Why are your leaves on your new spider plant drying turning brown?
Why we love them:
They can grow in low light
When treated right, they THRIVE
Can survive multiple sub-optimal conditions
Produce spiderlings and flowers easily which is a big bonus for new plant parents.
Can be grown indoors or outdoors (outdoors only in the warm weather for Philly)
How to Care for them (properly):
Ideal lighting for Spider Plants is bright indirect sunlight for indoors and part shade when they are outside.
Water with fluoride free water only when the soil is basically dry, but not all the way dry, check on the moisture and humidity levels consistently
Fertilize with a light water soluble formula and look out for salt buildup, which would need to be flushed out asap.
Usually, there are simple answers that may or may note be easy for you to correct. Most of the reasons are because of care-taking errors. Over exposure to light, moisture (too much, too little), stress, and inforrect drainage. We have learned our fair share from mistakes we have personally each made.
Let’s chat about what we can do to either get you back on track or prevent failure from the jump!
Number 1: SUN LIGHT
These guys are sensitive to the light. Too much will scorch them. When outside, we need to ensure they are not in direct light, or else you will see brown spots immediately. Indoors they want bright but indirect light. If you see the leaves scorching, move the plant to another spot.
Number 2: Watering and Fertilizing
To make the right environment, we need a well draining soil that also holds some moisture content. Too much water without enough drainage will cause root rot (sad and bad). Root rot damages the plant and basically starves it. The root system can no longer get nutrients to the rest of the plant. If that happens, repot your plant with more soil and make sure the new pot has proper drainage. Not enough water will cause the plant to dry out.
Water quality also plays a big role. Fluoride can cause a toxic environment for your plants. It can stop photosynthesis from processing and would be detrimental to their survival. If you suspect this, you can flush your plant with rain water (amazing for plants) or distilled water.
Fertilizer is important too. You want to select a water-soluble formula and make sure it is diluted. The issue here is that with consistent fertilizing, you can end up leaving too much salt behind in the soil. It builds up over time and needs to be flushed out when detected, and there may also need to be a possible soil change and repotting. Fertilize every 3 months for optimal health.
Moisture via humidity. Most plants need humidity to really thrive. During the winter especially, move your plant into a room with good humidity. Too much of anything good or bad is not great. If you see black on your leaves, it may be a sign of disease caused by too much humidity. Bacterial leaf blight starts off as light spots that turn brown then black. Remove infected leaves, change the environmental issues, and if that reaches the stems, then it is a lost cause. You will have to toss that little bugger to avoid infecting your other plants.
We also recommend watching a youtube video by Kevin from epic garding.com
6 Most Common Reasons for Brown Tips on Spider Plant Leaves
.