Why are my Spider Plant Leaves Turning Yellow? Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
Spider plants are generally resilient indoor plants, that can adapt to most household conditions. So when you see your spider plants’ leaves turning yellow, it is a cry for help and that action is required…quickly. There are many things that can cause yellow leaves, like:
- changes in the surrounding environment,
- water stress from too much or too little water, or
- the presence of toxic substances in the soil or water.
It may seem overwhelming at first, but we have got you covered. We’ve all had plants take a turn for the worse at some point in time. And we are here to provide reassurance that your plant is not doomed.
By using our troubleshooting guide (below), and implementing the suggested remedies quickly, you’ll be enjoying a thriving spider plant in no time.
So take a deep breath, and let’s jump into rescue and revival mode!
Why are the leaves on my spider plant turning Yellow? – The Causes
Okay, so the good news is we are already heading in the right direction.
You have identified that your spider plant is showing signs of distress with yellowing leaves. This is a good thing, because yellow leaves can sometimes be the initial stages before further symptoms develop in your spider plant. So you have caught the problem early – HIGH FIVE!
Let’s take a look at potential reasons that can cause an indoor spider plant to turn yellow.
Water Stressed Spider Plants
Even though spider plants are considered easy to care for, they can experience water stress if they receive too much or too little water. And as you can probably guess, yellow leaves are one way they signal to you that you need to up your watering game.
As with all plants, too little water will cause dehydration. Dehydrated spider plants become weak and prone to disease and pests. This will snow ball into further problems, which is not a road you want to go down.
On the other hand, too much water tends to create soggy potting soil – especially if you are not using the right indoor soil with good drainage. Soggy soil can lead to root rot which is extremely detrimental to spider plants, and will usually end in their demise.
Suggested Remedy for Water Stressed Spider Plants
The big question is how do you know if you are providing the perfect amount of water for your plant?
We like to use a method that has proven extremely reliable – called the soil moisture finger test. It is a simple and effective technique that indicates when to water your plants.
Simply dig your finger about an inch deep into the topsoil around your spider plant and test the moisture levels. If soil