This article is here to provide further explanations on how you an identify whether your snake plant is overwatered or not. If you did overwater them, refer to the video above to see how you could fix it!
Signs of Overwatering in a Snake Plant
Before deciding if overwatering is your issue, evaluate the plant in its current state to see if it applies. Overwatering is the most common Snake plant problem, but plants face many hardships throughout their lifetime.
There will be few signs that indicate your plant is overwatered. Let us know about the common symptoms so that we can identify the problem without confusion.
Soggy or Mushy leaves
Snake plants are succulents, so they are able to store water in their leaves for future use. But, if the snake leaves are getting more water than their roots can handle then the snake leaves become soggy or mushy. You may also see mold on the leaves or leaves that wrinkle.
Root Rot
Root rot appears as soft and brown roots afflicted with bacterial attack. It occurs best in moist circumstances.
There are some bacteria that are beneficial to plants, but some of them thrive in swampy and wet environments. These bacteria can harm your Snake plant. The growth of water fungus is common in these environments as well. They attach themselves to your plant and are not pleasant to encounter.
In addition to bacterial and fungal issues, your roots should not look brown. Roots only appear brown when they are covered by soil.
A healthy root system should be firm and strong when exposed to water. If the soil were to wash away, the root system would be white or tan in color.
Root rot occurs most commonly in Snake plants due to overwatering which produces soggy roots. When rot occurs, it smells like death from the decaying of the root system. As the rotting continues and destroy your plant, it will decompose and smell awful.
A plant with root rot may be difficult to examine since it occurs below the surface of the soil.
You should watch out for any discolorations in the leaves or any weakening of the foliage because root rot may be the result of overwatering.
Brown Spots and Wilting Leaves
Inconsistent watering is the biggest cause for brown and wilting leaves in a Snake plant.
Although other factors such as pests and diseases could be a cause, watering inconsistently should be your first assessment as a gardener or plant caretaker. Discolored leaves aren’t indicative of dryness!
It usually feels soggy to the touch, and holds over like a rag doll as it wilts. The leaves are soft and not crunchy like the ones on the ground during autumn.
Make sure you note this vital point so you don’t fail to identify why your Snake plants aren’t performing well.
Since Snake plants require little water, you may find yourself skipping watering days to let your plant air out and avoid overwatering it.
When you water it the next time, you may be giving it too much water because it feels dry and lacks water.
Put a stop to this! Brown leaves indicate a poor watering job in which you drown your plants in water.
For extra protection, make sure you do not overfeed your Snake plant.
Snake Plant Leaves Turning Yellow and Soft
Leaves that turn yellow look different than those that brown or wilt because of the way the foliage appears.
A plant whose leaves are turning yellow may not look the same, while one whose leaves are browning may look very droopy.
Yellowing of the leaves or yellow spots in the foliage is not caused by wilting. It occurs when there is too much or too little water being provided to a plant.
As the roots become infected with fungus and decay, the leaves can no longer get the proper nutrients or water from the soil. Yellowing of the leaves is a direct sign of root rotting.
Snake Plant Leaves Falling over
You may notice fallen leaves as a sign of overwatering. All the parts of a plant must work together to create perfect plant health.
When roots decay, the plant leaves lose moisture and nutrients that the roots should receive through the soil. This negatively affects the plant leaves.
Once the leaves start turning yellow, they lose their usual lovely green goddess beauty.
The leaves of snake plants fall over if they are not given proper nutrition or care. The snake plant is trying to preserve itself by falling over.