Question
Hi Darlene,

Sorry it has taken so long to respond. I repotted all the plants, but the charley died anyway. The syngonium is fine, but the spider still suffered so badly that I let it die (it's roots were perfect and the nodules white and firm). The heartleaf is the same... but in a different way. I had to let it die, too... but now all of the plants that have come from the mama plant are dying, too.

I have never seen anything like this... the leaves become almost leathery, then they start blotching yellow, then they fall off... it's still the same issue... the plant is only dying at the pot level. The long tendrils are just fine (until I root them and then they do the same thing within 6 months). They are bald at the top and lush at the bottom. Must be a disease, but I am clueless.

any ideas?
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Followup To
Question -
I have had houseplants for many, many years, but I cannot figure out what's wrong with 3 of mine. There are no bugs and I can't see any soil problems. I thought that they were getting too much sun, but I have moved them around and they have the same problem. Here we go:

the spider started turning brown at the base of the leaves. Then all of the new growth turned black as it emerged and the baby stems turn black as soon as they emerge as well. Some of the existing babies are dying, but most are fine.

The syngonium seems healthy and fine, except half of the new growth (mostly the ones at the bottom- it's hanging) turns pale green on emergence, then quickly turn brown and die. Some of the older leaves are turning yellow.

The creeping charlie is defoliating... the leaves are yellowing and falling off. There is lots of new growth budding, but the plant looks sickly and bare.

I haven't fed them much this summer, so I know I haven't burned them. I'm not doing anything different. They are on the same wall (east facing, with good light in the morning and I have the shades drawn a bit so they don't get any direct afternoon sun.

There is an asparagus fern on the same wall in a shadier spot and a rubber plant on the same wall in a sunnier spot and they are fine. Help!

If you need any further information, don't hesitate to ask.  Thank you.
Answer -
Deborah,

It may be that they are not getting enough sun but first let's eliminate any possibility of root problems. Gently unpot the spider plant and examine the roots.  Does the rootball hold together. Are the roots white and fleshy or black and mushy? Do you see the white root nodules that are common with spider plants?

Let me know what the roots look like on  the spider and the syngonium too if you have time.

I am assuming that you haven't changed anything about the windows like adding window tint or reflective film or buying whole new windows. Let me know about the roots and we will figure out your problem.

Darlene

Answer
Deborah,

I suspect it is some sort of fungal or bacterial disease. To diagnose it exactly you would need to take it to a college with a hortcultural diagnostic department such as Purdue University.

If that is not possible I would use the only antifungal, antibacterial agent available that is safe to use in the home - Lysol Spray. Spray the plants once a day for 2
months including the surface of the soil and the backs of the leaves. Water the plants involved very lightly while they are in treatment. Only give it about 1/3rd the usual amount. Excess water promotes the growth of both funfus and bacteria. After the 2 months I would continue treatment with the Lysol on a weekly basis until I felt safe to stop. Good luck.

Darlene