Question
Hello,I have a couple of questions about spider plants.  I hope you can assist me.
I purchased 4 spider plants that are baffling me.  I have them in hanging baskets in my livingroom which faces east.  I have a room humidifier going at all times in the LR and the temp stays set at 70 degrees during the day(65 at night).
 Two of the plants(all are in 8 " pots)started developing brown tips which I have clipped off.  However, the brown tips keep returning.    Should I keep trimming them  off  or simply leave them as they are?  I have  been told that perhaps the tips are browning due to the fact that I water with tap water.  Is it a good idea to leave the water sitting out overnight or would it be better for me to water the spiders with aquarium water (which someone suggested to me)?
My second question has to do with the fact that one of the spider plants went through a severe period where the leaves were yellowing daily.  I removed the damaged leaves but have no clue as to what  caused this.  
I have checked for pests,changed the potting soil and am careful to water only when the plants dry a bit.  Yet this keeps happening. This also affected a spider that I had last year as well.  It did beautifully for about a month indoors and then began to decline.  I would allow that plant to dry before watering yet it contiued to yellow.  I eventually placed the plant outdoors where it thrived.  Yet once it was back inside the yellowing started again. Any thoughts or advice?
Thanks for your time.
Dwight Anderson

Answer
Dwight,

You didn't say, do you have city water that has chlorine and flouride in it? If so then, yes, you need to either leave it sit for 24 hours before using it or get a water filter.

However I believe that your worst problem is overwatering.
When the top of the plant feels dry there is still lots of water deeper in the pot.  The best way to tell if a plant needs water is by weight. Pick it up, if it is very light for its size it needs watered, if it is heavy it doesn't. You can wait to water a spider plant until it goes limp, then pick it up and see what it weighs, then water it and pick it up again to see what it weighs. Do not water it again until it is nearly that light.

It thrived in the summer outdoors because it could use more water with the increased light that it had outdoors.

Do you keep the drapes or miniblinds on that east window closed? If you do, open them, all day! Spiders need as much light as possible. If you couldn't read the fine print in a contract where they are hanging then they do not have enough light.

I water my spiders thoroughly about every 10-14 days this time of year. That is all they need. In the summer they are much happier outside. If you have more questions write again. Good luck.

Darlene