Spider plants are the perfect hanging plant to liven up your space. It is too lovely to not place in a hanging basket and hang up, especially with the way their long, curly, variegated-looking leaves are.
But if a spider plant doesn’t have brilliant green and white leaves, what good is it? Imagine the foliage becoming lifeless and fading as well. In case you’re wondering: why is my spider plant leaves limp, read on.
When a spider plant is overwatered, exposed to too much light indoors, rootbound, suffering from a nitrogen deficit, harmed by frost or sunburn, or there may be a pest infestation, its leaves can turn pale or limp.
Why Is My Spider Plant Leaves Limp?
You’ll need to conduct some investigation into why your spider plant’s leaves are limp. There are a few possible explanations for spider plant leaves that appear drooping.
1. Water: Improper watering is one clear issue. During the summer, spider plants require regular watering to prevent the soil from drying out. But wilting and yellowing plants can also be a sign of overwatering. In the summer, avoid letting the soil become moist, and in the winter, let it dry out in between light waterings.
2. Light: Spider plants can also wilt if they receive insufficient light or heat. Spider plants thrive in areas with strong, indirect sunlight, such as south-facing windows or outdoor areas with less than six hours of direct sunlight each day. Spider plants can also become wilted due to overheating, a condition that frequently results from excessive sunlight.
Give your spider plant a good soak in a pail of water for 15 minutes if it has been wilting in strong sunshine, then transfer it to a cooler, shadier location. Spider plants do, of course, require some sunlight. If your indoor plant is wilting in complete shade or away from a window, try moving it to an area with more sunlight to see if it brightens up.
3. Fertilizer: If the leaves on your spider plant appear droopy, poor soil quality can also be the blame. Every other week in the summer and less frequently in the winter, you should feed your spider plant with a balanced fertilizer.
4. Repotting: Your spider plant is outgrowing its pot if it appears wilted and roots are visible coming out of the drainage holes. Move it to a larger pot, and give it plenty of water and food. Although they are highly hardy, spider plants can be a little picky about their water and light needs. Your plant should recover without issue if you notice it wilting and take action to remedy it.
What is Unique About the Spider Plant?
One of those tough-to-kill plants is the spider plant, often known as the airplane plant (Chlorophytum comosum). Even if you completely disregard it, it will still need more time to perish. Because of their colorful, curled leaves, I adore spider plants.
Although they are frequently mistaken for a form of hanging plant, these emerald green beauties actually develop in clusters that resemble spider webs as they mature. Since they have fine hairs that give them this webby appearance and feel, they are named for their resemblance to spiderwebs.
Chlorophytum comosum, when grown in a hanging basket, can expand up to 212 feet broad and 3 feet long, according to The Home & Garden Information Center (HGIC).
When they are plantlets, their curls are very adorable. It encourages me to propagate an infinite number of times more only to put them in my propagation station. Even a hanging propagation station can inspire your obsession with plants.
So as it begins to wilt and lose its color, I start to doubt my ability to care for plants.
However, I’ve discovered that a number of variables contribute to the reason why your airplane plant appears drab and limp.
Why Does My Spider Plant Have Brown Spots on the Leaves?
Are you aware that there is a condition known as bacterial leaf blight? It is not appealing. It is a rather typical issue with spider plants. Actually, a bacteria called Xanthomonas campestris is what causes bacterial leaf blight.
Sometimes, home pests like ants, dust mites (which emerge from your carpet), or even insects that may fly through an open window and land on the plant carry the bacterium that causes this. Your plant’s leaves will become yellow or develop brown spots as the bacterial leaf blight progresses, which will subsequently cause spider plant leaves to develop black patches or turn completely black.
Spray some neem oil on the leaves to give them a natural antifungal coating if you think it might be bacterial leaf blight.
For beginners, this is not an easy task since they risk cutting through living feeder roots that are crucial for facilitating water uptake by the plants.
Bacterial leaf blight “may cause substantial harm over time if left unchecked,” resulting in stunted growth and sagging green fronds.
Remove any yellowing leaves to treat bacterial leaf blight. This prevents wholesome leaves from getting sick.
Utilize a liquid copper fungicide to treat. You need a pot with holes and sufficient drainage soil. To lessen the likelihood of bacterial leaf blight, make sure the pot has enough room to be placed where there is excellent airflow around it.
Do Spider Plants Need Sun?
Your spider plant’s leaves may become yellow and droop if there is not enough light.
Although spider plants are incredibly adaptable, they love to be in areas with lots of strong light, ideally indirect sunshine. Although their leaves probably won’t be as colorful, they’ll still survive in low light.
Make sure to only expose your airplane plant to indirect light and avoid any direct sunlight. Your indoor spider plant’s leaves will perish as a result of this. The plant leaves may stop being green and begin to develop crisp, brown tips.
You should also remove any leaves that are browning and wilting if the spider plant leaves are withering.
Now, whenever a plant requires a lot of light, I like to put it by the window with sheer curtains in case there is ever too much light. You just never truly know, even though that might or might not be feasible. Knowing that my spider plant’s leaves won’t turn yellow or brown from too much illumination does help me sleep better.
Just don’t leave this airplane plant close to any air conditioning vents; doing so could lead to conditions that cause leaf burn.
Because there is less chlorophyll, which gives the leaves its vivid hues, there is less natural light.
What Kind of Soil is Good For Spider Plant?
The potting mix’s quality is a significant factor in why the leaves turn pale in addition to environmental variations. With proper drainage, spider plants thrive.
Making sure that your soil drains well and has adequate airflow for your roots is one of the most important things you will need to perform. I love using organic soil mix.
Here is how I make the ideal potting mixture for spider plants. You are allowed to change it whatever you want.
- Mix 3 parts organic potting soil
- Add 1 part pumice or perlite.
- Add a few pieces of this enchanted charcoal.
- When I came upon this product in a plant nursery, I was furious that I hadn’t seen it before. I haven’t noticed any roots rotting from excessive watering, therefore I’ll maintain using this product for a long time.
How Do I Know When to Water My Spider Plant?
Seasons will pass by. Additionally, it’s crucial for your plants to learn how to adjust to changing weather. In comparison to the winter, tropical plants will need more watering in the summer. In the cold, tropical plants typically hibernate. Consider it a time to relax and refresh.
Since the summer is their growing season, they will require a little more care from you than usual. You should examine your plant to see whether it need any work before the Spring season begins. Repotting, fertilizing, or even just checking the temperature can be included.
I usually water the spider plant every few days in the warmer months (spring and summer).
However, you must wait for the soil to dry out between waterings because too much moisture will result in leaf and root yellowing and root rot.
Yes, yellowing and droopy-looking leaves are indicators of overwatering in spider plants.
When indoor temperatures are below 65°F (18°C), you can water sparingly during the winter.
In the winter, water will take much longer to dry out than it does in the summer. In the winter months, I typically water spider plants once or twice. My watering regimen is never the same each month since I still wait for the potting mix to dry out before I water it.
Best Fertilizer For Spider Plant
1. Dr Earth 704P Tomato Vegetable Garden Fertilizer
With more plentiful harvests and more nutrient-dense vegetables, Dr. Earth 704P tomato fertilizer increases agricultural yields. When applied as instructed, it supplies the ideal levels of vital plant nutrients and removes the need for chemical fertilizers. It contains eight specific strains of endo- and ecto-mycorrhizae to improve plant performance, drought tolerance, and nutrient availability.
It is organic and natural. For consistently high quality, nutrients are released promptly and continue to feed for several months. It was made by hand using feed- and human-grade materials. It contains a variety of minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, humic acids, and trace elements that help to build the healthiest soils possible so that your family may grow the best veggies possible.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Natural and organic
Cons:
- Expensive
Conclusion
It’s crucial to water your spider plant correctly if you want to keep it vivid and healthy. To avoid drying out from too much sun or getting too cold during the winter, you should also be aware of the seasons.
Although bacterial leaf blight is an issue that commonly affects spider plants, it can be avoided by routinely removing dead leaves and keeping an eye out for insects that might be carrying the disease.