Terracotta or unglazed ceramic pots are champions for breathability and moisture control. Ensure the new contender has drainage holes to prevent the dreaded soggy feet syndrome. If you're a fan of hanging planters, just make sure they have drainage holes, and your Spider Plant will be swinging happily.
Spider plants prefer to be somewhat pot-bound, so selecting a container only slightly larger than the root ball is ideal.
Light Requirements Here's where Spider Plants are most adaptable. They prefer nice bright light, near but not in a window unless it's a north or east exposure. Being in a south or west window will cause the plant to sunburn, but near is fine. Whatever the exposure, make sure they're not touching hot or cold glass.
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.
Consider watering your spider plant with a bottom watering method. This is a methodology of watering houseplants using a dish of water to put your plant inside of. This allows the house plant to receive water from the bottom up in the soil.
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.
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.
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.
The long stems with the plantlets are why spider plants look best as hanging plants, or on a pedestal so that the long stems can hang down. Spider plants do best in bright, but indirect sunlight and some humidity. They have fleshy roots that store water so only water them when they are dry.
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.
Spider plants will put up with most light conditions, but will flourish in brighter spots in your home. Keep your spider plant away from harsh, direct sunlight; he'll enjoy being on a desk or hanging from a shelf.
You can keep your spider plant healthy and pest-free by sprinkling coffee grounds into its pot. Naturally high in caffeine and compounds known as diterpenes, both of which are highly toxic to insects, coffee grounds are the perfect defense against pests that plague spider plants, like mites, aphids, scales, and flies.
Try to water your spider plant about once a week. Letting the soil dry out a little between waterings is a good idea. If you start to see fungus growing, yellowed leaves, or root rot occurring on your spider plant, you may be overwatering.
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.
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.
Brown Leaves
If you notice the leaves turning brown, your spider has likely been overwatered with tap water.
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 of an Unhealthy Spider Plant
Wilting leaves can be the plant's cry for help, often a sign of either too much love (overwatering) or neglect (underwatering). Check the soil's moisture before reaching for the watering can. Browning leaves are like the plant's way of saying it's stressed out.
Plant spider plants in Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. After a month, begin feeding regularly with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food. Divide when the plant is too large for its container and give the extra plants to friends.
Shaving the root ball helps to stimulate new root growth and allows for better nutrient absorption. It's a common problem with spider plants to become root-bound if they aren't repotted regularly. When the roots become overcrowded, it can lead to stunted growth, yellowing or browning leaves, and waterlogging.
Pruning spider plants
Pluck any completely withered leaves off the plant. If only the tips of the leaves are browning, feel free to cut them off with a clean pair of scissors.