How Often Do You Water Spider Plants?

How Often Do You Water Spider Plants? Guide & Watering Tips

While spider plants are fairly resilient indoor plants, they still require regular watering. You’ll learn how often to water spider plants in this guide, with a quick answer followed by more in-depth instructions on how and when to water, along with tips for spotting an overwatered or underwatered spider plant. 

How Often to Water Spider Plants – Quick Answer

You should water your spider plant whenever the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. Check with your finger to test the soil. This is often around once a week for most spider plants. 

How Often to Water Spider Plants – In-Depth

Spider plants need more frequent watering during their summer growth period and when they’re first being established (generally the first year after you transplant or propagate). Mature spider plants, especially during the winter months, often need less water despite the decreased humidity in the air. These are the biggest factors that affect watering frequency, but some other situations can affect it too:

– Size and type of pot: Large pots and plastic containers hold and retain more water than smaller terracotta ones.

– Amount of sunlight: Bright light from a south-facing window will dry out your plants more quickly than indirect sunlight or no natural light at all. 

– Soil mix: Some potting soil types hold water better, while others drain well (spider plants prefer well-draining mixes!)

No matter what time of year it is, you should only water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry. If the dirt still feels damp when you check it, skip watering and leave it alone for several days before checking again.

During summer, or when your spider plant is getting established, plan to test the soil 1-2 inches down at least twice a week and water as needed. In the winter, or once your plants are at least a year old, you can generally scale back to checking once a week, and thoroughly watering the plant when it’s dry. During winter, it may also help to use a humidity tray under the plant.

How to Water Spider Plants

When watering, water the soil around the plant until the excess water flows out the bottom, then dump the excess from the tray to avoid oversaturation. If the soil doesn’t seem to be soaking up the soil, try bottom watering. You may also need to transplant it into a larger pot if the spider plant is exceptionally rootbound.

Keep your spider plant in a pot with drainage holes. If your pot doesn’t have one, consider transplanting, or be careful to only give the spider plant a small amount at a time.

If your spider plant has exceptionally dry soil, try bottom watering it. Set the the plant, pot and all, into a bowl or sink filled with a few inches of water. The water will soak up through the drain holes on the bottom of the pot and saturate the soil. Once the water has soaked in, which can take a couple hours, remove the plant from the sink or bowl and let it drain, then return it to its home.

Depending on what kind of tap water you have, you may notice issues with your spider plant’s growth and foliage. Many tap water sources, especially those in towns, are treated with chemicals and minerals that can hurt plants. The best way to prevent too much fluoride and other chemical/mineral buildups is to only water your spider plant with distilled water, filtered water, or rain water that you’ve collected. A potting mix with high calcium levels can also help. 

Water Stress

Two watering issues – overwatering and underwatering – can both cause stress. Both overwatered and underwatered spider plants usually start showing their displeasure in their leaves, with either wilting or turning a pale yellow. 

Underwatering

Underwatering is a common problem for spider plants, especially during dry periods. Even if you maintain a regular watering schedule, temperature changes dry the soil faster. Water your spider plant whenever the top inch of the soil (or two inches for larger pots) is dry. You can easily test the soil with your finger to gauge this.

Never let the soil dry out completely between waterings. If the plant has started to turn brown and the soil has dried out completely, set it in a few inches of water for around an hour so it can soak up water through the drainage holes. Always dump the excess water out afterward.

Overwatering

Excess water may lead to yellow leaves and is usually a more dangerous situation, since it’s harder to fix an overwatered spider plant than an underwatered one. Overwatering can cause root rot, which keeps the plant from being able to effectively absorb water. Spider plants are especially prone to root rot in wet soil due to being tropical plants.

To fix it, take the plant out of its pot, brush off the potting soil, and look for signs of root rot. Cut the dead roots off with clean scissors or pruning shears. Dump the used, moist soil and repot the plant in dry, fresh soil in a new pot. After repotting, be careful not to overwater it.

Brown Tips 

You may see brown tips on your spider plant – that’s sometimes a case of a watering issue, but it often has to do with other factors as well. Here’s a full post on what causes brown spots on spider plants and how to diagnose the culprit.

Spider Plant Facts

Spider plants, also known as chlorophytum comosum, ribbon plant, and airplane plant, originated in southern Africa. They need well-draining soil, a good watering routine that leans on the side of underwatering more than over, and bright indirect light from the sun or artificial lighting to thrive.

​In the summer months (and at other points when the right conditions are met) you’ll notice your spider plant begin to produce new baby plants. These new plants can be separated from the mother plant and grown in their own pots. Here’s a complete guide to spider plant propagation. 

Happy Watering!

Using the finger test, you can now easily tell whether your plant is getting enough water and when to water again. Enjoy your spider plants!

Spider plants make great indoor plants that can survive low light. Here are some other great office and bathroom plants that can thrive without much light.