How Often To Water Spider Plants? Avoid These Common Errors

How often to water spider plant Water your spider plant every 1-2 weeks when the top soil feels dry.

To identify if the top soil is dry, dip your finger about 1 to 2 inches to feel if the soil is wet.

We adjust the watering of our spider plants frequently based on seasonal and environmental Factors like temperature, humidity, and seasons like summer and winter.

But that is not all. Keep reading why I explained to you how to water your spider plant correctly because wrong watering can damage your spider plant.

You will also learn when to adjust watering and when not to water and the factors that affect watering. Let’s go.

Are your spider plant tips turning yellow or brown? Click here to learn about the cause and how to revive them.

Use Table Of Contents

How Often Should I Water Spider Plant

If you have been asking how often you water a spider plant, the answer is here today. We water our spider plant once weekly and every 15 days in winter.

Watering a spider plant once a week is the recommended time to water a spider plant so you won’t overwater or underwater your spider plant.

Sometimes, waiting for a week before watering a spider plant would not be the best option. Always dip your finger into the soil to see if the soil is wet before watering.

Deep your finger 1 inch or 2 inch inside the soil to check if the soil has dry but do not allow your soil to completely dry before you water.

I have already written a similar article about how to water bonsai trees. If you are interested, 👉 click here to read👈.

In our home, spider plants, called Chlorophytum comosum are known for their resilient nature and air-purifying qualities.

When spider plants suffer water stress the tips of the leaves will start turning yellow or brown, signaling that the soil is suffering from over-watering or lack of water.

Watering Frequency Changes Depending On The Time Of Year:

Then, you will not water your plants at the same frequency depending on the time of year:

In autumn-winter the plants are in vegetative rest (rest period for many plants), water approximately once every 15 days. However, if your interior is very heated, you will need to water more regularly, water the soil of your plants From March to September, and resume a weekly watering schedule.
In spring-summer, from March, we resume weekly watering. During periods of high heat, we water more obviously.

Watering Frequencies Depending On Ambient Temperature:

Spring-Summer

Water Once a week between 15 and 18°C
Water 2 times a week between 19 and 22°C
Water 3 times a week between 23 and 26°C

Autumn Winter

Water every 15 days between 15 and 16°C
Water Once a week between 17 and 19°C
Water 2 times a week if above 20°C

When To Increase Or Decrease Spider Plant Watering?

Increase Watering When The Plant:

is in the growing period (spring-summer-autumn),
has buds or is in flower,
has very fine foliage,
is in a small pot.

Reduce Watering When The Plant:

is in a period of vegetative rest (winter),
has thick, waxy leaves and fleshy roots.

How To Water A Spider Plant Step-By-Step

You now know how often to water spider plants. Now, it is a step-by-step process of watering your spider plant if you haven’t done it before

Watering indoor plants may seem like a very simple task to perform, but unexpected difficulties can hide behind that operation.

However, with the right prudence, we will do a good job without falling into mistakes that could automatically harm our plants or take away their ability to grow strong and in good health.

The first and most important thing to keep in mind is, without a doubt, to identify when the plant needs a watering operation.

It should be remembered that bad habits will be the first cause of death for indoor plants.

Material Needed For Watering Spider Plant

Watering can

Room Temperature Water to avoid shock

Step 1: Check Soil Moisture:

As I said earlier, the first approach in watering a spider plant is to check if the plants need water.

Gently dip your finger into the soil up to 1 or 2 inches to see if the soil is dry. If the top inch feels dry, it’s time to water.

Step 2: Decide The Watering Method

There are various methods to water your spider plant either you choose top watering or bottom watering.

Top watering involves pouring water from above into the soil surface. You can pour directly into the leaves or the soil. This is a popular method.

Bottom watering is also known as the immersion method of watering plants.

It involves placing the pot in a besan filled with water and letting the soil absorb moisture from below.

But for me, I will choose the top watering method.

Step 3: Prepare The Plant

Feel free to keep the plant wherever you want because you have full control over the plant.

You can take your plants outside without wetting your room or placing them on a table.

Remember, your pot has drainage holes; if it doesn’t, change it and look for a pot with at least four drainage holes.

Place them on a tray or besan if you feel like keeping them inside. Make sure you lift it above the basin with a stone or any object to avoid water from entering back.

Step 4; Start Watering

The recommended water for this is room-temperature water that is not hard. Tap or rainwater is also good, but some tap water contains hardness.

Consider using distilled water or rainwater if your tap water is high in salts or chemicals.

I begin my process by pouring the water into the soil using a watering can. A water bottle is also a good option.

This is important to avoid watering the leaves directly. Water at the soil level helps prevent potential issues such as fungal growth and rot.

Important Notes

I always Ensure water reaches the roots water constantly until water starts to drain from the bottom hole.

When pouring the water, even though the flower pot got filled up continue watering until you see water drain out of the drainage hole.

Another reasonable fact is that don’t water at high speed so it won’t wash away the soil.

Step 5: Wait For Water To Drain Out

After watering your spider plant, Allow excess water to drain away to prevent waterlogged: you can place your pot on top of a table, wood, or any material that won’t block the drainage.

If you chosen watering by immersion, Empty the saucer or besan under the pot to prevent waterlogged soil.

Step 6: Move Your Plans To The Right Location.

After the excess water has drained out, it is important to take your plant where it will receive indirect sunlight; avoid direct sunlight, as direct sunlight can burn the leaves.

If you have a spider plant suffering from yellowing or brand leaves, 👉click here to read how to revive your spider plant and know the causes.

Step 7: Inspect For Signs Of Overwatering Or Underwatering:

After a few days or weeks, monitor your spider plant frequently to see if you have overwater them. If the soil is constantly wet and refuses to dry, it could be bad soil that does not allow water to drain.

But if your soil is good and you feel you have overwater it, take it to the sun so the sun can evaporate some water, but make sure not to keep it long in direct sunlight.

You can keep it in direct sunlight for a few hours and send it inside. Over-watering can cause the leaves of your spider plants to turn yellow or brown, so keep an eye on your spider plant.

Sometimes, it might be that you haven’t overwater your spider plant due to bad soil that stores water or bad soil that drains water quickly. Make sure to use the right potting mix soil.

Summary

remembered that bad watering habits will be the first cause of the death of your spider plants.

When Is The Right Time To Water The Spider Plant?

Watering your spider plant in the morning rather than at night is preferable.

Use water at room temperature, use tap or rainwater water, which is not too hard. Be careful to let the soil dry out before watering.

Any splashes on the leaves can dry and evaporate during the day when temperatures are warmer.

The longer moisture remains on plant leaves, the greater the risk of disease development and potential issues like fungal growth.

Another best time to water spider plants is when the top soil is dry. Use your finger to deep in the soil so you will know when it needs water. I have explained that in my step 1

I will advise you to focus only on the soil of your spider plant and avoid the leaves.

The water supply should preferably be carried out during the morning or late afternoon to avoid unnecessary thermal changes, sometimes causing too intense evaporation.

If the plant receives direct sunlight, it will be better to act at dusk to avoid the “lens effect” that could even burn the leaves.

Furthermore, if the climatic situation is quite extreme due to high temperatures, it would be advisable to vaporize water in the crown of the plants using, if possible, demineralized water to avoid burning it.

Methods For Watering Spider Plants

As we said before in step four, there are different methods of watering house plants.

Let’s now make a small list of possible irrigation techniques to understand better this crucial task for the life of our spider plant:

Watering From Above

Irrigation from above is a technique we have to pour the water directly to the substrate, using a suitable tool such as a watering can with a narrow neck.

In this case, it will be good advice to pay particular attention during the operation to prevent water from falling directly on the leaves, as it would damage them.

Watering From Below

Irrigation from below In this other case, the action to be carried out will be the opposite of the one just mentioned, consisting of filling the saucer under the pot with water.

In this way, we will allow our plant to absorb the necessary amount through the drainage holes at the necessary times.

Later, after carefully controlling the condition of the substrate, we will proceed to eliminate unnecessary water waste that could damage the plant.

Watering By Immersion

To water indoor plants, we should place the pot directly into a container filled with water. We will remove the pot from the water after a short time (10-15 minutes).

The next operation will let the plant drain to eliminate excess water. This is the best method for those plants placed in pots or small pots.

Immersion watering is also a remedy to recover a plant that suffered excessive exposure to heat without a water supply, which has inevitably led it to dry out.

It might seem from its appearance that it is irrecoverable. Still, with this immersion irrigation method, some plants manage to survive.

So, if you find yourself in this position, always try this method before making the last and final decision.

It is also the most appropriate way to water bonsai. This plant is very sensitive to changes in temperature and excess water.

If you want to learn the immersion method I have used in watering my bonsai tree 👉 click here to learn how I use immersion irrigation to water a bonsai tree.

How Can You Know How Much Water Your Spider Plant Needs?

Before you know how often to water spider plants, you must know how much water your plants need.

You’ll need to figure out how much water they have. There are two methods to know how much water a spider plant needs, which are recommended combining:

Check Weight

If you lift the pot and notice that it weighs very little, the soil is probably very dry.

And if it weighs so much that you have difficulty holding it with one hand, it’s probably waterlogged when you grab it with one hand.

Between one point and another, there is a perfect humidity range, which you will get to know with practice.

And while you can’t get the hang of this system, we recommend you complement it with the following method.

Finger Method

The finger method consists of putting your index finger into the substrate as much as possible (except if it is a small pot). Check if the substrate is completely dry, damp, or waterlogged.

It’s information you will find out as soon as you put it into practice. You can take a pot full of substrate without a plant and do your tests there.

Add water gradually until you notice the difference between damp, wet, or completely puddled. I assure you that you will notice it.

To see what that dry substrate would be like, leave it in the sun for a few days and insert your finger (if you can) to notice its texture.

You must develop the ability to know the amount of water your plants have. I assure you that you will immediately know what they need.

Moisture Meter Level Checker

A soil moisture meter [aff pro] is a reliable tool for testing the soil’s wetness level.

It is a device used by many gardeners because it is reliable and reads accurately. It has a tiny metal part like a nail that allows you to keep it in the soil and wait for it to count.

I have already explained how to use moisture meters in my other article. If you love to read about it I will show you.

There are other methods we have. We have chopstick and soil color methods, but I won’t explain them here if you want to advance in testing soil moisture levels.

I invite you to read my article concerning how to check for moisture levels. Still, the article is dedicated to watering bonsai trees. All are the same method in using and testing moisture.

You can also learn different methods to water a potted plant, so 👉click here to learn about testing water levels in soil using different techniques.

How Much Water Do Spider Plants Need?

Spider plants need sufficient water that can get to the roots. Water your spider plants on still the water gets to the root and drains from the drainage hole.

There is no specific amount a spider plant needs, although some spider plants might drink more water because of their size, and pot sizes are

How Long Can You Go Without Watering The Spider Plant

Spider plants are resilient and can tolerate short periods of dryness or without water.

Spider plants can tolerate a lack of water for about 1-2, weeks but this can vary based on factors like pot size, soil type, and environmental conditions.

The exact time a spider plant could stay without water is controlled by setting factors. Like plant size, health, environmental conditions, and seasonal Factors

In summer, when temperatures are higher, and the plant is actively growing, spider plants can survive water dryness for about ten days to 2 weeks or more.

In winter, when growth slows, spider plants generally need less water spider. The plant can tolerate 3 to 5 weeks.

How Do You Know When A Spider Plant Needs Water?

Moisture Test

To know if a spider plant is thirsty, you have to touch the soil with your finger:

Is the earth dry? The plant needs watering.
Is the earth wet? You will have to wait a little before watering it.

Finally, look at your plants: is the plant losing its tone? A very light pot? Is the soil coming off the edge of the pot? So many signs that you need to water your plants.

Leaf Appearance:

A spider plant leaf tends to depreciate in color when it needs water, but it turns green and shines when drunk enough water.

Dropping Leaves:

Spider plant leaves tend to droop when they require water. If you notice the spider plant’s leaves looking limp or starting to droop, it’s a sign that the plant is thirsty.

Pot Weight:

When you lift the pot of your spider plant and notice it is wet, it signifies that the plant needs water.

If you lift the pot and notice it has weight, then your spider plant does not need water.

As a plant owner, you would know the weight of your plant so you can identify when the losers water or not.

How Often To Water Spider Plants In Winter

During the winter, water your spider plant every 10 to 15 days or 2-3 weeks, or even less, depending on the pot size and plant age.

In winter, spider plants, other deciduous trees, and perennial flowers are generally dormant with low growth. Which means they do not need water so much because they are resting.

Feeding spider plants regularly during this winter will lead to water luggage or over-watering because we have reduced temperature and low brightness in the winter.

Always monitor your plans when watering to see if you need any watering adjustments. I hope this information will help you.

How Often To Water Spider Plants In Summer

During the summer, we will water spider plants or other house plants more frequently than in the winter.

Plants experience high temperatures During the summer season and tend to grow more quickly and require more water as they grow rapidly.

The proper amount of water a spider plant needs during the summer is once every week.

Keep an eye on your spider plant so you will know when you have started overwatering it.

If you see yellow tips on your spider plant, it might suffer from over-watering or high temperature.

Click here to learn the cause and solution of yellow tips on your spider plant.

How Often To Water Spider Plant Babies

Spider plant babies, or siderites, should be watered as normal spider plants, which should be treated similarly to mature spider plants. Still, the water quantity is reduced because of the pot and plant sizes.

Water once weekly during the summer and winter every 2 to 3 weeks.

Always read the soil by using your finger to know if it requires water.

Click me to learn how to propagate spider plants. [Link]

Do Spider Plants Need Lots Of Sunlight?

No spider plant does not need lots of sunlight; it only requires indirect sunlight so the leaves won’t get burned.

keep spider plant close to the window where it will get window or door light. If you are keeping it indoors,

If you intend to keep it in a sitting room or dining room, use an electric bulb to supply them with light.

Too much or little supply of sunlight will harm your plant and cause them to get brown tips.

If you place your spider plant in any location, monitor it to see if it is doing well. If there are negative impacts to your spider plant, change the location and see if it likes the new location.

Should I Spray My Spider Plant With Water?

When you are watering spider plants, always avoid the leaves water directly to the soil and always water in the morning to avoid infection in case there is any water splash in the leaves.

That doesn’t mean water won’t touch your leaves. You can also Wash your spider plant if you see any dust around the leaves or spider web.

To be safe in watering, avoid the leaves for certain reasons. You can also spray your leaves occasionally, but make sure it is in the morning or when the temperature is low avoid doing it in the night and afternoon.