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.
The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is one of the most popular houseplants around thanks to its easy care, air purifying abilities, and trailing babies that form on flowering stems. However, despite being such a hardy plant, spider plants can develop issues like leaves turning white or pale.
If you’ve noticed your once vibrant green spider plant now has leaves that are looking washed out and whitish don’t panic! This bleaching of the foliage is usually easily fixed by adjusting a few care factors.
In this article, we’ll explore the various reasons your spider plant leaves may be turning white and what you can do to restore their healthy green color.
Common Causes of White Leaves on Spider Plants
Here are the most typical culprits when spider plant leaves start to look pale or whitish:
Excess Sunlight
Most commonly this bleaching of the leaves is caused by too much sunlight. With too much sun, our skin tans or burns, but sunburn in plants causes leaves to bleach and blanch.
For a spider plant that is turning white, first try putting it in an area with less direct light An east or west facing window is often ideal, providing bright indirect light without intense afternoon sun.
You may also need to pull the plant back from the window several feet to further filter the sunlight. Invest in sheer curtains to diffuse the light if moving the plant isn’t enough.
Underwatering
Lack of water can also cause spider plant leaves to turn white or pale. These plants prefer evenly moist soil and don’t want to fully dry out between waterings.
Check if the soil is dry a few inches down and water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom of the pot if so. Aim to keep the soil consistently damp but not soaked.
You may need to water more frequently in warmer weather or if the plant is in a sunny spot.
Overwatering
Too much water can sometimes have a similar effect to too little, resulting in off-color foliage. If the roots sit in wet soil for too long, they can’t get enough oxygen. This stresses the plant, impacting its ability to take up nutrients and causing pale leaves.
Check for signs of overwatering like soggy soil, foul odors, mushy stems, and drooping leaves. If present, allow the plant to dry out completely before watering again. You may need to repot into fresh, well-draining soil.
Only water when the top few inches of soil become dry and make sure the pot has drainage holes to prevent moisture from pooling at the roots.
Low Humidity
Spider plants prefer average home humidity levels between 40-50%. In very dry indoor air, such as during winter with the heater blasting, the leaves can start to pale or dry out.
Boost humidity through pebble trays, humidifiers, or regular misting. Group plants together to create amini greenhouse effect. Move plants away from drying vents, radiators, or fireplaces.
Cold Temperatures
While spider plants can tolerate cooler temperatures, prolonged exposure to cold drafts can stress the plant. This may show up as pale, whitish leaves.
Keep your spider plant at temps above 55°F/12°C. Move it away from drafty windows and vents. Avoid placing in cold corners of the home.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Lack of certain nutrients can cause chlorosis or whitish discoloration of the foliage. This may happen if the soil is too alkaline or acidic preventing proper uptake of nutrients.
Test the soil pH and amend as needed to fall within the spider plant’s preferred mildly acidic range of 6.1-7.5. Fertilize monthly in the spring and summer using a balanced houseplant formula.
Slow release pellets mixed into the soil work well for these heavy feeding plants.
Root Damage
Root issues like rot can prevent the plant from taking up water and nutrients properly. This starves the leaves of essentials, resulting in pale color.
Check for mushy, discolored roots and trim off any that are diseased. Repot into fresh soil mixed with perlite or orchid bark to improve drainage.
Pests
Spider mites, mealybugs, and other sucking pests can drain fluids from the leaves, causing stippling, spotting, or overall lighter color.
Inspect closely for tiny insects on both sides of the leaves and stems. Wipe away any visible bugs with a cotton ball dipped in alcohol. Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap as needed.
Isolate affected plants to prevent the infestation from spreading.
What to Do for a Spider Plant with White Leaves
If you notice your spider plant’s leaves turning white, pale, or losing their vibrant color, take these steps to get it back to its healthy green self:
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Assess sunlight exposure and move to a shadier spot if needed, or add sheer curtains to filter intense light. East or west facing windows are often best.
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Check soil moisture and water well if dry. Or allow to dry out if overly wet. Aim for evenly moist but not soaked soil.
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Increase humidity through pebble trays, misting, or grouping with other plants. Keep away from heat vents.
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Move plant away from cold drafts and ensure temps stay above 55°F/12°C.
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Test soil pH and amend to fall within the ideal range of 6.1-7.5. Fertilize monthly in spring and summer.
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Check roots for rot and repot if needed into well-draining soil. Trim off diseased roots.
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Inspect closely for pests like spider mites and treat any found insects. Isolate affected plants.
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Give it time to recover in improved conditions. The newly emerging leaves should show better color.
Growing Green and Healthy Spider Plants
While a spider plant with leaves turning white is concerning, this is usually an easy issue to correct. With a few tweaks to care and environment, you can get your plant back to mint condition.
To keep your spider plant thriving with vibrant foliage, provide these general care guidelines:
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Place in bright, indirect light. Some morning or evening sun is ok.
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Water when the top few inches of soil become dry. Don’t allow to fully dry out or sit in soggy soil.
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Mist leaves or use a pebble tray to maintain 40-50% humidity.
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Keep temperatures between 60-80°F/16-27°C.
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Repot every 2-3 years in well-draining soil amended with perlite or bark.
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Fertilize monthly in spring and summer with a balanced houseplant food.
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Prune off dried leaves or babies to encourage healthy new growth.
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Monitor for common pests like spider mites and treat promptly.
With the proper care, your spider plant’s leaves can regain and maintain their vibrant green color. Just be patient and attend to any issues that may be causing the leaves to turn white. A few adjustments is all it usually takes to get your plant thriving again.
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.
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.
10 Tips To Stop Brown Tips On Your Spider Plant
FAQ
Why is my spider plant turning pale?
What does an overwatered spider plant look like?
What does a sick spider plant look like?
Why is my spider plant fading?
Why are my spider plant leaves turning white?
Recently, something has changed in your spider plant. Where once the leaves were a vivid, bright green, they’ve become whiter. The leaves also lack the stiffness and strength they used to have, sagging instead. To make matters worse, some parts of the leaves look brown.
What causes sticky white sputum?
Thicker white mucus goes along with feelings of congestion and may be a sign that an infection is starting. The white color comes from an increased number of white blood cells. If you have asthma, lots of white phlegm may be a sign of inflamed airways.
Why is my Spider Plant turning black?
2. Black Leaves If the leaves of your spider plant start turning black, most likely it’s because the plant has been overwatered. Alternatively, it could mean there has been a fertilizer buildup or the plant is sick. The best solution is to remove the black leaves and change give the plant fresh soil.
Do spider plants rot?
Root Rot Spider plants are susceptible to root rot if they are overwatered or placed in fresh soil and pots with poor drainage. If you start noticing signs such as wilting and yellow leaves, slow growth, and soft, brown roots, you should act quickly to avoid the death of your spider plant.