The snake plant is a famous rugged houseplant. It is resistant to many common problems. But many people want to know why is my snake plant dying. There are many reasons behind the dying snake plant. The most common causes are discussed below.
Excess watering, low humidity, high temperature, and root rot are mainly responsible for snake plants dying.
Read below about the Snake plant problems and their solutions. Identify the problem with your snake plant and fix it before it gets too late.
1. Yellow snake plant leaves
Extra water, poor quality soil, and pot without draining holes cause yellow leaves in snake plants. excess water makes the soil extra wet and soggy. This blocks nutrient absorption and plant become nutrient deficient.
Secondly overwatering affects the roots of the plant. The yellow snake plant leaves are the first sign of extra moisture in the root area.
If you do not fix it on time then the leaves become mushy. The snake plant starts dying and the life cycle ends in a few days.
If you see yellow leaves in your plant follow the below solution
How to fix yellow leaves?
First of all, you need to check what turns your snake plant leaves yellow. Check the drainage hole if the plant pot does not have it. Then it is obvious to see yellow leaves. Because the bottom hole allows the extra water to drain out of the pot. And in your plant pot, this option is missing. Use a drill to make a hole and stop watering for few days. Your problem will get solved.
If you only use garden soil in pots then the problem is your potting soil. Because the normal garden soil does not have good draining properties. In this situation take the plant out of its pot and change the potting soil. Use commercial soil well-draining soil.
At last, if the pot has a draining hole and potting soil is of high quality. Then the reason for yellow leaves is overwatering.
In this condition, you need to stop watering the plant immediately. After that take it out of its pots and look for the water-damaged signs. If roots are damage cut the damaged parts. Remove the excess water from the soil. Or through the 30 % of wet soil, use 30 % new dry soil and then plant it again in the pot.
Or
Let the soil dry in the air for 60 minutes and then use it to plant the snake plant back in its pot. Also, put the plant pot in low humidity and a little high temperature. When 70 percent of the soil becomes dry then place it back in its place. And start watering the snake plant carefully.
Note: Snake plant is a succulent plant and it can tolerate dry conditions. It only needs slightly moist soil not wet to soggy soil.
2. Soil Fungus
Soil fungus is also triggered by extra water. In this condition, the soil of the plant pot gets fungi bacteria. These fungi then infect the plant roots. It slowly eats the soft parts of the plant roots. This blocks the fresh oxygen supply to plant roots.
Fusarium fungi, Rhizoctonia are the fungi bacteria that attack plant roots. The soggy soil increases fungal infection.
Root rot is s disease that can kill a plant in 10 days. Most of the time growers did not know about it. Because everything is happening beneath the surface.
No doubt the well-draining soil and bottom hole and save your plant from fungi but every time.
How to fix root rot?
Firstly, you need to identify the root rot in your plants. Yellow leaves are also a sign of root rot. The leaves first turn into yellow color then they become mushy and drop from the plant. This clears that the snake plant has some kind of issue in its roots.
To fix it, take the plant out of the pot and inspect for damaged roots. Then use sharp garden tools to cut the infected part. Dust the healthy roots with Sulfur powder to kill the harmful fungal bacteria.
Now use fresh potting soil that does not contain fungi bacteria. And plant your snake plant back in the pot.
Use limited water and give it proper care for a minimum of 15 days. Your plant will revive its health.
Do not forget to remove the yellow and brown leaves. By removing them you are encouraging the plant to produce more green beautiful leaves.
Note: In case the root rot is spread all over the roots. They use the propagation technique to grow new snake plants from old plant cuttings.
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3. Snake plant curled leaves
There are two possible reasons for curling snake plant leaves. If they curl inwards this means the problem is less water or extreme cold temperature.
Because the snake plant does not need much water. the growers stop watering it for many days. this makes the soil dry and results in curled leaves.
Water the snake plant thoroughly every time they need water. They can stay happy for 2 weeks without more watering sessions.
Cold temperature
Leaf curling is a stress sign. The ideal temperature range for them is between 10 degrees C to 23 degrees C. When you put the plant in a room where the temperature is below the recommended range. Then the plant leaves start curling to protect them from cold temperatures. This is their mechanism to keep the warmth in cold conditions.
How to fix leaf curling?
Take the plant pot to the sink and water it thoroughly. Run the water over it until it comes out of the drainage hole. Then put I in a dry place and let the extra water come out of the pot.
Within 20 minutes the extra will drain out of the pot. Then put it back in its place and water it regularly.
For the second cause use thermometer to check the room temperature. If the temperature is below 10 degrees C. Then move the plant to another room. Where the temperature is higher than 15 degrees C.
Do not place the dying snake plant near the heating vents. This will increase the problem. Because the plant is already suffering from dryness. The hot air increases the dry conditions.
4. Brown spots on plant leaves
Snake plants like to live in partial shade. If you suddenly move the plan to direct sunlight. Then the high intense light causes brown spots on plant leaves.
There is no cure for brown spots. But you can prevent it by placing your plants in the right location. Also, remove the leaves with spots and save other healthy plants.
5. Bacterial infection
If your plant develops reddish-brown spots this means there is a pathogenic infection. They live in the garden soil. Once your plant gets infected it starts dying slowly. Root rot is also a result of pathogenic infection.
Solution
The best solution is, do not use garden soil. Always use commercial potting mix. If you have to use your garden soil then sterilize it before use.
There are many potting soil sterilization methods.
All the methods involve heat treatment.
how to Sterilize potting soil?
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6. Potting soil pH
The incorrect pH of the soil or water solution in hydroponics affects the nutrient absorption of roots. the good news is your snake plant is tolerant to pH fluctuations. The best range is 5.5 to 7.5 pH.
If there is peat moss in the potting soil then the soil will become acidic.
You should use the cactus soil for saving dying snake plants.
7. Low humidity
Low humidity affects plant growth and its structure. When the plant goes into the low humid area it starts losing the moisture from its leaves. Snake plants store water in their leaves. When the dry air touches the leaves, the water gets evaporated.
The only solution is increasing the humidity. Use plant humidifiers and boost the level of air moisture in the room.
Use the pebble tray method and mist water on the snake plant leaves by using a spray bottle.
8. Mealybug attack
Mealybugs are clever pests they have their body armor. They are covered in cotton-like substances. It protects them from hot temperatures and dry air.
They lay their eggs on plant leaves. Within 7 days, the larvae form and start sucking the plant sap.
Yellow and curled leaves indicate the presence of mealybugs. You can also see them with the naked eye. They leave a sticky liquid called honeydew on the plant leaves. They suck all the plant nutrients and the plant becomes nutrient deficient.
We all know that nutrient-deficient plants do not survive for a long time.
Solution
Mealybugs are not small in size you can wear gloves and pick them with your hands. Or you can use rubbing alcohol and cotton clothe to wipe them. Pour some drops of it on the cotton and wipe the leaves. this will kill most of them and their colonies.
If the problem is served then the only solution is the use of pesticide sprays.
Take the plant outside before using commercial-grade pesticide sprays. Also, wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself.
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9.Drechslera erythrospila
Drechslera erythrospila is also called a red leaf spot. Summer and spring are the two seasons when red leaf spots are common in houseplants. But if you do not give proper care to your plants. Then they can infect at any time of the year.
Small red spots with brown outer surfaces indicate the infections.
Solution
To save your dying snake plant remove the infected leaves. This way you are saving the other healthy leaves of the snake plant.
The only solution is the use of fungicide sprays. Make sure that it contains copper in the formula.
Prevention is better than cure and you need to keep it away from your plants. Do not mist too much water on the plant leaves. Because the standing water on leaves causes it and your snake plant starts dying.
