Spider plants are easy-to-cultivate houseplants that are usually grown in hanging baskets. These indoor plants produce tiny flowers and offshoots, which look like tiny spiders, on long stems. They prefer even moisture and do not like their soil too dry or too wet. If you plant them in a potting mix that does not drain well, they may be prone to overwatering, leaving them discolored, soft and wilted.
Signs of an overwatered spider plant
The leaves turn yellow.
Overwatered spider plants will turn pale or light green at first, and eventually the leaves start to turn yellow, especially those around the lower part of the plants. If the problem is not rectified promptly, the leaves may eventually become wilted and fall off. This is an indication that root rot has set in. Note, however, yellow leaves may also be caused by diseases, sunburn, pest infestation, nutrient deficiency and underwatering.
The soil is wet, soggy and moldy.
If you notice that the leaves are turning yellow, check your plant’s soil. Overwatered soil is waterlogged and soggy and, if left unchecked, the roots may drown and die. Fungal diseases like mold and mildew may also develop because of the moist soil conditions.
The leaves become soft and puffy.
Apart from yellowing, an overwatered spider plant’s leaves may also become soft and puffy. These are signs of edema, and you may also notice soft, mushy, water-soaked blotches. The stems and leaves will generally look bloated.
There are brown spots on the leaves.
Brown spots appear on the leaves of overwatered spider plants. These spots start as tiny rust specks and eventually merge into large, brown blotches. The spots could be water-soaked and surrounded by a yellow halo.
The leaves are wilting.
The extent of wilting depends on the severity of overwatering. The leaves will start to wilt if you do not allow the soil to dry out before watering again. These leaves are puffy, limp and soft. This happens if excess water fills the air pockets in the soil, causing the roots to drown and develop root rot. The root system can then no longer absorb water, and thus the leaves become wilted.
The leaves are falling off.
The leaves of plants naturally fall off when they become old. However, if overwatering is the culprit, both old and new leaves will drop off in considerable numbers.
Root rot is setting in.
Fungal diseases like root rot can start to set in if your spider plants are overwatered. This happens when excess water fills the soil’s air pockets and drowns the roots, and the weakened roots attract fungal infections and other diseases that lead to rot. The roots may become brown or black, and will look soft and mushy, fall apart easily, and give off a sour smell resembling the smell of a sewer.
The leaves are curled, wrinkled and shriveled.
If the root system becomes damaged from overwatering, the leaves may become curled, wrinkled and shriveled. This is because the root system cannot absorb sufficient water to feed the plant.
The leaf edges are turning brown.
An overwatered spider plant may develop brown edges on the leaves. Plants tend to push water toward the edges and tips of leaves when you water them, and if overwatered the veins may burst causing the leaves to turn brown.
There may be a pest infestation.
Pests like aphids, scale, fungus gnats and mealybugs thrive and multiply in warm, damp areas like the undersides of overwatered leaves.
How to revive an overwatered spider plant
- First, hold off watering.
- Next, relocate your spider plant to a bright area to encourage evaporation of moisture.
- Avoid applying fertilizers until the plant is back to its normal state again.
- Improve the aeration and reduce ambient humidity to help dry out the soil.
- Dig up your spider plant and let it lie on one side to dry out the root ball.
- Repot the plant using fresh soil, as old and exhausted soil tends to retain more moisture. Be sure to check for signs of root rot before repotting.
- Try to mist the wilting leaves to repair some of the damage.
- Trim off the damaged leaves to help your plant focus its energy on new growth.
- Apply fungicide should a fungal infection start to develop in the roots.
- Finally, give your overwatered spider plant at least 10 days to recover and bounce back to health.
Conclusion
Spider plants are lovely houseplants that prefer not-too-wet and not-too-dry soil. If they are overwatered, they could become damaged or even die. The common signs of an overwatered spider plant include yellow and wilting leaves, and soil that is wet and soggy. The plants may develop a shriveled appearance and become curled and wrinkled, and fungal diseases like root rot may develop.
Image: istockphoto.com / Kenta Abe