Snake plants, or Sansevieria trifasciata, make popular indoor houseplants. The only problem with these plants is excessive watering, even though they aren’t difficult to care for. If you overwater a plant, it does not mean that you poured too much water on it. That indicates that too much moisture has accumulated in the soil. A more accurate description would be that the soil wasn’t allowed to adequately dry before watering again. The roots of snake plants rot if they remain submerged in water for a long period of time. It’s extremely important to keep the roots healthy of any plant if you’re going to grow it well. You need to deal with any problems early enough so that they don’t damage the plant permanently. We will now look at signs and reasons for overwatering snake plants and how to save them from overwatering.
Overwatering Symptoms
In case of too much water, your snake plant will show signs. What makes it a little confusing is that the same symptom can be caused by more than one thing. For instance, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between signs of overwatering and signs of underwatering. It is common for illness to be manifest in more than one way. You can diagnose and repair your plant correctly by noticing all of the signals.
Soil Dampness
Check the soil dampness to see if your snake plant is receiving more water than it needs. You should do this 4-5 days after watering the plant or right before you usually water it. Feel the soil with your finger by pushing it 1-2 inches into it. There is too much moisture in the soil if it is still damp. To accurately measure the moisture of the soil, you can use a moisture meter. The soil should not be watered when it is still moist. This is a sign you are watering too often. To save a plant reliant on very wet soil, a transplant should be done as soon as possible.
Leaves’ Appearance
Overwatering is most noticeable through the leaves of Sansevieria. Snake plants are succulents that can store water in all of their parts (leaves, rhizomes, roots). Plants store excess water in their leaves when they get extra water. As time passes, the leaves become mushy and soggy. Yellow and shriveled leaves appear all of a sudden. It is possible for them to turn yellow or have patches of yellowish green. A snake plant can turn yellow for a number of reasons, but overwatered leaves will appear soft and pulpy.
It is more likely that the oldest leaves will turn yellow first. Over time, they start to bend over or just flop over. Snake plant leaves that are droopy usually indicate that the plant has been overwatered. You may even smell the decay coming off the leaves if the decay has already started.
Root Decay
The yellow leaves caused by overwatering are usually accompanied by rotting roots. In wet and soggy conditions, snake plants are susceptible to root rot. Check the roots of your plant by removing it from its container. If you check the roots, you will be able to tell how badly the root system has been damaged.
Healthy roots are yellow or white in color. Rotting roots, however, are brown in color. You will feel the decaying roots soft and mushy when you touch them. The bad smell of overwatered roots is also a sure indicator.
Mold or Fungi on Soil
There are a variety of problems caused by overwatering, such as fungus and soil mold. Mold is much more likely to form on wet foliage than on dry leaves. Infections tend to affect the leaves near the center of the rosette. Occasionally, the stem and soil surface will also be infested. The most common fungal problems in snake plants are red leaf spot and southern blight. They can be identified by red spots on the leaves or white cottony webs on the soil.
Finding the Cause
If you realize your snake plant is overwatered and showing some of the symptoms listed above, the next step is to identify the cause of the overwatering. The information can be interpreted and applied directly to your own plants. Could you tell me what temperature you’ve kept the plant at? How bright is the area? Is there a draft? Overwatered snake plants can be caused by a number of factors.
Overwatering
Clearly, overwatering contributes to this problem. Watering a plant before it was really thirsty means you overwatered it. Unlike other plant species, Sansevieria doesn’t need regular watering. During warmer months, snake plants should be watered every 1-2 weeks.
Before watering, make sure that the top layer of soil is completely dry. Finger-testing the soil is a very effective way to measure its dryness/wetness. Overwatering is less likely to occur with plants that are in the ground. However, standing water should be avoided at all costs.
Heavy and Rich Soil
The dense soil that does not filter out enough water is one major reason for water retention. Gritty, well-draining soil is essential for snake plants. Sansevieria plants should never be planted in regular ground without any additives. Your plant’s potting mix should be noted. Usually, the composition is written on the package. Heavier soils are dense, dark, and take longer to drain.
It is also advisable to weigh the pot once you’ve picked it up. This should be done 30 minutes after watering the plant. The soil needs to be changed if the pot is extremely heavy and the water didn’t drain.
Large Pot Size
The container in which the mother in law’s tongue should be grown should be appropriate for its size. A big pot means more soil and more moisture. If you have a small plant in a pot that’s larger than necessary, the water won’t dry as quickly. Too much moisture will remain around the roots. Overwatering will result from this.
Lack of Sunlight
Snake plants do not need much water, especially if it hasn’t been getting any sunlight. Through the soil surface, sunlight can evaporate some water. In hot climates, porous pot materials like terracotta help to draw out extra moisture. As plants grow, they require more water and nutrients.
Conversely, low light conditions require a plant to use less water. If snake plants are not overwatered and overfed, they can survive in dim light.
Low Temperature
During the winter, Sansevieria plants require very little water. Low light and cold temperatures are to blame for this. During cold weather, snake plants are in a resting state and do not grow much. This means they require little watering and feeding in the winter.
Winter is the perfect time to reduce watering to a minimum. It is normally sufficient to do it once a month.
How Can I Save an Overwatered Snake Plant?
You need to know how long your roots have been soaked and how bad the rot is on your roots to decide whether your plant can be fixed. The plant cannot be saved in all cases, but early intervention can help. The roots may be in good condition, but some of the leaves are dead, which could make some new pups grow. It is possible that the plant will not recover when the roots are damaged.
Overwatered plants can be saved in several ways if the overwatering condition is of short duration. Depending on the condition of your plant, you can follow any or all of these steps.
Remove the Plant from the Pot
The first step is to remove the entire plant from the pot. A knife works well for scraping the sides off, making it easier to remove. Newspaper is then placed over the root ball and wet soil. Wash the dirt off of roots by shaking or wiping them. Removing loose, wet soil or old soil around rotten roots is a good idea.
Then, loosen the roots with your fingers. Check to see if there are any living roots, and protect them. In healthy roots, the color is yellowish white and the texture is firm.
Dry Out the Roots
The next step is to dry the entire plant. To remove most of the water from the roots, you can use paper towels, newspapers, or old terry cloth. Wrap the roots in a towel or newspaper, gently squeeze and draw out as much water as possible. If the newspaper absorbs no moisture, repeat this process. Drying roots with newspaper is the most convenient method.
You can place a small plant on top of a baking rack so it gets air circulation from all sides. Place a small fan a few feet away from the plant to blow on it. Evaporation and transpiration are increased as a result. Don’t use a hair dryer or any other heat source. After that, place the plant on a stack of newspaper and let it rest in the shade for 3 to 5 days depending on the temperature where you live. Repotting can be very tempting, but don’t do it. Despite being in the sun for some days, a snake plant will not die.
Soil Preparation
Cacti and succulents need a good soil mix or ready-to-use potting mix. In the new soil, any moisture left in the roots will be distributed. Use potting soil that is relatively dry and fast-draining. To enhance drainage capacity, there should be at least 50% additives such as perlite, chicken grit, coarse sand, or pumice. This reduces the risk of over-watering. Fresh soil should be used, removing as much old soil as is reasonably possible. Replace the potting mix completely if you have a fungal infection near the soil line.
Repot
Once your plant has persisted in an exposed state for several days and the soil has dried out, it’s time to repot it. Using terracotta or clay pots may be more suitable, as the soil dries out faster in them. The walls can pass water vapor because porous materials like clay are porous. Make sure the root system fits in a pot barely big enough. Snake plants require drainage holes. If the pot doesn’t already have holes, make them. Choose a shallow pot.
Maintain the original soil level and use a clean potting mix. Leaves should not be buried in soil. Put the plant in dry soil for 1-2 days, then pot it up dry. Afterward, slowly pour water until it drips from the drainage holes. Once the water has drained off, allow it to drain for 12-25 minutes. In order to keep the saucer from filling with water, make sure it has no water in it. For at least one week, let the plant recover on its own.
Propagate
Snake plants need to undergo this step only if their roots can no longer be repaired. Even if the roots of the plant are slightly damaged but are still healthy, it is worth drying out and repotting it. A rotted root system may mean it is too late for restoration. A snake plant can, however, be grown just from leaves.
Cut off 2-3 healthy green leaves for this. The roots of the plant can now be disposed of. You should cut each leaf into parts that are at least 3-4 inches long. The pieces should be placed with their tops up and their bottoms down in a moist potting mix. Keep the soil moist to semidry, but not drenched. If the cuttings still resist, try gently tugging on them after a month. Hold off on pulling them out just yet. For roots to become strong enough, it may take a few months. To make new plants, you can place them separately.