Snake Plant Leaves Curling
Any plant owner will be delighted to acquire a tough, low-light-tolerant snake plant that is drought-resistant and sturdy. Often referred to as Sansevieria, these hardy plants require little water, light, fertilizer, and a relatively low level of attention.
Although hardies, even plants can have problems from time to time.
A common snake plant issue is curling leaves. Here’s how to deal with curling leaves if yours are used to a broad, flat leaf.
Causes of Curling Leaves
It’s most likely that the leaves on your snake plant are curling because they’ve been underwatered. A curly leaf may result from any stress your plant has been exposed to. A number of factors can contribute to curling leaves, including insects, fungus, and incorrect temperatures.
To figure out why the leaves on your snake plant are curling, you need to first figure out why they are curling. It is important to know the common causes of curly leaves so you can identify the issue most affecting your plant.
Underwatering
Despite being drought-resistant, snake plants are known for their beauty regardless of how much water they receive. Plants in the house generally need to be watered around twice a month instead of weekly.
In fact, one of the biggest ways people kill snake plant is by overwatering them.
Despite this, snake plants still need some water for survival. If their leaves are allowed to dry out for a few months, they’ll curl in an attempt to conserve moisture.
A plant whose leaves are undernourished will appear yellow or droopy. They will also appear curled or wrinkly.
Insect Infestation
Some insects like thrips, mealybugs, or spider mites can damage a snake plant, even though it looks healthy. Thrips are the most common reason behind curly leaves in a sansevieria, followed by watering too much.
Snake plants are damaged once the plant is eaten by insects, which damage the wall of the plant’s cells. Damage to the leaves from this process causes them to curl inwards.
It is very difficult to see most snake plant pests, since they are so small. Make sure to shake the leaves of your plant over a white surface or magnify them if you are unsure.
The Thrips will look like tiny black dots, while mites will have red spots, and mealybugs will have white spots. Your snake plant’s leaves are packed tight at the base and tend to accumulate on one another.
Fungal Infections
There are different types of fungi that can damage your plants’ leaves or roots, such as red leaf spot and southern blight. Fungal infections on plants usually present web-like growths or discolored spots ranging from red or white to black or brown.
Fungus most commonly attacks plants that are overwatered. When the moisture balance gets out of control, fungi can thrive in damp soil.
Fungi also spread rapidly, so if your plant has come into contact with plants with infections, it might develop one of its own.
Cold Damage
If snake plants get too cold, their leaves may curl inward to protect themselves. Their optimal temperature range is between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Plants installed indoors usually do not take cold damage to heart, but curly leaves on patio and outdoor plants can be influenced by it.
Leaf curling may also lead to darkening or scarring of leaves after exposure to cold.
What You Can Do to Treat Curly Leaves
Now that you know why your leaves are curling, try these techniques to avoid it from happening again.
Water Soak Your Plant
This technique can help you properly water your plant when you suspect yours is underwatered, without drowning it. If you want to do this, you’ll have to make sure that your pot has drainage holes.
If you want to water-soak your plant, fill up a sink or tub with at least three inches of room-temperature water. Make sure the plant is submerged for at least 45 minutes so the roots can drink water from the drainage hole.
You must remove your plant and allow it to drain thoroughly before putting it back in the spot where it belongs. To prevent this problem in the future, make sure to water your plants twice a month.
Get Rid of Insect Infestations
It is imperative that you keep the plant separate from all other houseplants. You do not want to spread the bacteria.
Using the damp cloth, wipe down each leaf on both sides. Next, remove leaves with visible signs of pest infestations.
Also, spray your plant with some neem oil a couple of times each week to prevent pests from coming back.
Fight Fungal Infections
When dealing with a fungal infection, your primary goal is to offer healthy growing conditions to the snake plants, in order for them to fight off the fungi on their own.
Just like with an insect infestation, begin by moving the plant as far away as possible from the other plants and removing all infected leaves. A fungicidal solution can then be used to remove the leaves from each plant.
It is crucial to create growing conditions that foster plant growth without promoting fungus growth once the worst of the fungus has been removed.
A warm, bright, indirect light is ideal for keeping your snake plant alive. It is best to water your plant as little as possible, occasionally with a thorough watering, rather than keeping it constantly moist.
Maintain Stable Temperatures
You may need to work to protect outside plants from extremely cold temperatures during the winter months.
Winters are the best times to bring snake plants indoors. The best solution for plants that are hard to move is to cover them with a clear plastic sheet or blanket.
Occasionally, plants that have been exposed to extreme temperatures will recover. However, repeated exposure to extreme temperatures can kill a plant.
Do I have to cut off curly leaves on my snake plant?
There is no reason to be concerned about removing curly leaves because most causes of curly leaves can be easily fixed. Only if you notice the leaves have visible diseases, such as insect damage or fungi, will this be an exception to the rule.
When should I be concerned about curly leaves?
Snake plant leaves usually twist or bend lightly along the edges. Problems occur when the leaves curl up to more than a centimeter or two.
Generally, plants with previously straight leaves should be considered to be problematic if they develop many curly edges.