Spider plants, or Chlorophytum comosum, are popular houseplants that can be found in many homes across the world. The plant is well known for its ability to thrive even with little care and good air circulation.
However, there are times when spider plants may lose their color or become wilted or pale on the leaves. This article discusses some reasons why this might happen and what you can do about it!
Why Does My Spider Plant Have Pale Leaves?
Your spider plant has pale leaves because of one or more of the following issues:
- Not enough light
- Not enough fertilizer
- Too much water
The washed-out color shows that your spider plant isn’t getting something it needs to thrive. This is most commonly because of a lack of fertilizer or light, which is why we’ll be focusing on them in this article.
Lack of Light?
Your spider plant may have pale leaves because it isn’t getting enough light. If your houseplant is not located near a window or it’s currently winter where you live, then the color of your spider plant will fade and become washed out.
You should move it closer to an unobstructed sunny window with southern exposure (south-facing), but if this isn’t possible, you can supplement the plant’s lighting with a full-spectrum grow light.
These grow lights are different from standard incandescent light bulbs, fluorescent lights, or LED lights because they can provide the correct sort of lighting that is needed for plant growth.
Not Enough Fertilizer?
Your spider plant may pale leaves because it is not getting enough fertilizer. It may also have small brown spots on some of its leaves or even turn yellow. This happens if your houseplant is lacking in nutrients that are necessary for healthy growth—namely nitrogen and phosphorous!
Keep feeding it every two weeks during the Spring/Summer season (every three to four weeks depending on how fast the foliage grows) until Autumn begins. Taper off gradually by stopping altogether once the nighttime temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember that too much fertilizer will burn your plants, so follow the care instructions on the label.
Not Enough Water?
Your spider plant may not be getting enough water to grow luscious green leaves. Spider plants are well known for their ability to thrive when they don’t get watered often.
However, if your foliage looks shriveled and/or wrinkled, or the ends of its fronds look brownish in color (instead of green), there’s a chance that you’re not giving enough water. Underwatering can cause the foliage to turn pale, become limp and eventually wilt.
Following a strict watering schedule is not the answer because every plant is different. Some houseplants need a lot of water while others can go for weeks without getting watered at all!
You should water spider plants when the top half-inch or so of soil feels dry. You’ll know if you’ve waited too long between watering sessions because the soil will be dry deep down. Using a moisture meter is an even more accurate way to assess things.
Conclusion
In conclusion, your spider plant has pale leaves because of one or more of the following reasons: not enough light, not enough fertilizer, or not much water. If your houseplant is missing some color on its foliage, you can address this by moving it closer to a window (or supplementing with artificial lighting); feed every two weeks during spring/summer.
After addressing the above issues, your spider plant should be looking healthier and you can continue to provide them with proper care.
Tim is an avid gardener from the UK. He was the founder of PlantCarer.com from 2021 to Sep 2023. He sold PlantCarer.com to Aaron. He has since started his own business called Seed To Supper, which provides new gardeners all the materials you need in a box (pots, seeds, compost and instructions) to grow your own delicious and nutritious vegetables and herbs from start to finish – no garden required.
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