How Much Light does a Spider Plant Require?

The authentic, eye-catchy dangling spiderettes of the Spider plant become more prominent when ideal light requirements are met.

Besides that, Spider plant light requirements differ with other varying factors. Thus, read on till the end to learn the ideal lighting for them.

Can Spider Plants Survive Without Sunlight?

Although they can survive and tolerate low light, Spider plants thrive best in medium to high-intensity light.

Spider plants in a dark room with limited indirect sunlight will likely survive longer.

But no sunlight results in stunted, no new growth with withered leaves and weak stems.

Meanwhile, Spider plants under the correct artificial grow lights for at least 12 hours daily can survive without sunlight.

Additionally, Snake plant light requirements are similar to Spider plants.

Signs your Spider Plant Needs More or Less Light

An easy-to-care Spider plant adapts to various light conditions but exhibits telltale signs under poor lighting.

Thus, you must not test their low light tolerance and direct sun exposure to avoid long-term consequences.

Signs your Spider Plant is Light Deprived

Alongside droopy, wilting foliage, the Spider plant shows other signs that signify low light.

Here are a few signs you may notice when your Spider plant is not receiving enough light.

1. Leaning Stems

Severely light deficit Spider plant starts to bend towards any trivial light source to find more light.

They lose their aesthetic beauty with such irregular bending and look pathetic.

Furthermore, the foliage opposite the light source becomes yellow and drops.

2. Leaf Discoloration

Due to the lack of chlorophyll, the shimmering green leaves of the Spider plant begin to pale and turn yellow.

Most leaves will turn yellow with minimal green parts if your Spider plant is under poor light.

Therefore, regularly inspect and rotate the plant for uniform, healthy growth of the Spider plant.

3. Slow or Stunted Growth

Low light means low photosynthesis, so the Spider plant lacks the energy to unfurl new leaves.

Therefore, check the lighting condition if you notice no new growth, even in the active growing season.

Signs of Light-Saturated Spider Plant

In contrast to low light tolerance, the Spider plant is more susceptible to scorching in direct sun.

Here are a few signs that signify light saturation in the Spider plant.

1. Brown Spots

The sun-scorched Spider plant has brown spots on yellowing leaves.

The brown spots spread more with increasing direct sunlight exposure and can not be reverted.

That said, brown spots could also be signs of bacterial leaf blight. Thus, thoroughly inspect and confirm the culprit.

In addition, the leaf tips and edges also turn yellow or brown with a dry, brittle texture due to too much light.

2. Curling Leaves

Other varieties, except for the curly Spider plant, do not feature curly foliage in ideal condition.

Therefore, if your Spider plant has curly foliage curling inwards, understand they are getting too much sunlight.

In addition, excess sunlight rapidly increases the transpiration rate causing them to dry faster.

If not accompanied by more frequent watering, Spider plants can suffer severe tissue damage leading to untimely death.

How to Ensure Optimum Light for Spider Plant?

You can ensure the optimum light requirements for the Spider plant by mimicking its natural habitat-like lighting.

Thus, here are some factors you need to consider for the ideal light for the Spider plant.

1. Light Intensity

Spider plant flourishes without a problem under medium bright indirect sunlight.

You can use a light meter to measure the light intensity and position the plant accordingly.

Likewise, do not let the light intensity drop below 2,500 lux to ensure no lighting problems.

2. Light Duration

Provide your indoor Spider plant with 8-10 hours of indirect bright sunlight daily.

You can keep outdoor ones in partial shade, protected from direct sun exposure.

Although afternoon sunlight can wreak havoc on Spider plants, a few hours of direct morning sunlight acts like a charm.

Thus, ensure 2-3 hours of morning sunlight for your Spider plant.

Similarly, give them 10 to 12 hours of artificial grow lights during winter, as the sun is barely visible.

3. Plant Location

Position your indoor Spider plants 3-5 feet away from an east window for the warmth of morning sunlight.

If you only have a south window, add drapes or sheer curtains to lower the light intensity before placing plants.

Here is a table with light intensity values respective to the windows.

Can you Grow Spider Plants with Artificial Light? 

Spider plant has no complaints about growing under artificial grow lights.

Thus, you can grow Spider plants with artificial light with low natural sunlight exposure.

Here are some factors you can consider before investing in artificial grow lights.

• Right light temperature: Spider plant prefers cool white or daylight bulbs of 6,000k-6,500k.
• Right grow light: Some best grow lights for Spider plants are VIVOSUN T5, Hydrofarm Agrobrite, and T5 HO.
• Light quality and distance: Ensure to place the Spider plants 2-3 feet away from the light.
• The direction of light: Focus the grow light near the plant, not on the plant, to feature reflected light.

Tips to Maintain the Light Requirements of Spider Plant

If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, correct the lighting immediately by relocating them somewhere suitable.

Also, prune off the yellowing, brown, damaged, or scorched leaves using sterilized pruners to preserve energy.

Here are some cheat tips to keep Spider plant upbeat with fulfilled light requirements.

• Keep the plant leaves clean with regular cleaning using a soapy solution.
• Hydrate Spider plants in summer accordingly to overcome scorching hot sunlight.
• Rotate plants now and then to ensure no lanky growth.
• Avoid keeping plants near the cold windowsills in winter.