The spider plant is amongst the most beautiful plants to grow, and one needs to be an artist to have this plant. Please do not be surprised because it is not what you think. The art is in the spider plant growing.
Yes! That’s right. Not everyone has their spider plant thriving.
And if you are amongst one who is wondering why your spider plant is not growing then, you are at the right place. Today we shall discuss all about growing spider plants and what affects the growth of the plant.
Inadequate watering and temperature fluctuation are the primary cause of stunted growth in spider plants. Apart from these, low lighting and pest infestations can also affect the spider plant’s growth. Providing adequate care and a balanced environment can help with the growth of the plant.
There could be multiple reasons for your spider plant not growing and, in this guide, we will talk about why the spider plant is not growing and how we can help it. Let’s get started!
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Spider plants not growing
The most important things to check if the spider plants are not growing could be anything like the watering or the light conditions.
It could also be that the spider plants are not producing babies or runners that make the plant bushy.
Some of the most common factors that can be noted are:
- Time of the year
- Watering
- Type of potting soil used
- Light conditions
- Temperature and humidity
- The size of the pot
Let us get into some depth regarding the topic and find out how these problems can affect our spider plant’s growth and what we can do to fix these problems.
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Time of the year
We need to understand that the time of the year for the spider plant’s growth is slightly different from other plants.
We have already talked about why the spider plant growth is so impressive.
This lovely plant produces spider pups, which can further be propagated and kept in a pot. The spider plants can multiply rapidly, but it is always to you to choose.
The spider plants should be growing the spider pups around February to late March. We will notice little spider plants along with the mother plant.
During the spring season, we will notice the growth of these little spider plants. These are known as the pups.
We will need to take care of the spider plant for at least two more months until the rainy season starts.
Once the rainy season starts, the spider plants will start blooming and blossom again. The extreme heat is one possibility of no growth in the plant.
Suppose we do not see the pups growing. In that case, it could be some other issues in the watering or the fertilization, which we will cover in the coming topics.
Watering
Watering of the spider plant could get a bit tricky if we neglect the plant. The spider plant does not like to be overwatered, and neither does it like to be underwatered.
The plant is straightforward to care for and thrive for up to 10 days without being watered. However, there are certain things that we should understand. Let’s find out what it is!
Underwatering of the Spider plant
The spider plant is neither succulent nor a tender plant. The spider plant is native to tropical regions and was mostly distributed in Africa.
The spider plants can be without water for a week and a half, and we should not stress the plant further.
However, we will follow the golden rule here. Always feel the soil before we water the spider plants.
The soil should be dry and not moist.
If the spider plant is underwatered, then we will see the spider plant start to wilt and droop.
Also, the color of the leaves will change to yellow and might develop a tan.
Another point to consider here is the season, as we had mentioned above.
Although we do not water the spider plants every day, we need to regularly examine the plant.
Yes, that’s correct. When we notice the pups on the spider plants, we should water the spider plants before it gets too dry as these pups require moisture for survival
This way, the spider plants will be healthy and continue to show signs of positive growth.
Overwatering of the Spider plant
The most common mistake is the overwatering of the spider plants.
Remember, we should not keep the soil soggy all the time and let the soil dry out before watering the plant. The best way to avoid this is by feeling the soil.
Another critical factor that we will consider is the drainage system. The drainage has to be suitable for the spider plant because else they will develop root rot.
The root rot situation should be avoided at any cost as they also send an invitation to the pest.
If the plant is overwatered, then the spider plants will start to turn brown. We need to avoid the plant turning brown.
How to avoid overwatering?
We can avoid the overwatering situation by:
- Always feel the soil before watering the spider plant
- While feeling the soil, it should be dry and not moist
- Check for the drainage holes
- If found blocked, clean the drainage holes
- Excess water in the drainage tray should be removed
- Use a well-draining potting soil mix
- Make a watering regime
- Keep a reminder or attach a note to the plant
During winter, the spider plants enter the dormancy period and require very little water.
Few tips for watering
The spider plants are very picky with the type of water. It is often found that the water available in the house has more salt content or more fluoride.
The excess content of fluoride and salt will cause the spider plants to turn brown, rusty, and we might as well notice gray tips.
To avoid this situation, we will need to distill the water by boiling it. We will boil the water and bring it back to room temperature before watering the spider plant.
Heating the water will remove the excess minerals from the water, and it will not cause any mineral boom.
Also read: Overwatering vs Underwatering.
Type of potting soil used
The spider plant needs well-draining potting soil because the spider plant species can be overwatered easily.
The spider plants love to stay in a small-sized pot where it can root tightly, and we should not repot unless we can see the roots popping out from the drainage holes.
To provide the plant with a well-draining and well-aerating soil, we can add some moss to the soil.
Often, repotting is also not required. Instead, we can just add some extra soil to the pot because some soil could be lost due to watering.
The addition of coco-peat will help retain the moisture.
If nothing works, then we will need to repot the spider plants in a different pot. To repot a spider plant, we will need:
- A new pot
- A well-draining potting soil
- Coco-peat or some moss
- Compost for the nutrient in the soil
First, remove the plant from the older pot gently and keep the plant along with the root ball under running water.
Take the new pot and add some well-draining potting soil mix along with some compost.
Compost helps take care of the micronutrient and the macronutrient that is needed by the plant.
Then place the spider plant in the middle of the pot and cover it with soil.
Be very gentle during this process. We do not want to hurt the roots.
Now, cover the spider plant with some more soil. We can also add some coco-peat to the soil for some additional moisture.
Coco-peat helps with better air circulation in the soil. Because the soil is airy, the plant will develop its growth quickly.
It also helps with increasing the water holding capacity of the potting mix.
We can also add some moss after the plant is placed and covered with the extra soil.
Once this process is over, gently tap the pot to remove any air pockets formed.
Finally, water the plant.
Spider plants love to be around different temperatures and enjoy seasonal changes. Hence, we suggest keeping it near a window with good air circulation.
Also, keep the spider plant away from the direct sunlight. They love bright indirect sunlight.
The repotting will ensure that the spider plant comes back to normal. Once the plant is hydrated and is healthy, we might notice the spider plants grow.
Also read: What kind of soil is good for spider plant?(Perfect soil mix)
Light conditions
The spider plant needs light as much as other plants need. The plants require perfect light conditions for photosynthesis.
Light conditions preferred by the spider plants are mostly bright indirect sunlight. They thrive best in bright indirect light.
If the spider plants are placed under direct sunlight, then the spider plants will develop a burn, and we can notice the signs of brown tips and edges.
Hence, always keep the spider plants behind a curtain or a partial shade when keeping near the bright light.
The light condition, if not perfect, will halt the growth of the spider plant. This also affects the variegation and the color of the leaves.
If the spider plant is kept under direct light, the shades of the leaves will be darker, but the leaves will burn.
However, if kept in a perfect light condition with optimum light, then we will notice the spider plants developing perfect variegation.
If you cannot provide natural light, then we can also use artificial light.
Also read: How much light do spider plant need?
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Temperature and humidity
The spider usually sees slow to no new growth when the temperature level drops below 15°C.
If we see that the spider plants have not grown, at that point, it very well may be throughout the colder time of year, where the plants experience a cool draft.
Consider keeping the spider plant away from the cool draft as they can’t endure winter.
We ought to try not to utilize the southern window.
Humidity could be another possible cause of stunted growth in spider plants.
We need to use a humidifier around the spider plant throughout the colder time of year, also during the extremely hotter months.
Don’t worry about the pest problem that can occur due to high humidity because we can always spray some neem oil to keep most of the pests at bay.
Keep the spider plants away from the radiators during winter, and places like the washroom help for that additional moisture.
Spider plants are often seen wilting and not growing if the plant experiences sudden temperature changes as well.
Often during summers, when kept in an air-conditioned room, it might get colder during the night, and the spider plant might get stunted growth.
It is always suggested to keep and relocate the spider plants. They need proper air circulation for gentle growth.
Even though the plant doesn’t request additional moisture, a bit of misting and using a humidifier will benefit the spider plant.
The size of the pot
The size of the pot assumes a significant function in the development of the plant. If the pot is too big, the chances of overwatering are high.
On the off chance that the pot is small, at that point, the roots will grow totally in the pot and will stop the development of the plant at one point.
This might also result in the plant’s stunted growth and cause the spider plant to halt its growth.
The spider plants prefer smaller pots and can be slightly root bound. Only when the roots are visible from the drainage holes should we consider a repotting of the spider plants.
The roots of the plant need space to develop. Thus we generally move the plant to a larger pot once the plant has built up the roots.
If the spider plant is repotted quickly, we will notice that the spider plants are not growing because the plant roots do not develop completely.
It is an overall principle that if our plant is 1 foot in stature, at that point, we need a 2-gallon pot, and on the off chance that the plant is 2 feet in tallness, at that point, a three-gallon pot will be required, etc.
Accordingly, check for the roots of the plant. The roots should be grown totally, and once created, it is the ideal opportunity for a repot.
Also read: What happens when you keep a plant in a too big of a pot?
Final Words
The spider plant is one of the easiest plants to care for, and we need not worry about this sturdy plant much.
Be careful with the fertilization as they require a very light dose of a balanced fertilizer.
Just be careful and do not over-fertilize. Also, these plants can be fertilized every two weeks during the growing season only.
You might face a bit of difficulty during the winter months. Still, once the spring season kicks in, these lovely plants will become healthy again.
Source: Spider Plants Introduction, Spider plant care.