Ideally, repotting is only necessary when the roots have become crowded or are showing through the drainage holes and the plant is visibly struggling.
Signs That Your Spider Plant Needs Repotting
Yellow leaves can scream neglect, but sometimes they're just the plant's plea for a new home. If the leaves are more yellow than a school bus and the growth has slowed to a snail's pace, don't just stand there—repot! Compacted soil is another red flag.
The container you choose for your spider plant can have a significant impact on its overall health and well-being. Spider plants prefer to be somewhat pot-bound, so selecting a container only slightly larger than the root ball is ideal.
Spider plants generally benefit from repotting every 1-2 years, or when you notice the root ball has become overcrowded and the plant has outgrown its current pot. Younger plants may require repotting more frequently, while older plants with slower growth may need it less often.
Getty images. Long, vine like stems will emerge from the centre of your plant when it is mature and happy. Spider plant babies grow at the tip of these long stems. To make new plants from spider plant babies, either snip off the spider plant baby or grow it on while it's still attached.
Should You Cut the Brown Tips Off Spider Plants? You can cut the brown tips off your spider plant to get back the aesthetically pleasing appearance of your green companion. The damaged fronds may not affect your plant's overall health but pruning them will make your spider plant look so much better.
Brown Leaves
If you notice the leaves turning brown, your spider has likely been overwatered with tap water.
A: For propagation purposes, you can cut or leave the babies on the spider plant and root them while still connected to the stolons. If you don't intend to multiply the plant, you should cut the spiderettes during pruning sessions.
A spider plant likes bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight as it has the potential to scorch the leaves. Spider plants will grow in low light, but they'll grow slowly and may not produce plantlets. In low light, striped spider plant leaves may lose their variegation.
Spider plant generally has few pest problems other than scale insects and mealybugs. Tip burn of the leaves is a common problem that can have many causes. Low humidity, excessively dry soil, salt accumulation and/or chemicals, particularly fluoride or chlorine, in tap water may cause brown leaf tips.
How often should I water my spider plant? A light drink every week or so is all your spider plant needs, watering less frequently in autumn and winter. You're just looking to dampen the compost. A good way to check if it needs watering is to dip your finger into the soil, up to the second knuckle.
They're really beginner-friendly. These plants like to be snug in their pots.
The best time for dividing or splitting spider plants is when they need repotting. This type of propagation does require a bit more tact than the others, as the fleshy roots are fragile and can break off easily. For this reason, large plants are better for this method.
Top-heavy plants that are prone to fall over, especially when they get dry, need repotting. When plants start producing small leaves and almost no new growth, repotting is needed. If a salty crust is seen on the soil surface, repot and replace as much of the soil as possible.
When well-cared for, these plants can live anywhere from 20-50 years! Ready for this? The typical lifespan of a chlorophytum comosum vittatum or chlorophytum comosum variegatum, the two most common varieties, is around 20 years.
Water thoroughly and discard of any excess water in the saucer. Your Spider Plant will do well in normal household humidity but will thrive with a bit more humidity. Brown leaf tips may indicate the air is too dry, so mist your Spider Plant regularly using a Mister. Your plant prefers temperatures between 60–80° F.
A: Coffee grounds are excellent for the healthy growth of your spider plants. Nitrogen-rich, coffee grounds contain other micronutrients needed by spider plants.
The humidity is too low.
If the air around a spider plant gets too dry, its leaf tips can dry out and turn brown. Spider plants are tropical plants that need 50% to 60% humidity. You may naturally have this much humidity in your home during the summer, but in winter, indoor humidity levels tend to drop.
You can divide these baby Sansevieria away from the main plant and maintain the plant in the same pot. It is also a wonderful opportunity to provide new soil for your main plant which may have been suffering due to being root bound.
Flowering in Spider Plants is a sign of maturity, a botanical coming-of-age if you will. It's the plant's way of saying, "Hey, I'm thriving here!" But it's not a common sight, which makes it all the more special when it happens.
Reviving a Dying Spider Plant
Overwatering is a common misstep. To promote recovery, let the soil dry out before watering again. This isn't a cactus, but it's not a fan of soggy feet either. Check the top inch of soil; if it's dry, it's time to hydrate.
If you notice the green striping on your Spider plant is fading, it's likely because it's very thirsty! Fading leaves may also be droopy and limp.
Ideally, repotting is only necessary when the roots have become crowded or are showing through the drainage holes and the plant is visibly struggling.
Since Spider Plants enjoy being a bit root-bound, it can be easy to miss if they overgrow their pot and start blocking drain holes. Pay close attention because if your plant's roots don't allow for proper drainage, the roots will sit in excess water and rot.