Should I cut of the dead ends of my spider plant?

Author: Harmon Jerde  |  Last update: Sunday, March 1, 2026

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.

Should I cut the dead tips off my spider plant?

Yes, you can cut the brown tips off your spider plant. Trimming the browned ends can improve the appearance of your plant without harming it.

What to do with dead ends on spider plants?

Why are the leaves on my Spider Plant turning brown on the edges?
  1. Remove entire brown leaves (they will not turn green again) or the affected portion with a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears.
  2. Wipe the blades of your scissors with rubbing alcohol between each snip.

Should I cut the pups off my spider plant?

While it's okay to leave the babies on the plant, if it produces several spiderettes, trimming them off would be a good idea.

Should I cut the dead tips off my plant?

Yes, you should cut off dying leaves. this will free up nutrients/encourage new growth, prevent the spread of disease, pests and help to improve health overall and appearance.

10 Tips To Stop Brown Tips On Your Spider Plant

What do brown tips on spider plants mean?

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.

What happens if you don't cut spider plant babies?

A spider plant baby that's left to grow attached to the 'mother plant' may also develop roots of its own and eventually grow babies itself.

How often should I water a spider plant?

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.

Can I put spider plant babies straight into soil?

Propagating a spider plant in soil is the easiest and quickest method. Plus, it usually produces stronger roots as they weren't sitting in water prior to being transplanted. Some plantlets may have small roots starting to develop, meaning they are more mature and will develop root systems sooner, says Langelo.

Should I mist my spider plant?

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.

What does an overwatered spider plant look like?

Brown Leaves

If you notice the leaves turning brown, your spider has likely been overwatered with tap water.

How do you perk up a spider plant?

Re-pot a drooping spider plant you have had for more than a year. Consider adding some fertilizer to perk up your plant. A few minutes of touching up some cosmetic blemishes, like brown tips, make a big difference for your spider plant.

Do brown tips mean overwatering?

Too much, too little or inconsistent watering are major contributors to houseplant decline and can cause brown tips on houseplants. Overwatering, the most likely cause, decreases the amount of oxygen available for root growth and creates an environment susceptible to root diseases and rot.

Where is the best place to put a spider plant?

Where to grow a spider plant. Grow these easy plants in a bright spot out of direct sun as this can scorch their leaves. They can cope with a bit of cold, but don't leave them anywhere where the temperature will drop below 8 degrees in the winter. The best room for a spider plant will depend on the light.

Why does my spider plant not have babies?

We often get asked, why is my spider plant not producing babies (aka pups)? The plant needs to be mature enough to do this (a bit like us humans) but also the conditions need to be correct. Give it more room in its pot. If it's looking crowded, it will need repotting.

Do spider plants like coffee grounds?

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

They appreciate the nutrient boost from coffee grounds. Benefits: Enhances foliage growth. Helps maintain soil health.

Should I cut the brown tips off my spider plant?

These are parts of the leaves that have died and will not be able to come back to life. If you want to remove the brown tips from your plant, take a pair of sharp scissors. Then, sterilise them with boiling water or cleaning alcohol to avoid creating infection and cut the spider plant's brown tips.

How do I know if my spider plant is happy?

You know your spider plant is thriving when new long, viney stems emerge from the centre of the plant for baby plants (or spidettes) to grow on. Spider plant babies are so easy to grow; you just need to cut the spidettes off from the stem and pot them in damp compost.

Should I cut off dead parts of spider plant?

For the most part, spider plants do not need pruning. To prevent your spider plant from forming its poisonous seeds, prune away any withered flowers. You can also cut off the offshoots, known as spiderettes or pups, and use them to propagate spider plants. Pluck any completely withered leaves off the plant.

How do you nurse a spider plant back to life?

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.

How long do spider plants live?

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.

Should I cut the dead ends off my plant?

Pruning is most effective at the start of the plant's growing season, and this will likely be at the very end of the Winter or the start of Spring. Plants with dead, browning leaves can be pruned when needed to remove them as this will allow fresh, new growth to appear.

Should I cut the brown tips of my plants?

Answer: Brown leaf tips or edges can happen on any indoor plant but are common on some species like spider plant and dracaena. Trimming the brown portions off the leaves with a scissors can improve appearance, but new browning will occur if the root cause is not addressed.

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