Spider plants: One place to avoid leaving the plants or risk brown leaves - 'Will do no good'

Snake plants have peculiar needs

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Solen Le Net

By Solen Le Net


Published: 09/10/2024

- 18:08

Snake plants have peculiar needs that need to be met for optimal growth

Spider plants are among the most popular foliage for home decor because they blend effortlessly with different interiors.

There are many factors to remember when it comes to keeping the plant in good nick, however.


A common problem the plant contends with is the browning of leaves, which can easily be avoided when your plant is kept in the right spot.

“Spider plants are very sensitive to direct sunlight,” said Richard for Sheffield Made Plants.

SNAKE PLANT

The plants are sensitive to direct sunlight

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“Keeping your plant in a spot that gets direct light on the leaves will lead to brown tips. There’s no way around this, unfortunately.

“Placing your plant in front of a south-facing window in the northern hemisphere, blasted by sun all day, will do no good to the plant. They’re just not used to it.”

Not only does bright lighting cause leaves to brown, but it is also the reason foliage fades.

“This issue is so common in spider plants and is one of the first tell-tale signs that the plant is unhappy,” said Richard.

“The leaves should be a deep green colour with a strong contrast between the green and white variegation. If they are pale, then you’ve got a problem.”

According to the plant app Greg, spider plants enter their flowering phase in response to lighting cues.

When exposed to adequate lighting, the plant enters a blooming phase and needs 12 hours of light to trigger blooming.

To show off the plant's cascading habit, the Royal Horticultural Society recommends using a hanging planter or letting it sit on a mantlepiece.

Some people prefer keeping the plant in their bathroom to absorb excess moisture.

This is because spider plants have a unique ability to absorb humidity in the air during the night.

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SNAKE PLANT

Browning leaves are a tell-tale sign of too much light

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For optimal health year-round, experts at the Greg app recommend adjusting light exposure with the seasons.

“More light in the summer, less in the winter, just as Spider Plants would experience in their native habitats.

“This helps maintain their natural rhythms and promotes flowering when conditions are right.

“It's all about finding that sweet spot for your green buddy.”

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