How am I killing a spider plant???

OK, I don't know how this is possible, but my maintenance-free-you-can't-kill-this houseplant is dying!!! Please help... It was thriving for a long time and got big and full and green... then around Christmas the ends started turning yellow and brown and I would cut the dead ones off... My MIL was here for Xmas and said that it was because I watered it too much... it was no different than what I had normally been doing and it was fine... maybe 3 times a week or when i noticed the soil was very dry to the touch.... our apartment is VERY hot and dry -- i wake up with flaky skin and a scratchy throat --... what can I do to save my plant??

How often do you water your spider plants? Do you keep them in direct light?

TIA! :)

Re: How am I killing a spider plant???

I keep my spidies in indirect sunlight, and water them once a week. I give them a really good soak (stick them in the kitchen sink, water them till the water is draining through the bottom, then let them sit till there isn't any water dripping out the bottom), then back to their spots. If the fronds aren't curling into themselves, and you are getting brown tips, i'd say it's too much water.

Re: How am I killing a spider plant???

so you let your dirt get bone dry for a whole week and then water it?

oh, and the ends ARE curling on one of the plants...what does that mean??

Re: How am I killing a spider plant???

Mine gets indirect light and I water once every two weeks....then I give it a good soaking.

Re: How am I killing a spider plant???

Look at where the dirt meets the sides of the pot. Is there a gap? If so, it probably means it's getting too dry, especially if the ends are browning and drying out.

It may not be your watering schedule though. Can you go to the sink, put your hand on top, and flip it over out of the pot so you can see the bottom? You may have too many roots and not enough dirt/nutrients/water for them.

Spider plants are root monsters. The happier they are, the more frequently you'll need to repot/water them.

Or you could just rip some of the pieces off and repot them in different pots - that way you have more than one plant.

Re: How am I killing a spider plant???

UPDATE:

There is no gap where the dirt meets the pot. I lifted the plant out of the pot and there are no roots through the bottom.

The ends of the plants ARE turning brown and curling.

I don't understand. They were doing so well!! What can I do?

Do I need to repot them? Could it be the soil?