Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is a popular houseplant that thrives in bright indirect sunlight. Healthy spider plant usually produces plantlets and conspicuous flowers without much effort.
But this only happens if the grower follows ultimate guidelines of airplane plant care. Any silly mistakes will make your houseplant to start turning brownish or black in color.
So, why does my spider plant have brown tips? It could be due to exposure to direct sunlight, low humidity, salt buildup, water stress, diseases, and fluoride content.
The good news is that there is no need to freak. We have compiled a guide highlighting the possible causes and ways of fixing these problems. Keep reading for more insight.
Here is a Quick Guide for Spider Plant Care
Main Reasons for Brown Tips on Spider Plant Leaves
These reasons include:
Water Stress
The situation happens due to overwatering and under watering your houseplant. Water stress is the leading cause of brown tips on airplane plant leaves.
Overwatering is known for causing root rot. The disease inhibits the flow of nutrients, minerals and water to other parts of the plant. Failure to fix the issue will make the spider plant to die.
On the other hand, under watering make the houseplant leaves start drooping and drying out after some time. The plant is known for flourishing in moist soil.
Therefore, too much moisture and too low moisture make the plant leaves to experience browning tips. Understanding the spider plant water requirement will save from this houseplant heartbreak.
Fluoride Content in Water
Subjecting airplane plant to water full of fluoride content will make the leaves start having brown tops. Research shows that fluoride content is toxic to many houseplants, and spider plant is not an exception.
Individuals using tap water do experience such issues most of the time. The buildup of fluoride inhibits natural photosynthesis process and damage of vital tissues in the plant.
Sometimes, excessive accumulation of fluoride content makes the houseplant unable to facilitate opening and closing of stomata. Thus, make the plant unable to flush out wastes.
Over Fertilization of the Plant
Another popular cause of brown tips on spider plant is over-fertilization. The activity results in excessive accumulation of salt around the plant.
Too much salt buildup from fertilizer is toxic to the plant. It is the possible cause of brown tips on the spider plant leaves.
Understanding the fertilizer requirement of your plant is quite important. Keep in mind that spider plants are only fertilized twice during spring and summer.
Direct Exposure to High-Intensity Sunlight
One of the exciting about spider plants is that they can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Having a successful growth will depend on the amount of sunlight exposure.
Too much sunlight makes the leaves to scorch, and even the plant start drying out. The heat causes the soil to lose moisture, and this will trigger wilting.
Giving your houseplant filtered light help to limit the browning of leaves. The plant will grow healthy and improve the appearance of your space.
Low Humidity Level
Airplane plants prefer high humidity to flourish and blossom. Low humidity makes the surround dry and later trigger the browning tips of the plant leaves.
Maintaining the humidity requirement of your plant throughout all seasons is the best option. It will help prevent the occurrence of scorched leaves.
Understand the humidity requirement of the houseplant during winter, spring and summer. It is the only way of fixing the browning tips.
Plant Diseases
If you notice the spider plant leaves turning black with brown tips, then it is a clear indicator of bacterial leaf blight.
The issue starts typically as a simple brown tip on the leave. The condition begins to spread out slowly making the leaves brown and eventually black.
Dealing with this bacterial disease is a daunting experience. If the condition affects the stem of the plant, then there is nothing more you can do.
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How to Fix Brown Tips of Spider Plant Leaves
Fixing brown tips of the spider plant leaves start with identifying the cause of the problem. It is the best option to prevent doing further damage on the houseplant.
Here are the possible solutions:
Use Distilled Water
Watering the houseplant is quite essential. It provides moisture that helps to enhance the thriving and blossom of the plant regardless of the season.
Distilled water lack fluoride and boron content. These substances are responsible for the browning tips of the plant leaves. Avoid using tap water that contains fluoride when watering the plant pot.
You can also use rainwater to avoid this problem. It is the cheapest means many gardeners are considering when caring for spider plants.
Prevent Excessive Buildup of Salt and Minerals
Spider plants thrive in soil rich in healthy nutrients and well-drained. But the houseplant is quite sensitive to salt buildup in the soil. Excess salt and minerals make the plant to drain out.
Watering the plant periodically will help to flush out these substances. Remember to create draining holes of the plant pot to prevent waterlogging.
If the condition persists, then consider re-potting the plant. Changing the soil might help to resolve the problem permanently.
Make Drain Holes on the Pot
Making drain holes at the bottom of the pot is an excellent solution for dealing with overwatering stress. These holes will help to prevent the occurrence of waterlogs that causes brown tips on the plant leaves.
Also, watering the plant periodically will limit the issue related to under-watering. The plant will be able to get enough water for thriving and blossom.
Provide High Humidity
Watering the plant during summer is highly commendable. It provides moisture and high humidity for the plant. It later prevents the occurrence of brown tips of the spider plant leaves.
Use air humidifier by positioning it near the plant during winter. It the best solution for ensuring your houseplant get optimum humidity requirement.
Consider Indirect Sunlight Exposure
Position the indoor plant is a spot that receives indirect sunlight. Outdoor spider plants should be placed under the shade. These two methods will prevent the airplane plant from being scorched.
Filtered light also helps to prevent the development of brown tips on the leaves. It is the perfect solution for dealing with the browning tips.
In Conclusion
The best guidelines for spider plant care is providing indirect sunlight, adequate water free from fluoride and high humidity. The condition will make the spider plant to flourish and blossom.
But caring for spider plants is quite tricky. It is not a suitable choice for beginners since spotting problems and fixing them can be a little bit tricky.
