Why are the leave on my new spider plant turning brown??
by
Joan Brooke
+19
Bought it last weekend - now the leaves are turning brown - have kept it on the kitchen table - some sun but not too much. HELP!
15 answers
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Browning at the tips or at the base? Even though spider plants are good for low light, I find they do better in moderate to bright light conditions indoors. Too much water and lack of light can cause browning foliage.
Heidi @ Heidi Ho-rticulture
on Sep 28, 2013
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they are picky about the water...mine alwyas had brown leaf tips..WE live on a hillside, 4 block lower than a water tower.. good (?) dose of chlorine. I started to water with filtered water ,,that has helped mine..I also only water when they start to look faded and turn slightly pale.. or on the 1st ~15th of the month....
Wanda sinnema
on Sep 28, 2013
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THANKS! Will surely try filtered water.
Joan Brooke
on Sep 28, 2013
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Too much water. you might want to try sticking your finger on the pot and waiting til it's dry before you water. they are wonderful plants. I planted some in a strawberry pot and they did great. good luck
JoAnna
on Sep 30, 2013
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Your welcome Joan. finally something I know a little about. ;)
JoAnna
on Sep 30, 2013
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I cut them off, but at an angle. they look nice that way and it promotes growth
JoAnna
on Sep 30, 2013
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Sounds like you have been "loving" it a bit to much. They do best with benign neglect. I have 3 and love them, and they are great for improving air quality. Which can also cause the tips to turn brown. I'm like JoAnna, I trim off the tips.
Catherine Smith
on Sep 30, 2013
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Thanks! I have trimmed the tips, so we'll see....
Joan Brooke
on Sep 30, 2013
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@Joan Brooke you have a lot of good advice here. Sometimes when you bring a plant home, it will react to changes in its environement - changes in light, watering etc. If you follow the advice on here and give it time to adapt I am sure it will stabalize, they usually do. If you are still concerned in a few more weeks, move to a location with more light. They do well near most windows, and the winter climate change at the window doesn't usually have any effect. Good luck, enjoy, they are such beautiful house plants.
Gail Salminen
on Sep 30, 2013
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When your spider plant settles down and is happy you will eventually find it will make new plants. Lots of little spidies! You can pull them off when they show signs of some roots at the base and you will have lots of new plants. I had one of these plants as a child, it sat on the windowsill in our hall and it made many new bubs! It was almost indestructible and I agree they thrive on neglect. I think I only watered mine when it was dry or maybe once per week. Good luck!
Carole
on Sep 30, 2013
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Hi Joan, all these answers are great ones but spider plants are like ferns, they will turn brown on the ends because of touching things like the wall or you clothing or the oil from your hands. They are very touchy in this way.
Tracy Halman
on Sep 30, 2013
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Thanks!
Joan Brooke
on Oct 01, 2013
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I was given one a few months ago and I had to play with it to get the watering right. I have mine in my bathroom, under the sky light (on top of a cabinet) and only water about every 10 days, and it is now flowering! I've never had one flower before. It's now looking great.
Jean DeSavage
on Oct 01, 2013
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Thanks! (Do you know that in Maryland we pay TAX on rainwater!!!????!!!
Joan Brooke
on Oct 01, 2013
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Generally speaking, the spider plant is a real easy plant to care for. If the leaves are brown and turn crispy right away, they you are probably not watering enough. If they are brown and mushy, then it is probably too much water.
Coco Tree Service Corp
on Oct 02, 2013
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