Spider plants are known for their stunning, long ribbon-like leaves and their amazing ability to purify the air we breathe.
These plants are great to grow for the environment and are simple pants to take care of.
The spider plant is an easy plant to grow and it can therefore be disheartening when your plant starts to wilt due to root rot.
Root rot is extremely harmful to your spider plant and can result in severe damage or death of the plant.
Keep reading to find out what is causing your spider plants’ roots to rot and what you can do to cure your plant.
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What is causing root rot in Spider plants?
The main reason for root rot in a spider plant is too much water! if your plant is saturated with water, root rot will occur and the plant will die. The factors that cause this issue are overwatering, a poor drainage system, incorrect temperature, and inadequate humidity levels.
1. Overwatering
Overwatering is the most common and fatal mistake a gardener can make when it comes to plant care and especially taking care of a spider plant.
Overwatering causes the soil in your pot plant to become saturated and this ultimately drowns the roots of the spider plant and causes root rot.
When the soil is saturated with water, the roots of your spider plant are unable to receive nutrients to provide to the rest of the plant.
The roots of your plant will become soft and mushy and thereafter will start to turn black.
When the roots of your spider plant have turned black this is an indication that the roots are rotting. A foul-smelling odor is another indication that your spider plant’s roots have started to rot.
To prevent your spider plant’s roots from rotting, make sure you only water your plant when it is necessary. One indication of when it is time to water your plant is using the finger touch test.
Place one of your fingers into the soil about one or two inches deep.
You will be able to feel if the soil is still damp or if the moisture has dried up. If the soil is completely dry then it is time to water your spider plant again.
Water your plant close to the soil by its roots. Avoid watering the leaves of your plant and try only water it by the roots.
I would advise you to water your spider plant until the soil is moderately wet. This should be done approximately once a week or 10 days depending on how hot the area you live in is.
2. Poor drainage system
A bad drainage system is considered to be just as fatal as overwatering your plant.
If your spider plant has a poor drainage system then excess water will be collected in your spider plant’s pot and the soil will become saturated.
Once the soil has become saturated, the roots of your spider plant can drown from the water and will then start to rot.
To prevent this from happening, make sure that your spider plant is in a pot with a good drainage system!
A good drainage system will have a pot with drainage holes at the bottom of it. These holes allow for excess water to drain out the pot.
Make sure that these holes are not covered by large rocks or compacted soil as this will prevent the drainage holes from draining the excess water in the pot.
3. Incorrect temperature
For your spider plant to successfully grow and flourish, these plants need to be in an environment that has a warm temperature with moderate humidity.
These types of plants do not do well in cold environments. They need warm temperatures and moisture to survive.
Temperatures of approximately 65 and 80 degrees F (18 – 26 degrees Celcius) during the day are required and during the evening, these plants need to be in a cool environment so that they can cool down.
This cool-down period prevents dehydration.
If your spider plant is not getting the required warmth that it needs, the soil of your plant will be cold and damp and these conditions can be severe for your plant.
If the temperature falls below 40 degrees F (5 degrees Celcius) your plant will become susceptible to root rot.
If you live in an area that is colder than the required temperature then I would advise you to make use of a small greenhouse or artificial lights. These are great ways to make sure that your spider plant is constantly getting the required warmth it needs.
4. Inadequate humidity levels
When it comes to humidity levels, your spider plant will thrive if the humidity conditions range between 40% to 70%.
If the humidity level is too low it can cause your plant to be dehydrated and wilt. If the humidity levels are too high your plant may gain too much moisture and its roots might start to rot.
Spider plants need moisture to optimally grow. If the humidity level becomes too low your spider plant may become susceptible to root rot.
A good way to find out that your spider plant is suffering from root rot due to too much humidity is to firstly look at the leaves of your plant.
If the leaves are starting to turn black or brown or if they are starting to discolor, this could be an indication of root rot.
If you notice bacteria or mold growing on the top layer of your spider plant’s soil, this is a good indication that there is excess moisture and too much humidity for your spider plant.
In this case, it is best to move your Spider plant to a spot that is both drier and hotter.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.