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nogreenthumb91

Spider Plant in trouble.

NoGreenThumb91
9 years ago

Help!!
Brand new spiderplant is having major difficulties. When it first came home it was thriving, had 3 stems with spider babies hanging quite low. However the root ball was severely bound tothepoint of the roots growing about 3 inches out of the drainage holes. I decided to I re-potted to a pot that is about an inch and a half from the ball of roots, I potted it in standard soil which is a mix of perlite, peat moss and some wood chips and dirt (?) It seems to drain really well, but the tips are browning on all leaves, and the centers down a few are completely black. Its stil faintly damp in the soil and im waiting to water. It hangs from a very large north facing window,usually with the blind sligtly open. Ilive in northern california which has had a really high temperature the last 4 days. Ill attach pictures, if anyone knows what I can do, or not do...please feel free to advise.

Comments (6)

  • drmbear Cherry
    9 years ago

    It's almost impossible to kill these things - it's why they are a popular houseplant. Keys, from my experience of keeping around the same couple of plants for about 30 years now, is to let the soil dry out between watering, but they thrive on regular watering. Even if you forget to water for weeks, though (been there, done that), and a lot of the plant suffers, resuming watering revives it just fine. Just make sure to allow it to dry out almost completely between watering. It would probably do better in a better location than a north facing window, they do enjoy getting some sun, but like I said - hard to kill.

  • agathafroo
    9 years ago

    I've been told the leaf tips can brown if it's been watered with heavily chlorinated or softened water...I only use water that's been sitting out a while.

    I think it will be fine. They do love being root-bound, but as you've transplanted to only a bit larger pot it should recover.

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    9 years ago

    Browning tips of the leaves on spider plants can be attributed to a couple of things - uneven watering and the presence of both chlorine and fluoride in the irrigation water. Do NOT let the soil dry excessively between waterings - maintaining consistently even soil moisture is most desireable.

    And if you have heavily treated or hard tap water, try watering with distilled or filtered water.

    Also, these plants produce rather prodigious root systems given their size. Thry do not care to be rootbound so pot up as necessary. Being rootbound can affect the ability of the potting medium to retain moisture, allowing it to dry out too much between waterings.

  • agathafroo
    9 years ago

    gardengal, I've always heard that spider plants prefer to be pretty darn root bound:

    "Since spider plants prefer a semi-potbound environment, repot them only when their large, fleshy roots are highly visible and watering is difficult."

    Have you had a different experience?

    Agree on not letting the soil dry out too much.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Gardening tips for spider plants

  • vetivert8
    9 years ago

    If you take it out of its pot and slosh it about in water until its roots are looser.

    Choose a hanging pot that is wider than it is high. One of those bowl types, with a minimum of five open holes.

    Put about 2" of a good potting mix - no peat - into the bottom and make a gentle mound in the middle. If it has added slow-release fertiliser and NO 'water crystals' all the better.

    Have a bowl of the mix to one side so you can dip into it easily. Or use a scoop that takes about a cupful.

    Also have a big bowl or container of water at hand. If your local water is stinky with chemicals set the water to air for twenty four hours or more.

    Do a dry run with the spider, placing it over the mound.

    It will be about right when the join between the leaves and the roots is about half to one inch below the rim. Add or remove soil to let this happen.

    As best you can, spread the roots and nodules over the mound and hold the plant steady while you cover the roots with soil from your container.

    As you go, gently bump the pot, holding the plant steady, so the dryish mixture can sift down among the root tangles. Continue until all the roots are covered and the leaves are clear of mix. Bump for luck!

    Hold the bowl in the water and let the soil soak it up from the bottom drain holes. Go slowly, especially if the mix is dry. (If you go too fast the air in the mix blows plant and mix out of the pot and - leads to tears...)

    When the bowl and plant sink gently into the water wait until the bubbles stop. 5-10 minutes, usually. Bring it out to drain and, if the mix has settled to reveal roots, top up the mix, then spray or use a watering can (filled from the big container) to moisten that.

    Leave the spider in a shaded place out of draughts to settle down for about a week.

    If that doesn't work - plant it in the garden while it still has life. Somewhere shady under trees, or under a deck where there's dappled light, and snip off a baby or two to try again in a pot where you won't have to contend with pot-bound roots.

    Don't worry about frosts. The leaves blacken and can look awful but they'll refresh in spring, no trouble at all.

    PS If you know all the things I offered for potting - apologies for excess info.

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    9 years ago

    Spiders will tolerate being root bound but certainly do not prefer to be root bound - remember these are plants that grow outdoors naturally in suitable climates. And they rapidly produce a dense mass of fleshy roots that can fill a pot in no time, reducing the ability of the potting medium to retain moisture. And the more likley the plant is to dry out between waterings, the faster the brown tips will develop.

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