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A snake plant is a potted plant that is often described as easy to care for. However, it can develop problems if that care has turned into neglect. Or it can also deteriorate if it gets too much attention in the form of overwatering. The soil may be soaked or dry and dusty. You may see dead, brown leaves or pale leaves with soft, brown mushy spots. Or even worse, you can see whole pieces of the plant fall over.
If your sansevieria does not look healthy, you may be wondering – can this snake plant be saved?
To diagnose the problem, you need to be a bit of a detective. Sansevieria can be affected by:
- Watering – Is the soil very wet? Are the leaves mushy and brown? More about this below.
- Underwatering – Is the soil hard, dry or dusty? Are the leaves wrinkled? Read more below.
- Exposure to cold air – Has a window been left open in winter? Is there a cold draft or are there leaves against the cold glass? Is it near a front door that is often used? If a sansevieria experiences temperatures below 50 ° F (10 ° C), it may be damaged. Cold damage causes the leaves to curl. Soft, discolored parts develop on the leaves.
- Too much or too little light – If your sansevieria is in a sunny window and looks a little faded and the tips of the leaves are brown, try moving it to a less sunny place. Too little light turns out to be inhibited or long-legged growth or no growth at all! Sansevieria does best in bright indirect light, the kind you get from north- or east-facing windows.
- An insect infestation – Snake plants are generally free of pests, but aphids, aphids, spider mites, thrips and fungal mosquitoes can sometimes be a problem.
Sometimes saving a sansevieria is as easy as trimming dead leaves and moving them to another location. But sometimes more intensive measures as needed.
Accessories you need to revive a snake plant
- Sharp pruner, scissors or knife.
- 1:10 bleach and aqueous solution, or bleach disinfectant wipes to clean your cutters.
- Fresh soil (optional). If you are replanting, use a pot mix specifically designed for sansevieria or a mix labeled for cacti and succulents. You can also make your own. Here is a good recipe for potted plants that need a well-drained soil:
- 1 part pot mixture
- 1 part peat moss or coconut
- 2 parts sand or perlite
- A clean new pot (optional). A terracotta pot conducts water faster than other materials, which means that the soil dries faster. A terracotta pot is also heavier than a plastic pot. The weight of it can help keep your top heavy sansevieria from falling over.
- Insecticidal soap, if you have seen signs of an insect infestation.
- A soft cloth.
- Gloves and newsprint to mask the work surface, if desired.
Revive an overwatered snake plant
Overwatering is the biggest problem for sansevieria.
A watered, constantly moist soil leads to root rot. Symptoms include drooping leaves that have turned yellow or brown and may rot at the base. If there is a bad smell in the soil, it is a good indication of root rot.
If you notice small black flying insects, these are fungal mosquitoes and an indicator that the soil is too wet. They should slowly disappear when your soil dries out properly. If there are too many of them, consider getting rid of them with Mosquito Dunks, as mentioned in our article above.
Sometimes you can let a sansevieria dry naturally. However, if the soil is very wet and you see signs of rot, it is best to remove the wet soil completely and replant. Remove the plant from the pot, remove the soil from the root ball and check for rotten roots and rhizomes. Cut off these rotting parts and then place the healthy plant parts in a fresh potted plant mixture.
If the rot is strong, the best and easiest way to save it is to cut the healthy leaves far above the rotting parts and multiply them.
To prevent your sansevieria from being overwatered in the future, do not water according to a schedule (like every Tuesday). Do not give your snake plant small amounts of water at regular intervals. This type of exercise will keep the soil constantly moist, leading to root rot.
Water deeply and thoroughly, not superficially. Water only when the soil is completely dry and then soak it thoroughly until water drains out of the drainage holes. Empty the drain pan immediately. Do not leave the pot in water.
Let your plant dry completely before watering again. Depending on the size of the pot and the location of your plant, it can mean weeks between waterings. Remember that it is better to mistake too little water with snake plants.
You can check the soil moisture with a chopstick that goes all the way to the bottom of the pot. When you pull out the chopstick, wet soil will cling to it. If the pot is not too heavy, you can also lift it and check the moisture level through the drainage holes.
Revive an underwater snake plant
Simple care should not be confused with neglect.
You can see that your snake plant is underwater if the leaves are wrinkled or split. Healthy, well-moisturized leaves are firm, full-bodied and smooth. If the soil is dry, dusty and gray, and you know it has not been watered for several months, it will suffer from dehydration.
You may want to wear a dust mask for this project. You also need a container of water to moisturize the roots.
Remove the sansevierian from the pot. Look for solid roots and rhizomes. Some roots can be dry and crunchy and look like straw. They will not recover, so cut them off with your pruners. Rehydrate the healthy pieces in a container of water for about an hour and then place them in either fresh or rehydrated soil.
Pruning and care of a snake plant
If your sansevieria is not under or overwatered, it just needs a little care to look like it is in top shape again. It may seem wrong to prune snake plants, but you can! Just be sure to cut to the base of the blade. Snake plant leaves grow from the root system, so if you cut a leaf in the middle, that cut will always be there.
Cut off any brown or broken leaves. Cut off any brown-spotted or mossy leaves. These should be cut last so that you do not spread diseases to healthy leaves. Be sure to clean your cutters between the inserts.
The Sansevieria leaves can become so long that they become top heavy and fall over. They can not handle their own weight. Inner leaves help keep each other up; the outer leaves may flop out. Some leaves may be too high for the overall shape of the plant. These leaves can be cut off at the base. Then you can decide if you want to spread them.
Cleaning and washing the leaves is a simple task that should be done when you notice that they look dusty. This is also a good time to inspect for insects. Use a damp, soft cloth and hold it between your thumb and fingers. Start at the base of each leaf and gently pull the fabric up to the leaf tip. Rinse the cloth frequently and continue until all the leaves have been cleaned.
What to do if your snake plant cannot be repaired
It is sad to admit that there is no way to save the entire facility. But you can save the top of the leaves. Take cuttings and propagate them.
You can take the knowledge you have learned, buy a new sansevieria and promise that you will do better. Or maybe you decide that you do not have the conditions that a snake plant needs. Assess your environment and do some research. Then buy another indoor plant that will thrive in your space.
But whatever you do, do not be discouraged and never say you have a black thumb. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right plants for you and your home.
