Question
Dear John,

I own two spider plants that I am having some trouble with. They are green & growing but are incredibly droopy and sad-looking. They are hanging above the window to get lots of natural sunlight, and I water them once a week. I don't know how else to care for them. Any suggestions to help them be healthy as possible? Thank you!

Sincerely,
Kristina

Answer
Hi Kristina,

Spider plants normally have a droopy appearance, but if they are not getting sufficient water into the roots, there may be a problem with root rots.  The soil should be evenly moist, never soggy.  Allow the soil to become dry to the touch 1/2 inch below the soil surface.  Hanging baskets can be soaked in a container overnight and then allowed to drain thoroughly before hanging back into their sunny window.  Then wait until the soil surface is dry before the next soak.  In the active growing season, you will want to use a weak (1/10 dilution) solution of soluble fertilizer with each watering.  This will assure that the nutrients are available while growth is heaviest.

Spider plants have a tuberous root that can retain great deals of moisture, so frequent watering is usually unnecessary.  Too much water can allow root rot pathogens (bacterial and fungal) to take hold.

To check for root rot disease, gently lift the spider plants out of their pots and examine the root systems for any signs of rot.  This will be evident by a foul, musty odor.  Healthy root systems have a rich, earthy smell.

If you detect any such foul odor, stop watering the plants and allow the root systems to dry out. If you have any aerial plantlets developing on the spider plants, take several of them off as "insurance" and pot them in new, fresh potting media.  In many cases, if the root rot is advanced, the root systems may never fully recover.

Good Luck and Good Gardening.