I love spider plants because they remind me of a beautiful bad hair day. Actually, it’s like an ’80s hairdo, which I still love to rock every once in a while. It’s something that Bob makes fun of me for, or more accurately, it’s something that he teases me about. I used to do the same thing with my hair. Anyway, we are here to talk plants, not my hair. So, let’s see what we can find out about these lovely plants.
What I love about spider plants is that they look so lively, and they make a great contrast when making a room look nice. Depending on their size, they can fill in a space in a room, giving it a lush appearance. Since they do well in low light, they are great for most rooms in your house or office. Just remember that most plants that can handle low-light conditions often thrive better with more light. So, if your plant isn’t growing or thriving, try relocating it to a different spot.
Spider plants will tolerate lower light conditions, but they prefer bright indirect light to flourish. The striping on the leaves will be more prominent with indirect lighting. Avoid direct sunlight, as it will scorch the leaves. I have my spider plant on my living wall that gets northern sun exposure.
When you water spider plants, let them dry out in between. If you don’t, the plants will get soggy, which can cause root rot.
They prefer temperatures between 60–80 degrees during the day and above 55 degrees at night. Spider plants do well in low humidity environments but will thrive with a bit more humidity. Watch for brown tips, as this may be an indicator of not receiving enough humidity.
With their fun, arching foliage, spider plants are extremely popular houseplants. However, you may notice your beloved spider plant declining or dying back over winter. Don’t despair! There are several common winter-related causes for spider plants fading but also some simple fixes to get your plant thriving again.
Typical Causes of Spider Plant Issues in Winter
Spider plants prefer consistent warm temperatures around 70°F. When indoor conditions get chillier and drier during winter months, it can stress plants Here are the most likely culprits for spider plant woes in winter
-
Low humidity – Heating systems produce very dry air that spider plants dislike Lack of humidity is a common trigger for browning tips and damaged leaves
-
Underwatering – Plants still need moisture even in winter. Allowing the soil to totally dry out will cause lower leaves to crisp and die.
-
Cold drafts – Exposure to bursts of very cold air from drafty windows and doors can damage tender new spider plant growth.
-
Insufficient light – Shorter winter days mean indoor plants get less natural sunlight. Low light slows growth and drains energy reserves.
-
Potbound roots – After a year or two of growth, spider plants often become rootbound. This makes it hard for them to take up enough moisture and nutrients.
While worrying, these issues are easily fixed with a few simple winter plant care adjustments.
How to Get a Spider Plant Thriving Again
If your spider plant is showing signs of winter stress like browning, wilting and decline, don’t give up on it yet! Just provide a little winter TLC with these tips:
-
Monitor soil moisture – Check the soil frequently and water whenever the top few inches feel dry. The air is drier in winter so plants need more frequent watering.
-
Mist leaves – Use a spray bottle to regularly mist spider plant leaves. This mimics humid jungle conditions they prefer.
-
Place near humidifiers – Keep spider plants in rooms with a humidifier running to raise moisture levels.
-
Avoid cold drafts – Move plants away from drafty windows, doors, and vents. Close vents in the room to prevent blasts of cold forced-air heat.
-
Supplement light – Add a grow light or move plants to the brightest, sunniest windows to ensure adequate light exposure.
-
Repot into fresh soil – Carefully remove rootbound plants, loosen tangled roots, and repot into the next larger container with fresh potting mix.
-
Fertilize monthly – Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer at 1/2 strength to provide nutrients.
With a little tweaking to care, spider plants should perk back up and resume actively growing. Any damaged brown leaves can be trimmed off. With the right conditions, new healthy foliage will soon take its place.
Ideal Growing Conditions for Keeping Spider Plants Happy
Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to houseplant issues. Maintain optimal growing conditions and your spider plants will stay lush year-round. Here are their preferences:
Light
-
Need – Bright, indirect light is ideal. Some direct morning sun is tolerated.
-
Recommendation – A south or west window provides the right brightness. Sheer curtains filter direct sunlight.
Temperature
-
Need – Consistently warm temperatures between 65-80°F. Avoid cold drafts.
-
Recommendation – Keep plants in inhabited rooms you heat to a comfortable temperature.
Humidity
-
Need – Average room humidity of 40-50% is suitable. Avoid very dry air.
-
Recommendation – Use humidifiers in winter. Mist leaves when humidity is under 40%.
Water
-
Need – Allow soil to partially dry then water thoroughly. Don’t let pots totally dry out.
-
Recommendation – Check soil with a finger. Water when top few inches become dry.
Fertilizer
-
Need – Weak regular fertilizing from spring through fall. Reduce in winter.
-
Recommendation – Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer diluted by half every 2-4 weeks during growth periods.
Providing this consistent spider plant care will keep your plants looking their best all year long. Adjust as needed if you notice any seasonal decline. With a stable comfortable environment, your spider plants should thrive for many years to come.
Signs Your Spider Plant is Dying and How to Revive It
Sometimes despite your best efforts, spider plants can take a turn for the worst. Here are signs of a seriously struggling plant along with Hail Mary tactics that may bring it back from the brink:
-
Wilting or drooping leaves – Try immersing the root ball in a bucket of room temperature water for 30-60 minutes to quickly hydrate the plant.
-
Curled, wrinkled leaves – This can indicate under-watering. Immerse as above then water more frequently going forward.
-
Multiple leaves rapidly turning brown – indicaSome type of stress is causing leaf die-off. Rule out any pest issues then evaluate care like water, temperature, and repotting needs.
-
Sudden plant collapse – If the entire plant falls over and dies rapidly, bacterial or fungal wilt are likely culprits. Remove and destroy the plant to keep pathogens from spreading.
-
Roots emerging from drainage holes – The plant is severely potbound and roots are air-pruning. Repot in a larger container if you can salvage some healthy white roots.
-
Very few viable white roots – Without a robust white root system, the plant cannot survive. Unfortunately, propagation or acquisition of a new spider plant will be needed.
While you can’t save every struggling plant, be diligent about correcting care issues and spider plants can often make a comeback after suffering. Just don’t let problems progress too far before taking corrective action.
Overwintering Dormant Spider Plants
Some spider plant varieties like the variegated Chlorophytum comosum ‘Vittatum’ die back naturally in fall and enter a resting dormant period. The aboveground foliage perishes but the roots and plant crown remain alive. Here is how to care for dormant overwintering spider plants:
-
Allow all foliage to die back and turn brown before watering. Any remaining green will rot.
-
Move the potted dormant roots to a cool spot around 50-60°F.
-
Keep soil barely moist, watering only every 4-6 weeks to prevent desiccation.
-
Wait until all threat of frost has passed in spring then move back into brighter light.
-
Increase watering to energize the plant crown and stimulate new leaf growth.
With a little winter respite, spider plants will rebound and sprout anew when conditions improve in springtime.
Enjoy Lush Spider Plants Year-Round
While they thrive in ordinary indoor environments, spider plants can struggle a bit when conditions change in winter. But have no fear – with a few easy tweaks you can get your plants back in top form. Just be attentive to their needs, correct any deficiencies promptly, and provide consistent care. With the right balance of moisture, humidity, light, and nutrients your spider plants will stay gorgeous and filled with trailing plantlets year after year. Even if they experience some seasonal die-back, they are easy to revive when spring rolls around again.
Fertilizer – Plant Food
In the spring and summer, you can fertilize up to twice a month. But don’t fertilize too much, because that can cause brown leaf tips. You don’t need to feed plants in the fall or winter because they go to sleep, unless you live somewhere warm. Always make sure the soil is damp before applying any fertilizer. If you overfeed your plants, they will let you know. Here are a few things to watch for:
- Yellowing or browning leaves.
- The soil’s top layer may be white or crusty.
- The leaves of the plant will start dropping off.
- The roots can begin to rot.
If you overfeed a plant, you can remove from its current soil and repot it in fresh soil. This technique is undoubtedly the best way to get rid of the excess nutrients affecting your plant. Alternatively, you can flush the soil, which involves drenching the soil with water and letting it drain out. Repeat this several times to help the soil get rid of excess fertilizer.
- With clean, sharp scissors, cut off any leaves and stems that are dying, discolored, broken, or infected as you find them. Cut stems just above a leaf node; this will cause new growth to grow. I do this every time I water my plants. I use the watering time to inspect my plants thoroughly.
- The leaves should be cleaned often enough to keep dust off of them. To keep bugs away, you can wipe the plant down with rubbing alcohol on a regular basis.
- I like to treat the plant with something to keep bugs and other plant animals away about every six months. I spray them with low-strength rubbing alcohol and then use a clean cloth to wipe it off each leaf. After that, I use a neem oil solution to spray it down. I will share all of this in another detailed post.
Plant Characteristics to Watch For
Figure out what’s wrong with your plant will take some detective work and even more patience! First, don’t freak out and don’t throw out a plant too soon. Take a few deep breaths and work down the list of possible issues. Below, I am going to share some typical symptoms that can arise. When I see signs that something is wrong with a plant, I bring it into a well-lit room, get out my magnifiers, and start carefully checking it over.
- Fluoride or salts in water can cause leaf tips to turn brown. Not enough water or dry soil can also cause this, as can giving the plant too much fertilizer.
- Answer: Either use distilled water or fill the watering can and leave it out overnight. You can also give plants a thorough watering every so often to flush out extra salts. Make sure the water drains out, and do it again if you need to. If you think the brown tips might be because the plant is getting too dry too often, change how often it gets watered. If nothing else works, put a humidifier in the room and see if that helps.
- If your spider plant’s leaves are thirsty, they may turn a lighter color.
- Solution: Check the soil and water it more often if it feels dry all the time. But remember, don’t water it too much or the roots will rot.
- Insufficient light can cause the leaves to wilt. Spider plants do best in bright but indirect sunlight. Overheating can create this problem, as well.
- Answer: Move the plant to a better spot if you think it’s not getting enough sun. Once more, move the plant if you think heat might be the problem. Direct sunlight, being near a fireplace, or home heat vents can all be heat sources.
- Root rot could be too much for your plants if the bases of their leaves are turning brown.
- Answer: Spider plants can have root rot for a long time before you notice it. When the bases of leaves turn brown and leaves wilt, it’s time to do something. Spider plants may lose leaves, turn yellow, or wilt, depending on where the damage is. Remove the plant from the pot and check the roots. Your plant has root rot if the roots are black, brown, soft, or smelly. You may be able to save it by repotting. Take the plant out of the pot and wash off as much soil as you can from the roots. This will help you see where to cut the plant. Get rid of any soft roots and leave only firm, healthy ones. If you want to keep other pathogens from getting into the cuts, you can dust them with sulfur. Sterilize your tools thoroughly. Move the plant to a new pot with drainage holes and get better at watering it so that it doesn’t get too wet.
My Spider Plant is Dying? What Do I Do?
FAQ
How do you revive a dying spider plant?
Why is my spider plant dying in the winter?
How do you keep spider plants alive in the winter?
Why are my spider plants dying all of a sudden?
How do you revive a frozen spider plant?
What does a sick spider plant look like?
Is my spider plant dying?
Sharing is caring! Your Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) will occasionally suffer health problems. In serious cases it may seem like your spider plant is dying.
How long does spider venom stay in your body?
Usually a person won’t notice a spider bite until hours later. It can take that long for enough irritation from the bite to create discomfort. Most spider bites are solitary (not a cluster of bites). The bite initially appears as a small, pink, raised bump on the skin. It is not very obvious. The toxicity of the venom and how long it stays active varies depending on the type of spider.
How to save a dying Spider Plant?
So, let’s get started. To save a dying spider plant, move the plant to a bright spot that gets indirect light, and examine the plant for possible damage. The most likely cause would be too much water or pest infestation. Let the soil dry out before watering, and spray some neem oil to deal with pest infestation. Repot the plant if needed.
Are spider plants wilting?
Spider plants are an attractive and easy to care for houseplant, which makes them a popular choice for indoor gardening. If you are like me, however, and tend to completely forget about your houseplants for weeks or – I’ll admit it – sometimes months on end, you may find yourself faced with a wilting spider plant.
