Wrinkled Snake Plant
The wrinkling of Sansevieria (Sansevieria) plants is often a sign of a problem: water problems normally cause the snake plants to become shriveled and wilted.
However, the use of poor soil and fertilizers can also cause snake plant leaves to wrinkle. Overwatering or lack of water are the most common causes of snake plant wrinkling.
Causes of a Wrinkled Snake Plant
Healthy snake plants form dense stands on the basis of their creeping rhizomes. Their leaves are stiff, and mature ones are usually dark green with light grey stripes. They can grow from two to six feet. When the environment is unfavorable, the leaves become wrinkled.
There are several reasons why snake plants wrinkle:
Hot weather
Snake plant leaves are darker during the spring to summer, displaying the grey stripes more vividly. When temperatures are high, the leaves may begin to wrinkle. Sansevieria leaves will curl and shrink easily due to high temperatures.
Watering the snake plant more frequently will prevent its leaves from curling and shriveling easily. If you do not water it more often, you will notice the plant is losing more water than it’s getting.
So if you watered once during the cool season, increase the frequency during the hot season. However, do not overwater the plant, as this can lead to other problems, like root rot.
In the fall, the snake plant enters a dormant state that requires less watering. This state will last until the spring, but there will be no growth.
Watering
Snake plants should not be overwatered or taken care of infrequently. How often you water your snake plant is determined by the season (wet or dry) and if the plant is in its dormant state.
A snake plant’s leaves will wrinkle if they are not getting enough water; brown tips on snake plant leaves indicate the plant is drying out. To verify that the snake plant is underwatering, check the soil to see if it is stiff or bone-dry.
High or low soil-drainage rate
The snake plant requires with-standing soil because it is susceptible to underwatering, as well as root rot from waterlogging. The snake plant’s leaves will wrinkle in soil that fails to drain properly because over-watering is likely, as well as water loss.
The soil you use when planting snake plants should be mineral-rich. That is why it’s a good idea to use fertilizer when planting the snake plants. If your snake plants begin to wrinkle, you may want to move them into a pot with fresh, well-drained soil.
Too much sunlight
The leaves of snake plants become wrinkled and curl when they are placed in direct sunlight. This causes them to lose water at an alarming rate, leaving them wrinkled and curling. If your sanseveria plant is placed in direct sunlight, it will be prone to developing brown tips.
A snake plant moved into a dark spot will also develop wrinkled leaves. Leaves lose their texture when there is not enough light for photosynthesis.
In this case, if you do not have an east-facing window where that plant will receive enough sunlight, you can move it periodically outdoors to reap the benefits of photosynthesis.
Shock and stress
Snake plants may suffer shock as a result of:
- Stress during transportation
- Change of environment
- Nibbling by pets in the house
Snake plants begin to wrinkle their leaves slowly when they are stressed. Let the plant adapt to its new environment, and it will soon flourish again.
Animals like cats often play and nibble at anything, and your snake plant can be damaged by their behavior. If you have pets such as cats in the house, keep your snake plant in a higher place where they can’t reach it.
Temperature and Humidity
If you notice your snake plant leaves wrinkle in the winter, it is probably affected by changes in temperature and humidity. Snake plants do not do well in temperatures below 10 degrees.
In the hot season, snake plants are also susceptible to extreme temperatures. A sudden drop in temperature can cause the leaves to wrinkle due to dehydration. You can save your snake plant by avoiding cold drafts during winter.
Size of the pot
If your snake plant is in a small pot, the roots will not be able to grow, resulting in a stunted growth. Thus, you will notice that it is no longer growing.
If you choose a bigger pot, it may cause the leaves to wrinkle from overwatering, so make sure that you get the right-size pot for your snake plant. It should also have good draining capabilities to prevent overwatering.
Root rot disease
Typically, snake plants that are overwatered experience root rot. Overwatering causes the soil to become waterlogged, and this results in the roots rotting. Waterlogged soil robs the roots of the nutrients necessary for the plant to flourish.
The leaves of your snake plant may be yellowing and wrinkled as a result of root decay. If that is the case, you should stop watering it and take out all the rotten roots. Then you can nurse your snake plant back to health using antifungals or charcoal powder.
Fertilizer burn
A snake plant needs fertilizer to thrive. Fertilizer is also necessary to help the snake plant grow properly. However, if incorrect fertilizer or an inadequate amount of fertilizer is used, the snake plant will suffer. If the leaves begin to curl and dry, check the fertilizer.
This problem can be fixed by flushing excess fertilizer from the plant with regular watering or by changing the soil. Transfer your snake plant to new soil that contains well-balanced fertilizer.
How to Fix a Wrinkled Snake Plant
It is now possible to fix the problem of wrinkled snake plant leaves. This article will explain how to fix the snake plant after identifying the source of wrinkles.
- Snake plants should be watered once every month in the spring and once every week when they are dry to prevent wrinkling if it is caused by too much water or overwatering.
- You should plant sansevieria in a potting mix that drains well and contains balanced minerals. This will ensure that your snake plant doesn’t wrinkle.
- Use organic fertilizer to achieve the best results. Apply fertilizer every two to three months during the fast-growing season.
- Put a wrinkling snake plant in a location with bright indirect light, or keep it in a shady area in a hot area.
- Increase the humidity in the room where snake plants grow to prevent leaves from wrinkling. You can also use a humidifier for this purpose.
- Avoid cold drafts and place your snake plant in an area that is more comfortable.
- When watering the plant, use filtered water. Filtered water can easily lead to a wrinkled snake plant.
Conclusion
Although caring for the snake plant can be a daunting task, you will benefit from the presence of this plant in your home if you keep in mind the benefits.
A snake plant is renowned for cleaning the air around the house. It takes in all the carbon dioxide and releases oxygen as its waste. This makes your home smell fresh.
In addition to being alert to the signs of a failed plant, you should also ensure that your mother-in-law’s tongue is in good health throughout its life. However, it could also be “old age” if you are sure of it.