Need help for my ailing spider plant? - Ask Extension
My once lush spider plant has diminished to scraggly leaves that sprout with dried out brown tipped leaves. Some leaves have what looks like a rash. I...
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Need help for my ailing spider plant? #862919
Asked March 31, 2024, 12:14 PM EDT
My once lush spider plant has diminished to scraggly leaves that sprout with dried out brown tipped leaves. Some leaves have what looks like a rash. I’ve applied copper fungicide, to no avail. Previously the pieces pictured were in a large plastic pot the a drainage well and stones that I inserted. Pictured are parts I’ve pulled and placed in water, and one I replanted. Hoping they can be saved.
Prince George's County Maryland
Expert Response
It would be simpler to start fresh with a new plant, given how weakened the remaining pieces look. The fine speckling on the foliage is feeding damage from spider mites or a similar indoor plant pest, which can be fairly common on stressed plants and those in low humidity environments. They can be rinsed off with plain tap water under a faucet, though it would be tricky to do this without also over-watering the soil in the pot, since the pot is so much larger than the plant. Speaking of this, the plant in the terra cotta pot is over-potted based on its current size, so unless it happens to have a quite large root system for so little foliage, it should be in a pot that barely accommodates its current root system size. Otherwise, it will be easier to accidentally over-water.
Do not apply fungicide unless a fungal disease has been diagnosed and the product chosen can be used indoors; very few fungicides are legal (or safe enough) to apply inside unless the label explicitly contains directions for that use. Copper fungicide is broad-spectrum, working to suppress a range of plant pathogens, but if over-applied, copper toxicity can injure a plant. Plus, no fungicide can cure existing disease; they are only able to reduce the risk of infection, and even then, are not foolproof and always successful.
When repotting plants, choose pots that have at least one unobstructed drain hole in the base (that is, if the manufacturer has a pre-drilled hole, make sure any plug in it is removed). If the pot sits on a saucer, that saucer should be emptied promptly of drained water after the plant is watered so the excess moisture doesn't seep back into the drain hole(s) and keep the root zone too wet. Spider plant, plus many other houseplants, do not fare well if kept constantly moist. The top inch or more of soil depth (depending on pot size) should get fairly dry to the touch between waterings so the roots have a chance to "breathe" and air-out in between.
When pot shards, stones/gravel, packing peanuts, or any other material is used in the base of a pot, it actually worsens drainage, not improves it. Only use potting mix all the way through a container, and if a container is too big to fill, select a smaller or shallower pot size.
How long ago was the plant put into fresh potting mix? If it's been a year or two, old mix can retain too many mineral resides from tap water and fertilizer (together, these are called "salts," even if no sodium is present). As levels build up, they can start to damage roots, causing dieback. By replacing potting mix with fresh every few years, this keeps the root zone more well-oxygenated and not too salty. Brown leaf tips can arise from several causes, but ambient humidity that is too low, soil that has become too salty, root loss from either over-watering or under-watering, and using a water source that actually may have some sodium (like bottled water or water that comes through a water softener) can all be potential reasons.
Spider plant prefers moderate levels of light, though they tolerate lower levels for a time. Are/were the plants grown near a bright window, or were they several feet away from a window? If the latter, it might have been too dim for them to thrive and tolerate other stress factors.
Miri
Do not apply fungicide unless a fungal disease has been diagnosed and the product chosen can be used indoors; very few fungicides are legal (or safe enough) to apply inside unless the label explicitly contains directions for that use. Copper fungicide is broad-spectrum, working to suppress a range of plant pathogens, but if over-applied, copper toxicity can injure a plant. Plus, no fungicide can cure existing disease; they are only able to reduce the risk of infection, and even then, are not foolproof and always successful.
When repotting plants, choose pots that have at least one unobstructed drain hole in the base (that is, if the manufacturer has a pre-drilled hole, make sure any plug in it is removed). If the pot sits on a saucer, that saucer should be emptied promptly of drained water after the plant is watered so the excess moisture doesn't seep back into the drain hole(s) and keep the root zone too wet. Spider plant, plus many other houseplants, do not fare well if kept constantly moist. The top inch or more of soil depth (depending on pot size) should get fairly dry to the touch between waterings so the roots have a chance to "breathe" and air-out in between.
When pot shards, stones/gravel, packing peanuts, or any other material is used in the base of a pot, it actually worsens drainage, not improves it. Only use potting mix all the way through a container, and if a container is too big to fill, select a smaller or shallower pot size.
How long ago was the plant put into fresh potting mix? If it's been a year or two, old mix can retain too many mineral resides from tap water and fertilizer (together, these are called "salts," even if no sodium is present). As levels build up, they can start to damage roots, causing dieback. By replacing potting mix with fresh every few years, this keeps the root zone more well-oxygenated and not too salty. Brown leaf tips can arise from several causes, but ambient humidity that is too low, soil that has become too salty, root loss from either over-watering or under-watering, and using a water source that actually may have some sodium (like bottled water or water that comes through a water softener) can all be potential reasons.
Spider plant prefers moderate levels of light, though they tolerate lower levels for a time. Are/were the plants grown near a bright window, or were they several feet away from a window? If the latter, it might have been too dim for them to thrive and tolerate other stress factors.
Miri
Hi Miri,
Thanks so much for this information. I had the plant in that large container but took it out and put some parts in filtered tap water (is that okay?) and the one you mentioned was replanted in fresh soil. I will put it and others in a smaller pot and move them. I will rinse the leaves as you suggested before repotting. I inherited this plant from a cousin who died over 20 years ago and it thrived. For sentimental reasons, I am trying to save it.
The copper fungicide was recommended by a plant care app. During a recent trip to Brookside Gardens, a woman who works in the gift shop suggested I contact you. So glad I did!
Kindly,
Julia
Hello Julia,
We understand that plants with sentimental value you'd want to keep, so hopefully it begins some new growth later this spring as it recovers. You can re-rinse or wipe (with plain water) the foliage about once a week for several repeats to reduce any mite numbers still present. It's fine to keep cuttings in filtered tap water so they root, though water quality aside, it's best to get plants (once they are rooted) into the normal potting mix they'll be growing in soon after rooting so they don't get too acclimated to the water by itself. (Transplant shock might be greater if they develop lots of roots and then are moved into soil.)
If the plant(s) in fresh soil are in a mix that does not contain fertilizer (some potting soil brands do, some don't), you can start adding some in mild doses later this spring IF the plant shows signs of new growth. Otherwise, hold off on fertilizer until there are indications of new leaves.
Unfortunately plant care apps are only as good as the information they draw from online (or what they are programmed with if they work offline), and unless they use science-based resources like Extension programs, their recommendations might not be very reliable or effective. Sometimes plant ID apps that similarly use artificial intelligence can be surprisingly accurate, but even then, they are still imperfect and their suggested results should be double-checked with other resources. We're glad you found us through Brookside Gardens, and feel free to submit other questions as needed in the future!
Miri
We understand that plants with sentimental value you'd want to keep, so hopefully it begins some new growth later this spring as it recovers. You can re-rinse or wipe (with plain water) the foliage about once a week for several repeats to reduce any mite numbers still present. It's fine to keep cuttings in filtered tap water so they root, though water quality aside, it's best to get plants (once they are rooted) into the normal potting mix they'll be growing in soon after rooting so they don't get too acclimated to the water by itself. (Transplant shock might be greater if they develop lots of roots and then are moved into soil.)
If the plant(s) in fresh soil are in a mix that does not contain fertilizer (some potting soil brands do, some don't), you can start adding some in mild doses later this spring IF the plant shows signs of new growth. Otherwise, hold off on fertilizer until there are indications of new leaves.
Unfortunately plant care apps are only as good as the information they draw from online (or what they are programmed with if they work offline), and unless they use science-based resources like Extension programs, their recommendations might not be very reliable or effective. Sometimes plant ID apps that similarly use artificial intelligence can be surprisingly accurate, but even then, they are still imperfect and their suggested results should be double-checked with other resources. We're glad you found us through Brookside Gardens, and feel free to submit other questions as needed in the future!
Miri
