The spider plant, scientifically known as Chlorophytum comosum, is an interesting-looking fellow that belongs to the asparagus family.
It’s native to the tropical and subtropical areas of three main regions: Africa, Australia, and Asia. they are small perennial bushy herbs that rarely grow more than two feet tall.
Spider plants look unique, thanks to their long narrow leaves and characteristic variegation. Understandably, it’s annoying when these lovely plants lose their perky appearance.
Is your spider plant drooping? Not to worry! Here are all the possible reasons, and how best to address them.
The Spider Plant Has Watering Issues
The general advice for watering spider plants is don’t overwater or underwater. As easy as that may sound, incorrect watering remains the most common reason plants suffer and deteriorate.
Watering is far more nuanced. Even seasoned gardeners get it wrong sometimes! To ensure that your spider plant is getting the right amount of water, consider the following points.
Watering Frequency
- The General rule: Water when the top 1-2 inches of the soil feel dry to the touch. This is often once a week, but you might need to adjust based on individual factors.
- Seasons: During the hotter months, the soil dries up quickly. Change the watering schedule to once every 5-7 days. In winter increase the duration to 10-14 days.
- Humidity: a dry arid environment means that the plant and soil lose their moisture easily. The only way to compensate for that is by increasing watering frequency.
- Plant location: If your plant sits beside a south-facing window, it’ll get a lot of light and heat. That would make it get thirsty more often than one that’s placed in a shady spot.
- Potting mix: Water passes through a well-draining soil pretty quickly. A light mix requires more frequent draining than heavy or dense soil.
- Pot size: Smaller pots typically need more frequent watering. They dry out faster than bigger pots or garden patches.
- Plant size and maturity: Small-sized spider plants need less water than big bushy ones. I usually put young spider plants in smaller pots to avoid overwatering.
Signs of Thirst
- The leaves are drooping, curling, or wrinkly.
- Faded green leaves
- Dry soil that crumbles and gives off dust
Signs of Overwatering
- Lower leaves start yellowing
- Brown spots around the tips of leaves
- Soggy dark soil
Watering Tips
- Water your plant generously to make sure the roots are fully hydrated.
- Use rainwater or filtered water to avoid mineral buildup in the soil.
- Mist the leaves occasionally to increase humidity if the climate is too dry.
Your Spider Plant Isn’t Getting The Right Light
Spider plants are generally not too finicky when it comes to lighting. Then again, there are optimal conditions for the growth and well-being of any plant.
Here’s how to keep your spider plant happy.
Ideal Lighting
Spider plants thrive best in surroundings that mimic their natural habitat in tropical or subtropical regions. These bushy plants typically grow under the canopies of taller trees.
To replicate this ambiance, place your spider plant in bright, indirect, sunlight. It needs at least 6-8 hours of indirect light each day.
East or North facing windows are great, as they provide ample morning or afternoon sunlight while keeping out the harsh midday glare.
Tolerable Lighting
Spider plants would still survive in low light. They might lose their variegation though, and take longer to grow. There’s a slim chance that they would produce spiderettes.
To help your plant a little, you can place it under a fluorescent lamp. You can even keep it on at night, as this assistive light isn’t as effective as natural light.
12-16 hours of fluorescent light per day should be good. If you can get full-spectrum light bulbs, that would be even better.
Terrible Lighting
Avoid direct sunlight by all means! This would immediately burn the leaves, causing dryness, wilting, and discoloration of the plant.
The flip side of that coin is also problematic. In deep shade, the spider plant becomes leggy and weak.
If your plant is drooping, that could be the cause.
Pests Are Attacking Your Spider Plant
Spider plants are pest-resistant when they are healthy and strong. Once they lose their vitality, some nasty bugs might attack!
Common Pests
- Aphids
- Thrips
- Mealybugs
- Scale
- Spider mites
- Fungal gnats
Signs of an Infestation
- Visible moving bugs, webs, honeydew, or eggs
- Damaged leaves
- Curling, wilting, or droopy leaves
- Stunted growth
Treatment
You have three options for combating pests, depending on the severity of the infestation.
1- you can use natural methods, like neem oil, or mechanically pick out the infested parts of the plant. Giving your plant a good wash can also remove the bugs if you catch them early enough.
2- Larger infestations require bigger guns. I use insecticides from time to time with stubborn pests. It’s not my favorite option, but it saves the plant.
3- Biological control is another alternative, which is mainly using friendly bugs to keep off harmful pests. Ladybugs and lacewings are commonly used for that.
Prevention
Inspect your spider plant regularly for any signs of pests. If you notice anything odd, remove the infected part right away. You can also spray neem oil every other week to deter the bugs.
Spider Plant Fertilization Might Need Adjustment
Spider plants are hardy, so, it’s not necessary to feed them regularly with fertilizers. But if you do, your plant will look lush and it could possibly bloom.
Ideal Fertilization
Supplementing the soil with a balanced fertilizer can be helpful. Use NPK with a 1:1:1 ratio. I use 20-20-20, and my plant likes it a lot!
You can use water-soluble or slow-release fertilizers. Both work great, but the slow-release varieties last longer and come with a higher price tag.
What to Avoid
Fertilizers high in nitrogen are harmful to your spider plant, so avoid these. They speed up the plant’s growth too much, so it looks leggy and weak.
If you’re using it, that could be why your spider plant is drooping.
Another reason for drooping is using too much fertilizer. If you see a white crust on the soil, that indicates mineral buildup from the fertilizer.
Timing
Timing is critical. It’s best to apply fertilizer at the beginning of the spider plant’s growing season. That’s usually in spring and summer. In winter, which is the dormant season, don’t add any fertilizer.
The Soil Is Not Helping Your Spider Plant
Spider plants are forgiving when it comes to soil types. Their main requirement is steering clear from extremes.
A dense, clay, heavy soil becomes water-logged and leads to root rot. On the other hand, light, sandy, loose soil drains too quickly and dries up. Both situations make the plant weak and drooping.
The ideal soil for spider plants is one that’s loamy, fertile, aerated, and slightly acidic. You can add organic matter, perlite, pumice, and coco coir to improve soil properties.
Aim for a potting mix that drains well, and holds on to the moisture without becoming soggy. You can also top it up with a mulch layer to keep it moist and discourage weeds.
Your Spider Plant Might Need Repotting
Spider plants need repotting every 1-2 years, or when you feel that they’ve become too big for their pots. Roots protruding from drainage holes are a clear sign that the plant needs repotting.
I recommend changing the potting mix whenever you repot your plant, instead of topping up the old soil with a fresh layer. This would revitalize your plant and readjust its pH.
Spider plants sometimes seem to be tired and drooping after repotting. This is normal, and the plant often regains its vivacity in a couple of weeks.
FAQs
Q1: Should you rotate a spider plant?
Yes. I strongly recommend rotating your spider plant regularly. This would guarantee that the plant would get even lighting, which prevents its lopsided growth.
Q2: Where should you place a spider plant?
The ideal location for a spider plant is beside a brightly lit window. If your window is facing the east or north, that would be amazing.
Q3: Do spider plants like direct sunlight?
No. It would scorch the plant and burn the leaves. But that doesn’t mean that it’s a shade plant.
If the light coming in is too harsh, then it’s best to place a curtain. If there isn’t enough light coming in, augment the lighting by installing a fluorescent lamp or grow lights.
Q4: Do spider plants like big or small pots?
This depends on the size of your spider plant. A bigger pot is perfect for fully-grown spider plants. It would keep the soil humid and moist for a longer duration, which would keep your plant perky.
Smaller spider plants are best placed in smaller pots to avoid root rot and excessive watering.
Final Thoughts
Spider plants are tough guys, but they’d show signs of unhappiness if their basic needs aren’t met. If your spider plant is drooping, there are a bunch of reasons you need to consider.
Overwatering is the most common cause your spider plant isn’t perky. So this is what you need to check first. You might need to repot your plant with a fresh potting mix if it’s waterlogged.
Having checked that, you can move on to lighting, pest infestations, and fertilization. If all is well, see if the temperature and humidity around your plant are optimal.
Everything is fixable, but you need to spot the root cause!
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.