A snake plant is a great choice for beginners and will require little effort on the part of the new hobbyist. However, any plant can suffer from unpredictable circumstances, and sometimes they will give up on you. You must understand why your snake plant is dying in order to take appropriate action so that you can bring it back to life.
The root cause of a dying snake plant is inadequate watering, overfertilization, and environmental stress. During the growing season, fertilize your snake plants with appropriate fertilizer when the soil is dry. You can revive your snake plant by providing indirect light and maintaining ideal temperatures and humidity.
It is not the reasons above that are problematic. The plant is being pressured by ill-advised care or conditions of culture that need to be rectified on time. A stressed snake plant will wilt, resulting in loss of the plant.
In this article, we will learn how to fix some common snake plant problems that result in the wilting of your snake plant and revive the plant to healthy conditions.
Signs of dying snake plant
Identifying a dying snake plant as soon as possible will provide you with numerous visual cues. These cues must be understood in order to take the necessary action to save your plant.
- Brown leaves.
- Stunted growth.
- Yellowing leaves.
- Leaves are falling off.
- Droopy leaves.
- Foul odor from soil
Reviving a dying snake plant: How do you do it?
Getting rid of the snake plant can be made easier by identifying what is hurting the plant. In reading further, you will also discover the reasons for the problem and how it can be cured.
Overwatered snake plant
During a prolonged period of waterlogging, the roots can stop functioning, resulting in the plant’s wilting.
Possible Problems:
- Root rot.
- Pest infestation.
- Brown leaves.
- Pale leaves.
- Leaves fall off.
- Brown edges
Solutions:
- Stop watering.
- Make sure to provide a full day of in-direct sunlight.
- Make sure the air is properly circulated.
- Soil should not be watered unless it is dry.
Prevention:
- Snake plants should only be watered when needed.
- When you feel in the soil with your finger, you can tell if it is dry or moist.
- For about a minute, dig the skewer up to a few inches in the soil.
- Remove the finger/skewer. If any soil sticks to the finger/skewer, it indicates that the soil is still moist and does not need water.
- The moisture meter can help you figure out the soil’s moisture level if you’re a beginner.
- Snake plant roots and soil should never be kept in water.
- Within two minutes of watering, all the excess water is supposed to drain out.
- Do not follow any routine blindly.
- Watering requirements change with the season.
Underwatered snake plant
Watering the snake plant can also affect its growth. Although it isn’t as bad as overwatering your snake plant, stressing out your snake plant over the long-term may result in poor growth.
Possible Problems:
- Soil pulling away
- Leaves turning brown
- Discoloration
- Slow growth
- Droopy leaves
- Stressed leaves
- Brown edges
Solutions:
- Remove damaged leaves, if any.
- Once the excess water has drained from the drainage holes, water your plant again.
- By doing this, the plant will instantly start receiving more water.
- A dish beneath the pot can also be used while watering.
- Extra water will be drained from the dish.
- Water will be taken in by the roots and the soil through capillary action.
- Remove the dish from the water after an hour.
Prevention:
- When the soil is dry, water the snake plant.
- However, dry soil can harm plants, so make sure the soil isn’t kept dry for long periods of time.
- To check the soil moisture, use the finger/skewer method.
- An infrared moisture meter is also a great tool for checking moisture in soil.
- Another way would be to lift the pot. If it is heavier than usual, then the soil is still moist.
- Please check the potting mix; it should not be overly draining.
Lighting Issues
The snake plant usually gets disturbed when it’s exposed to too much light or if it’s kept in too shady conditions too long. This can lead to the wilting of the plant at the beginning and may affect their growth.
Possible Problems:
- Droopy leaves
- Brown leaves
- Sunburn
Solutions:
- The snake plant’s leaves and soil will become stressed if it is exposed to too much light for too many hours.
- In direct sunlight, leaves are directly reduced in moisture, resulting in burning.
- Regardless of the shade, the plant should still receive plenty of indirect light for at least six to eight hours.
- If you grow your plants outdoors, install a shade to protect them from direct sunlight.
- You can use sheer curtains if the plant is kept near a window. This will allow it to get the light it needs.
- Move the snake plant to a brighter location if it does not get enough light.
- If light is scarce in your home, use artificial light sources such as grow lights, LED, etc.
Prevention:
- Watch the location of your snake plant before you keep it.
- It should be enough light coming in, but there should be no or hardly any direct light.
- At least 6 hours of indirect light should be provided to the plant.
- A west or east-facing window provides sufficient light availability for the plant.
Root rot
Wet roots and waterlogged soil become weak, and pathogens thrive in moist conditions leading to root rot. Consequently, your snake plant will eventually die if you do not take care of it.
Possible Problems:
- Leaves are losing their shine
- Yellowish and pale leaves
- Wilting and shedding of leaves
- Leaves developing black spots
- Delicate and brown roots
- Pulpy and slimy roots
- Small leaves
- A damaged plant will die in ten days if the roots are severely damaged.
- Stunted growth
Solutions:
- Prune the damaged leaves.
- Remove the soil from the roots of the plant and take it out of the pot.
- Take care to remove any weak and damaged roots under running water.
- Next, trim off remaining dead roots with a sterilized pair of shears.
- Cut the healthy roots just above the damaged roots that are dead.
- Replant the plant in fresh, sterilized soil.
- The soil mix should be well aerated.
- Sterilize the scissors after you have used a bleach solution of 1 part to 3 parts water to prevent fungal spores from spreading to soil or other plants.
Prevention:
- Always water your plants when necessary to prevent root rot, and make sure the drainage system is adequate.
- Any sign of root rot should be treated as soon as possible.
- Maintain a healthy environment in the soil by not letting it become soggy.
- Repot in a larger pot than before.
Pest Infestation
Plants become weaker if they keep sucking sap from the plant. By reducing the plants’ vigor and energy, they keep the plants healthy.
Possible problems
- Slow maturity
- Leaves start collapsing
- Speckled leaves
- Leaf decay
- Distorted leaves
- White spots on the foliage
Solutions:
- Trim the leaves off the snake plant infected with the pathogen and quarantine the snake plant.
- You can treat the plant with any of the following organic methods. Wash the plant with running water.
Soapy Water
Spray the plant with dish soap and water to dehydrate the bugs. Mix 5 tbsp dish soap with 4 cups of water.
Neem Oil Spray
Since neem oil is a natural fungicide and insecticide, it will help get rid of the bugs. The plant should be sprayed with neem oil one night a week.
Alcohol Spray
A solution of 70% isopropyl alcohol diluted in a liter of water sprayed on the plant will repel insects without harming it.
- It is also possible to treat the contaminated plant with a chemical pesticide.
Prevention:
- Stay on top of the plant every few days to discover any problems in the plant at an early stage.
- In order to prevent pest infestation, you can use neem oil or horticultural oil every month.
- Do not overwater or over-fertilize.
- Good ventilation is essential to the growth of the plant. Do not put it in a high humidity environment.
- No contaminated cuttings should be propagated.
Inappropriate temperature
Irregular temperature levels cause the snake plant to suffer and may even cause its death. Plants may get stunted during the winter months by cold damage.
Possible Problems:
- Discolored/Disfigured leaves
- Puckering of young leaves
- Brown blotches in mature leaves
- Wrinkled leaves
- Distressed plant
Solutions:
- Keep the temperature between 65 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 55 degrees Fahrenheit – 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
- Protect the plant from cold drafts during cold weather by bringing the plant indoors.
- Keep plants near a furnace during cold weather, but keep them away from it.
Prevention:
- For snake plants that like warm weather, their ideal temperature ranges from 65°F to 80°F.
- Always keep the plant away from cold drafts and temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Whenever the season changes, keep moving the plant to provide ideal temperatures.
- Keep snake plants away from radiators, vents, or other heating systems.
Humidity Issues
A snake plant does not need high humidity levels , and low humidity can cause leaves to dry out and become infected.
Possible problems:
- Dried Leaves
- Brown tips
- Brown spots
Solutions:
- You can provide an ideal humid environment to the plant with a digital hygrometer or a humidifier.
- It’s best to use a tray, pebbles, and purified water to increase the humidity of the space.
- Fill the tray with just enough water to moisten the pebbles and place it in the tray.
- Place the tray over the plant. The water will slowly evaporate, increasing the humidity around the plant.
- My suggestion would be to purchase a good humidifier.
Prevention:
- Humidity about 40% is optimal for snake plants.
- Don’t overwater and don’t keep plants inside a high-humidity environment for too long.
- Do not splash water on the leaves.
- Rub the leaves with a damp cloth.
- Make sure the room’s humidity is appropriate for the plant by using a humidifier.
Last Words
Snake plants are usually troubled by cultural conditions and care routines. It is difficult to care for them if you overdo anything.
Snake plants are the easiest to take care of. And if your plant is suffering, you can easily restore it to health again by observing its needs and providing the proper care.
Water your houseplants only once a month during the growing season and use a fertilizer that is specifically designed for houseplants.
The leaves of the snake plant should not be misted and keep being cleaned to remove any dust from them. This is necessary for photosynthesis as well.
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