The first leaf is still solid, only changed in colour, the second one is slightly mushy. Close. Snake plants like being pot-bound, so even as it grows, try to keep it in the same pot. NJ. If you notice your plant’s leaves turning yellow, get ready to play plant therapist and check for signs of stress. If the leaves turn yellow, or get mushy and soft at their base, you’ve overwatered your plant. So let’s take a look at how best to water to prevent snake plant leaves turning yellow and general care tips. Snake plant leaves turning yellow is usually an indication of a poor watering schedule, normally caused by overwatering but also just bad watering practises in general. Learn why the leaves on a Sansevieria, also called a Snake Plant or a Mother in Law's Tongue, turn yellow from AskJudy@Housplant411.com Sansevieria is also known as Snake Plant, Mother-in-Law's Tongue, or Devil's Tongue. Sap-sucking bugs like spider mites can drain your plant of moisture. Ask a Question forum: First Snake Plant- leaves getting mushy. Remove dead leaves at the base. When root rot starts in your snake plants, you’ll notice that the tips of the leaves begin to turn yellow. Just moved it to a corner with south and east facing windows. Am I overwatering my snake plant? If you propagate a variegated snake plant, one with yellow leaf margins, new leaves that grow from those cuttings will not have those variegated yellow edges. Succulents are known for being hardy, and snake plants are no exception. Also called bird’s nest snake plant, this dwarf variety forms perfect rosettes of low-growing leaves, creating a shape similar to a nest. To tell if your plant is overwatered, check the soil at an inch below the surface. The leaves themselves can also start to fall of when you have been watering too much. Their thick, wavy leaves that stand upright in variegated masses lose water slowly and don't require frequent replenishing. Repot the plant, if caught soon enough. They can grow indoors and outdoors, with little to no maintenance. Again, as a rule of thumb, you should always make sure that you water the plant when the soil is dried out. Posted by 3 months ago. This is in much the same way as we acclimatize to hotter conditions over a period of weeks. Treatment . Snake plants also thrive in bright but indirect light, as direct sunlight may scorch the thick leaves. The plants age can also have a factor and some leaves may turn yellow and fall off eventually over time. Gently separate a clump of leaves with roots from the main plant and repot in its own pot. To check how much moisture your plant is getting, press a finger about an inch into the plant’s soil (don’t just test the surface of the soil, which tends to dry out the fastest). As root rot progresses leaves turn yellow, wilt, or droop and then become mushy as well. Over watering is a common mistake made by well-meaning houseplant owners that can cause oxygen deprivation and root rot. If it feels damp there, it’s probably too wet. Hello, I bought my first snake plant and it was doing great until the winter hit. Weakened or stressed Sansevierias become more susceptible to insect infestations. Checked the roots - orange and long, don't seem to be rotting. We've had the plants for over a year now without any particular issue. You want to be careful not to overdo it because your plant will rot out. Watch. You can, however, place a layer of pebbles onto the top of the mix, for the same look, but keeping the plant in its original mix. Do you have an occasional Snake Plant leaf falling over? Easy does it with the watering. Check the plant for signs of root rot, which is usually signaled by a mildew-like smell. Why does my Snake Plant have soft mushy leaves? The first thing you should do is diagnose the issue. Even plants on windowsills can freeze near poorly insulated windows indoors in winter. The leaves are mushy at the base and turning yellow. Replant leaves with firm, healthy roots in fresh new soil and discard the rest. S. trifasciata ‘Golden Hahnii’ This variety looks just like ‘Laurentii’ except that the leaves are shorter and the yellow margin is thicker and runs throughout the underside of the leaves. 8. Curling leaves on a Snake Plant could mean one of many things. Today we take a look at some beautiful Dendrobium orchids which spent too much on transport and lost some of their leaves. This problem quickly manifests itself by yellowing leaflets and fronds. Still, repot the plant every two years or so to prevent the roots from becoming severely crowded. Pests. This doesn’t mean that you can’t move your snake plant once it is used to one location. More info below! Snake plants are as useful as they are visually appealing. Due to excess fertilizer nitrogen and salt level may rise and it will cause the fertilizer burn effect. I've rescued over-watered plants a few times that others were going to throw out and I'll explain what I've done. I also don't water too often - always check if the soil on the bottom of the drainage holes is dry and only then do I water it (probably once every 2-3 weeks is my guess). The leaves are mushy at the base and turning yellow. Interior designers love this plant, and so do we―it compliments pretty much any style of decor and looks great in arrangements! Now the leaves are slowly turning yellow, now mushy and slimy - as if they were literally melting away. The plant is located outdoors with good sunlight. Cold Stress. 4. Also, be sure the plant is in a pot with a drainage hole. Allow the plant to dry out thoroughly and get your watering on track. can be ideal because it requires minimal care and is hard to kill. Once symptoms are visible in the leaves the problem may be past the point of rectifying, endangering the entire plant. If your snake plant has mushy leaves either the leaves have been frozen or the plant is rotting from over watering. Alternating between bone dry and wet soil from ill-timed waterings can create stress and cause your Sansevieria to have yellow leaves. But try to adjust light and heat levels more gradually so that the plant can acclimatize. Although Snake Plants are easier to care for than a lot of other houseplants, this definitely doesn't mean they don’t come with their own set of problems! Yellow-white roots are healthy; dark smelly roots are not. Plus, they offer a number of health benefits. The inside leaves are completely solid and seem healthy. You May Also Enjoy: Snake Plant Leaves Curling (11 Causes and Solutions) Excess Fertilizer. I bought a split leaf philodendron a few weeks back. I water it once a week and live in the Midwest where it is cold and cloudy during the winter months. Due to its resilience, snake plants can survive even without fertilization. How You Should Water Your Snake Plant . Use a fast-draining potting mix such as a mix formulated for cactus and succulent, or a regular potting soil with a handful of coarse sand or perlite to enhance drainage.. If the leaves are watery and mushy often with a bad odor they might have rotted from over watering. You May Also Like: Why Are My Jade Plant Leaves Turning Yellow? fzaidi227 Feb 12, 2020 7:11 PM CST. No matter what you choose to call it, everything you have ever wanted to know about keeping a happy, healthy Sansevieria plant lies in this article. The pot contains rocks in the bottom so the plant's roots are not sitting in water. The roots spread quickly but the plants enjoy being pot-bound. I have a few pots of snake plants which recently starting showing some large brown spots on its leaves after having them for just over a year. As for moving it to stones, this plant isn't an epiphyte, and it isn't well adapted to aquaponics, so any method of growing it on pebbles won't be best. Check to make sure your plant is okay by shaking it on top of a white sheet of paper. One of the most common problems with Snake Plants are thrips, a tiny black insect that can infest and eventually kill the plant. The only way to keep the variegation is to propagate your plant by division. Photos are attached below. Common causes for a Snake plant turning yellow include overwatering, underwatering, too much or little light and pests. Snake plants, also called mother-in-law's tongue, are slow-growing, drought-tolerant plants that can thrive in almost any condition but over watering. Humidity is not a big concern for these plants, but it doesn’t mean that you place in an extra humid environment. During winters, you should water once a month or whenever the soil dries out completely. I had initially repotted it, since the container and soil it came in was saturated with water. Snake plant root rot reveals itself as soft, mushy, discolored leaves. Advice welcomed! You definitely don’t want that. Views: 390, Replies: 3 » Jump to the end. I would be grateful for diagnosis and any suggested treatment. Some varieties have leaves with thick, buttery yellow edges, while others have striking dark green stripes. As root rot progresses leaves turn yellow, wilt, or droop and then become mushy as well. I noticed in the winter that one of my plant's leaves had begun to get squishy (like if water were trapped in a plastic bag). Thereof, how often should you water a snake plant? If your thumb is everything but green, growing a snake plant (Sansevieria spp.) The most recognizable snake plant, this variety exhibits sword leaves in alternating bands of light and dark green with yellow margins. This cultivar is a dwarf Sansevieria , growing only up to 12-15 inches, and it will perfectly fit in your workspace. Some of the first signs you will notice if your plant is getting too much water will be yellow leaves or soft leaves close to the base of your Ponytail palm. Yellow snake plant leaves signal overwatering. Snake plant cuttings growing roots and new leaves in just water. Lighting. If you see this happening, you should ease up on your watering technique. I can't guarantee success as it depends on how long the plant's roots were left in wet soil and how badly rotted the roots are. To try again, divide the plant. If you do get root rot starting in your plants, then dry them out immediately. The most common plant stressor is too much or too little water. The leaves of the plant will yellow as a result. No worries. If you notice just a few of the leaves turning yellow and wilting, try tugging on them gently. S. trifasciata ‘Twist’ (“Twisted Sister Snake Plant”) – This snake plant has twisted leaves, as its name suggests, with green horizontal stripes and yellow variegated edges. But excess fertilizer can harm your snake plant and you will see brown spots or fertilizer burn on leaves. Once symptoms are visible in the leaves the problem may be past the point of rectifying, endangering the entire plant. Remove as much of the infected soil as possible adding in fresh, clean potting soil. You might also see that the leaves of the plant feel somewhat squishy between your fingers. Common Snake Plant Problems. There’s a chance that you can salvage the plant, due to its hardy nature. When you start to overwater the snake plant, it turns the leaves yellow, and they will become relatively mushy and soft at the base.