How Often Should You Water Your Spider Plant? (I Killed Three Before Learning This)

How Often Should You Water Your Spider Plant?

How often should you water your spider plant? That’s the question I typed into Google at 2 AM after watching my third spider plant turn into a crispy brown disaster.

I thought I was doing everything right. I had a schedule. I watered every Monday like clockwork. And yet, there I was, staring at another dying plant, wondering what sort of botanical serial killer I’d become.

Turns out, watering spider plants isn’t about following some rigid calendar system like you’re taking antibiotics. It’s about paying attention.

The Real Answer Nobody Wants to Hear

Water your spider plant when the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch.

That’s it. That’s the secret.

I know you wanted me to say “every Tuesday at 3 PM” or something equally specific, but plants didn’t get the memo about our need for structure.

Some weeks that means watering once. Other weeks, especially in summer, you might water twice. In winter, you might go two weeks between waterings.

The spider plant growing in my bright bathroom gets thirsty twice as fast as the one chilling in my dimmer bedroom. Same plant species. Same house. Completely different watering schedules.

The Finger Test (Yes, Really)

Here’s what I do now, and I haven’t murdered a spider plant in two years.

I stick my finger into the soil up to my first knuckle.

If it feels:

• Dry → Time to water
• Damp → Check again tomorrow
• Wet → Back away slowly and wait

This isn’t elegant or scientific-looking, but it works. My grandmother taught me this after watching me struggle with my plant-killing streak, and she’s kept the same spider plant alive since 1987.

I bought a soil moisture meter once because I thought technology would solve my problems. It mostly just confirmed what my finger already knew, though it does look more impressive when guests are over.

Why Your Spider Plant Isn’t Reading This Article

Your spider plant’s thirst depends on factors it won’t bother explaining to you:

Season matters more than you think

• Spring and summer: Active growing season, drinks more frequently
• Fall and winter: Dormant period, sips like it’s trying to make a cocktail last all evening

Your home environment is unique

• Bright light = thirstier plant
• Warm temperatures = more frequent watering
• Low humidity = faster soil drying
• Terra cotta pots = soil dries faster than plastic

Size and setup play their part

• Smaller pots dry out faster
• Larger plants drink more
• Well-draining soil needs more frequent watering
• Root-bound plants (yes, they’re dramatic) need water more often

I learned this the hard way when I moved apartments. Same plant, same watering schedule, completely different results. My new place had better heating, and suddenly my once-a-week routine was leaving my plants parched.

How to Actually Water This Thing

When the soil tells you it’s time, here’s what works:

The process I use:

1. Take the plant to the sink (I’m done with spills on furniture)
2. Water slowly until liquid runs out the bottom drainage holes
3. Let it drain completely—and I mean completely
4. Put it back once the dripping stops

This “water thoroughly, then wait” approach beats the “sprinkle a little water every day” method that was slowly killing my plants with kindness.

The goal is to moisten all the soil, not just the top layer. Think of it like watering your lawn properly once instead of misting it daily and wondering why it looks terrible.

The Water Quality Plot Twist

Remember those brown tips I mentioned? The ones that made my spider plants look like they’d been lightly toasted?

That was my tap water.

Spider plants are apparently drama queens about fluoride and chlorine, which my city water had in abundance. I switched to filtered water and the difference was almost insulting in how obvious it was.

Your water options:

• Rainwater (free, plants love it)
• Distilled water (the plant equivalent of bottled water)
• Filtered water (what I use)
• Tap water left out overnight (chlorine evaporates, fluoride doesn’t)

I keep a large pitcher filled with water sitting next to my plants now. It looks intentional, like part of my decor, but really it’s just tomorrow’s watering supply de-chlorinating itself.

Warning Signs You’re Getting It Wrong

Overwatering symptoms (my former specialty):

• Yellow leaves that feel mushy
• Soil that smells like a swamp
• Root rot (brown, mushy roots instead of healthy white ones)
• Fungus gnats throwing parties in your pot

Underwatering clues:

• Leaves turning brown and crispy at the tips
• Wilting or drooping despite good light
• Soil pulling away from the pot edges
• Plant babies looking sad and shriveled

I’ve experienced both extremes. Overwatering feels worse because you’re literally drowning something through excessive care, which seems particularly cruel.

The Winter Watering Adjustment

Nobody warned me about this, so I’m warning you.

When winter hits and your spider plant goes into its rest period, it doesn’t want as much water. I learned this by continuing my summer watering schedule straight