Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) has a reputation as one of the easiest houseplants around. It is one of the most common houseplants and is easily grown. Its weak spot? Water. Too much of it, too often, in a pot that doesn’t drain.
The good news: an overwatered spider plant can often be saved, especially if you catch it before the roots rot. Here’s how to tell what’s going on, what to do about it, and how to keep it from happening again.
A quick introduction first. Chlorophytum comosum (kloe-roe-fy-tum koe-MOE-sum) is an herbaceous perennial in the asparagus family. Its native range is tropical West Africa to Cameroon and Ethiopia to South Africa.
Why Too Much Water Hurts a Spider Plant
Roots need air as much as they need water. Clemson Extension’s houseplant disease guide says overwatering decreases the amount of oxygen available for root growth and favors the development of root diseases, and that overwatered roots die from a lack of oxygen.
That’s when rot moves in. Root and stem rots are caused by organisms such as Pythium, Phytophthora and Rhizoctonia, and too much water increases the occurrence of root rot. The UC Statewide IPM Program notes that Pythium and Phytophthora are water molds rather than true fungi, and that they often kill only part of the root system, leaving the plant with poor growth, yellowing and stunting.
Spider plants are no exception. The Missouri Botanical Garden says they are susceptible to root rot if waterlogged, and root rot usually results from a soil mix that does not drain quickly or from excessive watering.
Below the soil, spider plants grow thick, fleshy, tuberous roots, and those tubers store reserve food.
Signs Your Spider Plant Is Overwatered
Above the soil, overwatering can look like a lot of other problems. Here’s what to watch for, and why the roots have the final word.
- Yellowing leaves. Yellowing of the entire plant is most often a symptom of overwatering. yellow leaves as a sign of an overwatered plant.
- Wilting in wet soil. UC IPM says wilting is usually caused by underwatering or too much light, but it may also come from root decay, often tied to overwatering or poor drainage. It advises inspecting the roots whenever a plant wilts. More on why spider plant leaves begin to droop.
- Soft stem bases. Soft stem bases usually indicate overwatering. Stems may also be girdled at or near the soil line by a ring of brown or black tissue.
- Yellowing and dropping leaves. UC IPM lists overwatering and poor soil drainage among the causes, along with low light and cold.
- Soil that stays soggy. UC IPM says soggy soil can result from overwatering or poor drainage.
- Fungus gnats. UC IPM says overwatering and poor drainage may promote fungus gnat populations. More on getting rid of fungus gnats.
- Brown leaf tips. UC IPM says brown tips are usually caused by overfertilization, salt buildup, or excessively dry or wet soil. More on that below.
Check the Roots
Here’s the test that settles it. Illinois Extension suggests carefully removing the plant from its container and looking at the roots. Its horticulture educator says that, with some exceptions, healthy plants generally have white roots. Rusty orange to light brown roots point to underwatering. Dark brown to black roots point to overwatering.
Roots infected with rot are brown to black and may be soft. Healthy roots should be white, entirely or at least under their outer covering, and that off-color roots, especially at the root tips, often mean root rot is present.
How To Save an Overwatered Spider Plant
What you do next depends on what you found under the soil.
Tip: If your plant has plantlets with roots, pot a few up before you start. Spider plant plantlets root readily when they touch soil and can be started at any time of year: detach them once roots have formed and pot them directly into moist growing mix. If the parent plant doesn’t pull through, you’ll still have spider plants.
If the Roots Still Look Healthy
Caught it early? Put the watering can down. If overwatering is the issue, withhold water until the soil is quite dry, then gradually begin a new watering schedule.
While it dries, empty any water sitting in the saucer or decorative pot. Eliminate standing water and let the soil dry as much as possible between waterings.
Keep the plant in bright, indirect light while it recovers. Spider plants grow best in bright indirect light and can tolerate some direct sunlight, but midday light may scorch the leaves. Advice on direct sun varies, and spider plant is also described as intolerant of direct sunlight. I’ve photographed spider plants growing in full sun at neighbors’ homes, both as an in-ground groundcover and in pots. While yours recovers, though, stick with bright, indirect light. One note for Florida gardeners: the Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas predicted the spider plant to become invasive in Florida, and it is no longer recommended there.
The follow-up steps: after two weeks, apply a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer, and if there’s no improvement in the next two weeks, repot in fresh soil.
If Some Roots Are Rotted
Soft, dark roots mean it’s time to repot. The advice: if only a few roots are infected, cut out those roots and repot the plant in sterile soil. Use sterilized soil and pots.
- Ease the plant out of its pot and gently loosen the old, wet soil from the roots.
- Cut away the dark, soft roots with clean, sharp pruners. Keep the firm, white ones.
- Remove yellowed leaves. Cut off yellowed foliage and brown tips.
- Repot in fresh, sterile potting soil in a clean pot with drainage holes. Always use sterile potting soil when repotting, and choose a general-purpose potting soil with good drainage.
- Hold off on fertilizer. Wait four to six months before feeding newly potted spider plants.
What about a fungicide? Fungicides are available, but most indoor gardeners will find they probably cost more than a new plant.
If Most of the Roots Are Dead
Sometimes the kindest move is to start over. If most of the roots are dark, soft and dead, it is better to discard the plant. When a houseplant can’t practically be restored, it may be better to discard it and get a new one.
With a spider plant, starting over can cost nothing. Rooted plantlets from the old plant, potted in fresh mix, give you a new one.
Have more plantlets than pots? If you garden in Florida, don’t plant the extras outdoors. The Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas predicts spider plant to be invasive in north, central and south Florida and does not recommend it.
Brown Tips: Overwatering or Something Else?
Brown tips on a spider plant have more than one cause, and overwatering is only one of them. Brown leaf tips are usually caused by overfertilization, salt buildup, or excessively dry or wet soil. On spider plants, leaf tip burn is caused by too much fertilizer or water high in soluble salts, and that low humidity and excessively dry soil may also cause brown tips.
Water quality matters too. Too much salt and excess fluoride in the water are among the causes of brown tips. NC State Extension says to avoid watering with tap water because the chlorine and fluoride can cause leaf tip burn. UF/IFAS says spider plant is particularly sensitive to fluoridated water and that rainwater or distilled water is best if your tap water is fluoridated.
Dry air is another cause. Use a humidifier, or setting the pot on a tray of pebbles with water, to raise the humidity.
Be realistic about it: brown tips will occur unless conditions are perfect. Trim them off and fix the cause. More on brown tips on houseplants in general.
How To Water a Spider Plant So It Doesn’t Happen Again
The fix is a routine built around letting the soil dry a little, not watering on autopilot.
- Let it dry out briefly first. Spider plants should dry out briefly between waterings, so check the soil daily. To put a number on it: let the upper inch of soil dry out briefly between waterings.
- Then water well. Indoor spider plants need watering well when in full growth and should be kept moderately moist.
- Water less in winter. Reduce watering during winter.
- Use a mix that drains. Choose a general-purpose potting soil with good drainage, since root rot usually comes from a mix that does not drain quickly.
- Use a pot with drainage holes, and empty the saucer. Drainage gets worse as potting mix ages, settles and compacts in the bottom of containers, so eliminate standing water. Growing yours in a hanging basket? Check that it drains, too.
- Repot on time. A potted spider plant will thrive with repotting once a year while young and every other year once mature. Divide and repot before the roots expand enough to crack the container.
- Keep water off the leaves. UC IPM says leaf spot fungi spread in splashing water, and advises avoiding splashing water onto foliage and watering early in the day so leaves dry quickly.
Has your spider plant ever bounced back from a soggy spell? Tell us what worked for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you save an overwatered spider plant?
Often, yes. If overwatering is the issue, withhold water until the soil is quite dry, then gradually begin a new watering schedule. If some roots have rotted, cut out the infected roots and repot in sterile soil. If most roots are dark, soft and dead, it is better to discard the plant, and rooted plantlets can give you a fresh start.
What does an overwatered spider plant look like?
Yellowing is the classic sign: yellowing of the entire plant is most often caused by overwatering. Other signs are wilting from root decay, soft stem bases, and yellowing, dropping leaves. Soil that stays soggy and fungus gnats are other clues. To be sure, check the roots: dark brown to black roots mean the plant is overwatered.
How can I tell if my spider plant has root rot?
Look at the roots. Roots infected with rot are brown to black and may be soft, and stems may be girdled at the soil line by a ring of brown or black tissue. Healthy roots should be white, and off-color roots, especially at the tips, often mean root rot is present. Spider plants are susceptible to root rot if waterlogged.
Does overwatering cause brown tips on spider plants?
It can, but it’s not the only cause. Brown leaf tips are usually caused by overfertilization, salt buildup, or excessively dry or wet soil. Spider plant tip burn comes from too much fertilizer or water high in soluble salts, plus low humidity or very dry soil. Spider plant is also particularly sensitive to fluoridated water and that rainwater or distilled water is best if your tap water is fluoridated.
How often should I water a spider plant?
Water after the soil has dried out briefly. Spider plants should dry out briefly between waterings, so check the soil daily and let the upper inch of soil dry out briefly first. Reduce watering during winter. Use a well-drained potting soil and a pot with drainage holes so extra water can escape.
