Ask the Master Gardener: What are those interesting purple flowers in the garden?

Dear Master Gardener: The leaves of my spider plant are a sickly pale green. I have it near a south window. Is it getting too much light?

Answer: There are several reasons why a spider plant loses its vibrant green color and turns pale. The most common reason has to do with light – either too little or too much. In your case it is probably getting too much direct sunlight, depending on how far away from the south window it is. Spider plants like bright light, but not direct sunlight. The foliage can scald if the plant is getting direct sunlight.

Over or under-watering, not enough nitrogen, and fluoride toxicity are other possibilities. If a spider plant does not get enough water, the leaves may become pale and faded. Overwatering can lead to root rot, which also causes the leaves to lo