant and place it in indirect sunlight. Also, you can put it in areas that receive sunlight in the morning and shade during the day.
If the problem is from overexposure to the sun, remove it from the sun to a cool area. If the plant is overwatered, ensure you let the soil dry before you water.
Root Rot
When a root rots, it’s because the soil has been overwatered. It can lead to spider plants dying. Roots need enough water to create nutrients for the plant. It becomes stressed if you can’t make enough food to sustain it.
The plant can die in 9 to 10 days if the root rots. Symptoms of a rotten root include:
- No new growth of the plant
- Roots become soft, brown, and spongy
- Leaves turn yellow
- Leaves start wilting
Once you notice these symptoms;
- Remove the pant from the pot and remove the extra soil on the roots.
- Then chop away the dead roots and leave only healthy roots, even if they are small.
- Trim excess leaves to ensure the small roots can feed the remaining leaves.
- Then transfer the plant to a fresh pot with fresh soil that has good drainage.
- Water the plant and drain off excess water through holes in the pot.
- Take care of the plant until it recovers.
Scorched leaves
Scorched leaves are another problem that affects the plant, leading to spider plants dying. The problem is a result of overexposure to the sun. When the plant has had enough sunlight, the leaves will start to curl, and then eventually, they will burn and appear bleached or burned.
The plant requires the sun but don’t place it directly in the sun. Once you put it in a semi-shade area, the leaves will flatten. If the leaves had already burned, cut them off and leave only fresh leaves.
Conclusion
Like any other plant, the spider plant is prone to problems even though it is the easiest to plant and care for. Fortunately, we have highlighted the spider plant problems and their possible solutions for you. Through these solutions, you can make sure your plant is healthy.
