Why is My Spider Plant Turning Yellow? (Causes and Fixes)

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably Googled, “Why is my spider plant turning yellow?”

When your spider plant turns yellow, it is usually due to overwatering, excessive sunlight, or it’s just a sign of old age.

Do not worry. We’ll help you take care of your spider plants correctly.

Spider plants are one of the easiest plants to grow, and they’re popular houseplants in homes throughout the world.

In this article, we’ll talk about what’s causing your spider plant to turn yellow more in-depth and how you can fix it.

So if you want to know how to keep your spider plant green and happy, you will love this discussion.

Let’s dive right in.

What is causing your spider plant to turn yellow?

The spider plant is a remarkable plant that will grow well indoors or outdoors. It’s easy to care for and requires little maintenance.

As we have previously discussed in this blog, it’s a great houseplant for beginners. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance houseplant, the spider plant is a good choice.

But when you don’t give it the right amount of care, your spider plant can turn yellow.

So here are some more reasons why your spider plant might be turning yellow:

Overwatering

Overwatering is the most common reason why your spider plant turns yellow. It’s important to keep an eye on how much water you give the spider plant.

If you have a spider plant that has turned yellow, it’s probably because it has been overwatered.

As I have said before, the spider plant is a low-maintenance plant, and it should only require moderate watering. 

A good rule of thumb is you need to water your spider plant when the soil is dry to the touch. 

After all, you don’t want to kill your spider plant. If you keep overwatering your spider plant, it could lead to a disease called root rot.

This disease will cause your spider plant’s leaves to turn yellow and eventually die.

To avoid this problem, you need to water your spider plant when it’s dry to the touch.

However, if you notice that your spider plant is turning yellow even though it hasn’t been watered for a while, it could be due to other reasons.

So we need to dig into these other reasons why your spider plant might be turning yellow.

Excessive sunlight

I know you might not believe me at first. However, in my experience, sun exposure can be the culprit behind why your spider plants turn yellow. 

When your spider plant is exposed to direct sunlight, its leaves will start turning yellow.

This is because of the high heat stress the plant experiences from the sun. In fact, direct sunlight can burn the leaves of your spider plant.

Despite their ability to grow in low light, spider plants prefer bright indirect sunshine to help them thrive.

So if your spider plant is growing in a sunny spot, move it to a window with some shade.

Limit your spider plant’s exposure to direct sunlight if you want it to stay green and healthy.

Also read: Can A Spider Plant Live Outside?

Old Age

Spider plants are excellent houseplants for beginners. But once your spider plant starts getting old, you might notice that it’s turning yellow.

So there is no need to panic. If you notice that your spider plant is turning yellow even though it has been watered well, it could be due to the plant’s old age.

After losing its photosynthesis ability, a spider plant’s older leaves will turn yellow.

It’s hard to predict precisely when your spider plant will turn yellow.

But when this happens, you can easily fix it by removing your spider plant’s old, yellow leaves.

This will also help the plant to recover and grow new leaves again.

Also read: Do Spider Plants Flower? (Answered)

How do you fix yellow leaves on plants?

Now that we have talked about the reasons why your spider plant might be turning yellow, let’s talk about how you can fix this problem.

Adjust the water frequency

If you notice that your spider plant is turning yellow, you should first check if it has been overwatered.

The most apparent reason a plant’s leaves change to yellow is usually because you give them too much water. 

If this is the case, you must take immediate action.

To begin, give your plant a cut and remove the yellow portions of the leave to solve the problem.

Next, you need to make sure that you only water your plants when they need it. You can insert your finger into the soil and feel if the soil is dry or wet. 

When the soil is dry, you can water your plant to the point where it’s just slightly moist.

However, if the soil is still wet, then you need to wait until it’s dry to the touch. 

Also read: How to Revive an Overwatered Spider Plant? (Easy Fix)

Check for root rot

It is also good to check for root rot if you suspect that your spider plant suffers from this disease.

Simply dig up the soil around your plant and check the roots for any signs of rot.

If you find your roots are discolored and brownish in color, it’s a good chance that your plant might have the disease.

To begin treating root rot, dig up the plant and run water over the roots.

Remove as much soil and diseased roots as possible, being careful not to harm the plant in the process.

Carefully remove all of the remaining infected roots using a sharp, clean pair of knives or scissors.

Finally, apply a fungicide to the root and repot in fresh compost and a disinfected pot.

Move the plant out of direct sunlight

If you notice that your plant is turning yellow due to direct sunlight, then you should move it to a spot with more indirect sunlight.

Direct sunlight is one of the biggest threats to your plant’s health. When the plant is exposed to direct sunlight, its leaves will start to turn yellow.

In addition to this, you can also try placing it under some shade. This will help the plant to stay green and healthy. 

This will help to prevent the plant from overheating and wilting.

Also read: Do Spider Plants Need Sun?

Remove any yellow leaves

It’s normal for older plant leaves to turn yellow. So there is no need to worry about this.

If you notice that your spider plant turns yellow, you can easily remove these yellow leaves by cutting them off.

Moreover, this will also help remove any dead or dying leaves and help the plant grow new leaves again.

It could be as simple as cutting the tips off or as challenging as removing the entire leaf.

As I have said before, there are many ways that you can fix yellow leaves on plants. But one of the best ways is to prune your plants.

This will remove the dead or damaged leaves, which will then cause your plant to grow new ones. 

Also read: Should I Cut Off Broken Spider Plant Leaves? (Answered)

Can yellow leaves turn green again?

No, yellow leaves will not turn back to green again. Your plant’s yellow leaves will never become green again, especially if the change is caused by a disease. 

However, removing the yellow leaves from your plant will help the plant grow new healthy, green leaves again. 

As I mentioned before, removing the yellow leaves using a pair of scissors or a sharp knife is possible.

But it’s important to make sure that you only remove the yellow leaves.

Otherwise, you can damage your plant in the process.

Also read: Why is My Spider Plant Dying?

How often should you water your spider plant?

Generally, you should water your spider plant regularly whenever the soil appears to be getting dry.

There are a lot of things that can affect how often your soil gets dry. The humidity, location, and temperature can all affect the amount of time that your soil needs to dry out. 

You can assess the soil by digging your finger or skewer into it and feeling whether it’s dry or wet.

Make sure you just water to moisten the soil, not to drown your spider plant in water.

Further reading: How Often to Water Spider Plants? (Tips for New Plant Parents)

What does an overwatered spider plant look like?

Obviously, an overwatered spider plant will start showing signs of yellowing on its leaves. Spider plants can also turn brown when they get way too much water.

If you’re unsure if your spider plant is over-watered, you can still get some good information from its leaves.

The leaves of your spider plant should be bright green and shiny when they are healthy.

If they are dull and yellow, it means that your spider plant is probably overwatered.

Conclusion

If you find your spider plant is turning yellow, it may be caused by overwatering, excessive sunlight, or maybe even the plant’s old age.

So you don’t need to worry about anything. Just cut the yellow part of your spider plant, and be sure to water your spider plant well and avoid over-watering it.

If you notice that your spider plant is turning yellow even though it has been watered well, try to figure out what is causing this problem first.

Then take action to prevent it from happening again.

Now I’d like to hear from you:

Have you ever noticed that your spider plant was turning yellow? What do you think is the reason behind this yellowing?

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave a comment below. I’d love to help you!

Until next time, happy gardening!