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I have a Spider Plant called Gerald, he is 12 years old and we have been through a lot together.  I normally re-pot him every couple of years as he is massive, or I should say was massive.  In the last three months he has steadily started to diminish and seems to be dieing.  I thought I knew a fair bit about plants, but this has me totally puzzled.  He is rotting for some reason at the roots and I have no idea how to stop this. 

Is it possible he could have got  a disease from the compost I used?. It is the normal stuff from B&Q that I used which is for house plants, but this time he doesn't seem to like it for some reason.  I read somewhere it is not good for houseplants to be repoted at this time of year, but as Spider Plants like their roots to be packed tightly into their pot the current size pot must be too large as a result of so much of him rotting. I may be forced to change his current pot size.  This is the first time in his entire life that he has even had a black dead leaf, even an old guy who visited once said he was a Spider Plant who would win competitions. The old guy was a leading judge at plant shows throughout Scotland and the UK.  The current state of Gerald wouldn't even allow him to win the Kilmarnock plant show let alone the UK.

Anyone have any ideas as to why he is rotting and how do I stop it?

I havn't read the post but in response to the thread title........yeah, YOU!!!

I'm dissapointed in you mate, i thought you were the boss of these things!! ::)

Sounds like your root ball is retaining too much water.

Either split him down, starve him dry and rehydrate or try a repot, but try 50/50 compost and garden soil with a layer of gravel - my boys love it.

Spiders and too much water is a very rare problem though which means it may be something more serious.

Hope Gerald gets better soon.

Repot.
One part peat, one part coarse sand, one part pine bark.
Tell him it's his Christmas present.

Sark

Is the soil draining quickly enough, and are you over-watering it? that can often be the problem


As for the leaf-tip burning, this is usually caused by one or more of the following:

too much fertilizer or water that is high in soluble salts
Low humidity
excessively dry soil

lol,  not this time.  I am puzzled by it all.


Totalise, thanks.  He isn't dry and I usually use a baby bio type stuff for houseplants.  I am using the exact same routine I have for the last 12 years, but for some reason it is all going wrong.  I use to water him from the top, but the old guy that I mentioned told me that this makes the plant lazy and it is healthier for them to be watered from the bottom in a tray. 

Rover,  I may have to try that , thanks.

Nakor, he isn't too water logged.  If I smell him, there is a serious rotting smell and he is mouldy. He is normally a bottle green colour with a clear complextion. Not anymore sadly

http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/Foliage/folnotes/spider.htm

check this website

i don't have planst as they die on me... this might help you

thanks,  I will have a read at this

Greetings Sark, and Gerald,

Bainn was just wondering that, seeing as how you have successfully looked after Gerald for the past 12 years, using the same tried and tested methods that have always worked, maybe there is some environmental matter that has changed, which is provoking this new reaction in your plant? As you yourself wondered, could it be that the batch of compost may have been contaminated with some sort of microbes/bacteria/weevils or whatever and this may have upset the ecological balance that had previously been so successful?  Maybe it is worth getting in touch with B&Q and seeing if they have had any complaints re: that batch of compost and the mix of nutrients therein.

Bainn was also wondering if your pets may have interfered with the plant in any way?

Hope you find a successful solution, Sark.

All the best.

Thanks.  When he use to stay at my Dads house there was a Tabby who tried to eat the ends of his leaves  :D, he is called Ted.  Gerald never liked him very much, Ted use to pick on him all the time. I had to keep a close eye on Ted whenever he was in the same room as Gerald.  I think it was jealousy, Ted just couldn't accept that he had a new brother who was bottle green and lived in a plant pot.

My friend and I  asked at B&Q last week and the Lady gave me a blank "why is this nutter annoying me with stupid questions" kind of look, lol.  As far as the animals go, whenever my dogs visit they are mostly out on a walk and never really go near his plant stand.  I also think it must be some kind of bacteria that has infected him.  I know that when fish get things like white spot you are able to put droplets into the water to cure it, but I am not sure if there is an anti-bacterial medication I can get for plants.  I am going to a garden centre tommorow afternoon , hopefully I will be able to buy something.  Thanks