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Spider Plant — common problems

Find the symptom you're seeing for the likely cause and fix.

Brown leaf tips

Likely cause: Too much fertilizer, water high in soluble salts, low humidity, or dry soil.

Fix: Reduce fertilizer; use filtered/distilled water; raise humidity; keep soil evenly moist.

Salt buildup

Likely cause: Minerals from fertilizer or tap water accumulating.

Fix: Use distilled/filtered water; reduce fertilizer frequency.

Root rot

Likely cause: Poor drainage or excessive watering.

Fix: Repot in well-draining soil; let soil dry slightly between waterings.

Pests (spider mites, scale, aphids, whiteflies)

Likely cause: Common indoor pests; mites favor dry air.

Fix: Raise humidity; isolate affected plants; apply insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.

Source: extension care guide. Symptoms often overlap — match the conditions (light, watering, humidity) to your situation.

Other houseplants

Pothos4 issuesMonstera (Swiss Cheese Plant)5 issuesSnake Plant (Sansevieria)4 issuesFiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)4 issuesPeace Lily5 issuesZZ Plant2 issues

General care guidance from university extension sources — not a substitute for diagnosing your specific plant and conditions. How this works.