I was told that spider plants are relatively low maintenance. However shortly after getting my spider plant, I noticed that the leaves were drooping. What should I do?
Have you ever found yourself in a situation like that? Well if you are reading this post it is probably because you have searched online for a solution to your spider plant’s drooping leaves.
In this post, we are going to discuss a few common reasons why spider plant’s leaves may begin to droop. We will also take a look at a few quick solutions in order to revive your spider plant.
Let’s jump right into this post…
Why is my spider plant drooping?
The answer: To put it simply there are 4 factors to take into consideration when trying to figure out why your spider plant’s leaves are drooping. It could be due to overwatering the plant. It could also be due to using the wrong type of fertilizer or too much fertilizer. It could be the lack of or too much sunlight or lastly, it could be the container itself.
However, don’t be alarmed, just because the leaves are drooping doesn’t mean that there is no hope. Remember spider plants are pretty hardy, by taking the appropriate action now they will bounce back pretty quickly.
Now that we have identified some of the main causes of drooping leaves, let’s take a look at each one individually to help revive your plant.
How To Revive Your Spider Plant
Properly water your plants. One thing that has always helped me with my spider plants is to remember that they like even moisture. They don’t like to be too wet nor too dry. And because they are drought tolerant if they are going to be too wet or too dry it is always better to be on the too dry side of things.
During the hot summer months, spider plants need a decent amount of water. For this reason, do not let the soil dry out completely in between waterings, but at the same time don’t let the soil get too soggy. I try to water my plants once a week throughout the growing season.
In the winter months, because the plants aren’t growing as much, the opposite is true. Lightly water your plants, but let the soil dry out a little in between waterings.
Oftentimes drooping leaves come as a result of giving your plant too much water or the pot is not draining properly. This can lead to a condition called root rot.
“If I overwater my spider plant will it still grow?”. If you have asked yourself that question, you are not alone. Many concerned spider plant owners have asked that question and the answer is yes, they will continue to grow as long as you stop overwatering them now!
One common problem that I see with many gardeners including myself is at the beginning we tend to be overattentive with our plants. It seems like every time we passed our plants we want to give them more water.
If you find yourself doing something similar, please stop. The best thing you can do for your plants is to have a watering schedule and stick to it.
Having a regular water schedule will also help you to diagnose any problems you may have.
You may also enjoy reading: Can Spider Plants Grow In Water?
Proper Lighting. Not getting enough sunlight, getting too much sunlight, or getting the wrong type of sunlight all can play a factor in wilting leaves.
Remember spider plants thrive when they are placed in indirect sunlight. If you grow your plants inside start by placing your spider plant in a south-facing window. Then pay attention to it and the amount of sunlight it gets throughout the day.
If you have placed it in a location that gets a lot of sunlight and you notice that the leaves are starting to droop, move it to a shadier location or further away from the window.
However if your plant is already in the shade, but the leaves look like they are drooping try placing it in a location where it can get more sunlight and see if bounces back.
If your spider plants are outdoors, find a place that receives less than 6 hours of sunlight.
Use the correct fertilizer. Next drooping leaves could be a sign that they are not getting the amount of nutrients they need from the soil. During the spring and summer months feed your spider plant with a balanced fertilizer.
During the fall and winter months, the plants start to slow down and won’t be growing as much. For that reason, you don’t need to feed them as often as you did in the summer.
You may also enjoy reading: Are Spider Plants Toxic For Cats?
Make sure you have the right container. Another common reason for drooping leaves isn’t overwatering, but it is the plant itself. Many times particularly with spider plants you will see the plant’s roots blocking the drainage holes preventing the water from leaving the container properly.
So then you might be thinking that the solution is to put the plant in a bigger pot right? Not necessarily.
Remember spider plants love to be root-bound. In fact, they do better when they are root-bound.
What does it mean to be root bound?
When a spider plant is grown in a container the growth is limited by the size of the container. Its roots can not grow outwards as they would if it was planted in the ground. Instead, the roots are forced to grow in a circular pattern following the walls of the container.
When a spider plant feels cramped it knows that in order to survive, it needs to produce baby offshoots. The result of a slightly root-bound spider plant is those baby offshoots that we love to seeing hanging from our plants.
On the other hand, if the plant is placed in a bigger pot it won’t produce those offshoots.
Well, how do I get the best of both worlds?
You need to pay close attention to the drainage holes. Spider plants grow pretty quickly, for that reason you need to check the drainage quite regularly.
I make it a habit that just before I give them a watering to make sure there is no root blockage.
You may also enjoy reading: Do Spider Plants Purify The Air? – The answer may surprise you
Final Thoughts…
Many gardeners when they see their plant’s leaves drooping a little bit they start to panic. They think that they have killed their plant, but you need to remember spider plants are pretty durable little plants.
They aren’t the easiest plant to kill.
Just stay calm and try some of the suggestions we mentioned in this post.
Now it is your turn. Please with us your experience, what do you do if you see that your spider plant’s leaves are droopy? Share with us your thoughts in the comments below.
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