Snake Plant Brown Tips (Solution and Prevention) #1

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Despite the fact that it is tough, snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata) still require some attention and care because they are living plants.

You usually notice brown tips before you experience a serious health issue, but because this plant is so hardy, health issues can usually be cured by following these steps.

Snake plant brown tips are a warning sign that needs to be taken seriously. Unwatering, excessive fertilizer, lack of light, and nutrient deficiencies are the main causes. If you act swiftly to correct the problem and follow sound care practices, these plants will bounce back.

Causes of Snake Plant Brown Tips

Several causes are possible for brown tips to appear on your snake plant’s leaves.

We must do our best to address this problem as soon as possible in order not to let it worsen. the problem can be addressed so that it does not arise in the future.

As you will soon learn, watering issues are often at the root of these symptoms, and we will now examine how we can address them.

Underwatering

Some of these plants are desert natives and have the ability to survive absence of water for long periods.

This does not mean the corals will be in perfect condition after they have been submerged.

In order to achieve perfect watering results, it is important to develop a watering regime that fits your plant’s needs.

Solution

Allow water to drain away completely after watering your plant sparingly. You need to ensure that your plant gets slightly moist soil but is not wet.

Prevention

Check the moisture level of the potting soil on a regular basis to establish an effective watering regime.

If the top inch or so of soil becomes dry, then the soil will need to drop to a cool, slightly damp temperature.

To determine depth, you can simply press your finger into ground until the first knuckle is reached.

You can easily tell if the soil is moist by feeling it. You will have to develop the habit of doing this regularly. 

A lack of consistency in watering

Most gardeners fail in this area. The soil becomes too dry and the leaves begin to show signs of stress.

In response, the gardener attempts to rectify the problem by soaking the plant. What results is a series of adverse conditions.

They range from extreme droughts to floods, so it should not be surprising that plants struggle to adapt to these extremes.

Solution

Try checking the moisture level of the soil on a regular basis. If poking your finger in the soil seems too much effort.

You can purchase a moisture probe, which will give you an accurate indication of how moist the soil of your plant is, if you are not sure that you are estimating the moisture level accurately enough.

Prevention

As you get into the habit of checking soil moisture more frequently, experience will pay off here.

A steady equilibrium will be reached where the ideal moisture level can be maintained by overcoming the drought-flood syndrome. 

Low Humidity

In order to perform at their best level, even the most resilient plants require a certain level of humidity.

Being outside does not always pose a problem due to humidity.

We place plants in artificial conditions – which is why we often manipulate air conditioning systems and indoor heating systems – when we bring them into the indoor arena. 

Solution

Modern homes tend to have dry air, so these plants must be tolerant of this.

You will first need to make sure that your watering regime is correct if you notice brown tips or wrinkled leaves. 

Humidity is another factor to be considered. The best way to address this issue is to fill the plant tray with pebbles and then pour water over the top.

By slowly evaporating the water, enough moisture will be created to avoid a humidity problem.

A plant pot standing a few centimeters above the water level will allow drainage to proceed as planned.

Prevention

Don’t forget to leave space between radiators or air conditioning units when you position your plant.

As the plants breathe and release moisture into the air, they also increase the humidity levels in the vicinity.

Snake Plant Sunburn

Sunburn when discussing a plant as tough as the snake plant sounds like an oxymoron.

It is important to remember that plants in the wild were probably growing somewhere where they were protected from the sun.

Your plant will probably receive almost continuous light during the daytime if you put it directly on a south-facing windowsill.

Solution

You can move the plant to a more sheltered spot on the windowsill. In many cases, it’ll simply need a slight move away from the windowsill for the best conditions.

Prevention

Think about your pants position before you wear them. It will need to be weaned slowly from low light if it was purchased from a nursery or plant shop that suffered from poor lighting. Over time, it will become accustomed to brighter conditions. However, if they are introduced too quickly, a certain amount of shock will be incurred.

Too Little Light

Snake plants prefer plenty of light, and they require much less than other house plants. That said, the beauty of these plants is that they can withstand low light, so this is not likely to be an issue you have with them. But if you notice the yellow stripe on the sides is fading, then low light might be something you want to think about.

Solution

Move the plant to a window sill, even a north-facing one. However, avoid one that faces south since the leaves may burn.

Prevention

Turn the plant a quarter circle once a month to even out the light exposure. If it has been placed on a windowsill, keep it in a relatively bright position.

Too Much Fertilizer

The Snake plant will require very little extra fertilizer if its potted in good quality potting soil.

Many gardeners believe that by feeding the plant often, it will grow more quickly. However, this can have detrimental effects.

The leaves will become soft and floppy if you feed them regularly. If so, then stop the food immediately.

An excess of feeding will usually be apparent first through brown leaf tips.

Solution

The minute you notice your plant’s leaves are limp and floppy, you need to stop feeding it. Having more feed will not help, even if this is not the reason for the problem.

Prevention

You must first understand that many of these plants do not require a lot of food to survive.

You should only feed your houseplant twice a year using a standard houseplant food.

If you feed your plant in spring, and then again in mid to late summer, you will provide more than enough nutrients to keep it growing well and looking spectacular.

Plant Potting Soil With Salt Buildup

Your plant can accumulate a lot of salt in the soil it is growing in. This can cause mild soil toxicity over time.

There are two common sources of salts. The first is chemical fertilizers, which you should have already dealt with after reading the previous point.

Another is from the water supplies you provide. Many municipal water supplies have chemicals mixed in that can build up with time as it is filtered by the soil.

You should notice a white, chalky layer on top of your potting mix, or a small, salty dot on top of the pores of your plant’s leaves if you suspect salt build-up.

It doesn’t matter if the salt is from the water or fertilizer, it can damage leaves or roots, which will lead to brown leaf tips.

Solution

Replant the plant into a new pot. Don’t plant it into a much larger pot than the one you just removed it from.

Rather than planting it into the next pot up, use a potting mix that is well-drained. 

Prevention

There are two very effective ways to prevent salt build up. The first is to reduce your feeding regimen, which you hopefully have already done.

Another good rule of thumb is to avoid adding salt to the soil when watering your plants.

Eventually, even chlorine in the water will start to build up and cause this poisonous build-up. The only way to avoid this toxic build-up is to take advantage of captured rainwater or filtered water.

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