Overwatering is the leading cause of mushy Snake Plant leaves in 99 percent of cases. Sansevierias don’t require a lot of water, so even if you’re careful, their soil can rapidly become saturated. The roots will decay, and the leaves will become soft and mushy as a result.
If you notice mushy leaves on your Snake Plant, the first thing you should do is examine the quantity of moisture in the soil and the root system’s health. If the soil is extremely damp, remove it from the plant’s roots and completely replenish the potting mix. Trim away the dead and mushy areas of your Snake Plant’s root system so that it can begin to heal. Using a moisture meter is really helpful in determining this. If you don’t want to worry about overwatering, consider a self-watering container like this one. We use them all the time to make sure our plants receive what they need, even while we’re not at home!
How do you save a mushy snake plant?
Cut the bottoms of your leaves off well above the’melty’ and yellowed ends to say goodbye to the decaying ends. In what appears to be a healthy part, make a straight cut through.
To retain the ‘appearance’ of a plant while they try to take root, I elected to leave my leaves on for as long as possible.
If you want to be extra cautious, make them even shorter.
NOTE: There’s no way to know if a fungus or bacteria has entered the plant’s system as a result of the rot, but I always think it’s worth a try to rescue it. I’ll toss it out and purchase a new one if it doesn’t work.
Allow your chopped leaves to callus for 24 hours before moving on to the next step.
You may also sprinkle a little cinnamon on the ends if you have any on hand because it’s anti-fungal. (I had to leave!)
What do you do with a mushy Snake Leaf?
Examine the moisture levels in the soil and the root system if the leaves of Snake plants get mushy. Moist soil must be removed from the roots and replenished as soon as possible. To help the Snake plant grow strong again, the soft or mushy roots should be trimmed away.
Why are my plants mushy?
A happy plant has firm, lush leaves. Squishy, mushy leaves indicate that it has been overwatered. Discoloration, such as black or yellowy brown patches on the leaves or stem, may be visible. It’s time to fill up the watering can when the leaves have shrunk and wrinkled.
Why are my snake plants rotting?
Root rot, which is caused by overwatering, is the most common problem with Snake Plants, especially during the winter months. The roots then die back due to a lack of oxygen or a soil fungus overgrowth. Soggy soils promote the growth and reproduction of Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium fungi, which attack plants by spreading into the roots. As healthy roots die, they turn dark and mushy, unable to absorb the nutrients required for growth.
Root rot is difficult to detect since it develops beneath the soil surface and out of sight. Root rot can kill an entire plant in 10 days if the conditions are ideal, such as in pots without drainage holes.
While snake plants will struggle to live in pots without drainage holes, there are a few creative solutions to this problem that you might not consider. To learn how to grow plants in pots without holes, read my post.
Although it is necessary to pot your snake plant in a well-draining pot, you also want your plant to look good and add to the attractiveness of your home. You may have some ornamental pots with adequate drainage in which to plant your snake plant, but I prefer to place it on a drip tray or within a more elegant planter. Here are some of my favorite indoor planter designs.
Symptoms
The rot is first visible on the roots, causing them to turn dark and mushy, which are classic indicators of rot. Root rot causes leaves to turn yellow, wilt, or droop, and eventually become mushy. Once symptoms appear in the leaves, the condition may be beyond repair, putting the entire plant in jeopardy.
Treatment
If you catch the problem early enough, you can repot the plant. Remove as much diseased soil as possible before replacing it with new, clean potting soil. To assist avoid reinfection, apply a root treatment with helpful mycorrhizal species or sprinkle the healthy roots with sulfur powder. Sulfur acidifies the soil, making some nutrients less available and limiting the food source for pathogens that cause root rot. Beneficial mycorrhizae create a hostile environment for unwanted bacteria and fungi; sulfur acidifies the soil, making some nutrients less available and limiting the food source for pathogens that cause root rot.
If the root rot has progressed far enough, dissect the plant and keep just the healthy parts. Take cuttings from healthy foliage and root them to propagate a new plant if the entire base is compromised.
Prevention
When the top 2-4″ of the soil has completely dried up, water the plants. During the cooler, winter months, when the plant is dormant, this could mean just watering it every 1-2 months.
Snake plants are perfect for the less-than-careful gardener. For weeks at a time, you can go without watering them. Your snake plant will easily endure 3 weeks or more without water, even in hot, arid conditions, so you won’t have to bother about all the methods to water houseplants while on vacation.
Underwatering
The main cause of your Snake Plant’s dry, crispy brown leaves is that it has been submerged. Snake plants dislike being watered frequently and want their soil to be dry. Going too far, on the other hand, is just as bad for your snake plant. Take the plant out of its pot and inspect the root system to determine if any harm has happened if you believe you have accidentally drowned it. This will tell you how probable it is that your snake plant will recover its health. A moisture meter can also be used to determine how much moisture is in the potting mix.
Your initial reaction may be to give your plant a lot of water, but this will not solve the problem. Instead, start watering your snake plant frequently and in small amounts. You don’t want to shock the plant or worse, induce the decay of the already injured leaves. Water your plant once a day for a few days, then stretch your watering out until you’re only watering once every two weeks during the growing season.
Scarring
Scarring is the most common cause of your snake plant looking rough around the edges and having brown damaged scars on the margins of the leaves. Snake plants are readily scarred if knocked or relocated, so if your plant is in a high-traffic area of your home, this could be the problem. Make sure your snake plant is not in a place where children or pets can get to it.
How do I know if my snake plant is dying?
Snake plants thrive in hot, sunny conditions, although they prefer to be in the shade, frequently under tree canopies.
In some situations, snake plants can adapt to full sun, although they prefer brilliant indirect light and can even thrive in deep shade.
(Shade can help snake plants develop more slowly.) (For more information on why a snake plant isn’t growing and how to fix it, see my article.)
If the snake plant is relocated from a shady location to bright sunshine, it will burn and develop brown spots on the leaves.
The sunburned areas of the leaf do not recover in appearance, but they do not harm the snake plant, which can live for a long period even if its leaves are sunburned.
However, cutting the damaged leaf blade back to the earth to encourage additional healthy leaf growth is a good idea.
Because the snake plant can become quite top heavy, larger pots with a larger base prevent it from tumbling over. If a snake plant topples over, it might cause bruising.
Key Takeaways:
- Overwatering and moist soils cause the leaves to become yellow or brown and droop, resulting in a dying snake plant. Cold stress can be caused by temperatures below 50°F, resulting in a dying snake plant.
- If the leaves curl, it could be a sign of cold stress if they’ve been exposed to freezing temperatures, or it could be a sign of drought stress because the leaves store water.
- Sunburn is often indicated by brown dots on the leaves. Snake plants prefer bright indirect light, while direct sunlight can cause brown patches.
- To resurrect a dying snake plant, emulate the conditions of its native habitat by watering it seldom, using indirect light, and keeping it warm to avoid cold stress. Take leaf cuttings from healthy tissue to propagate the snake plant if it is dying.
How do I keep my snake plant upright?
The outer leaves, I’ve discovered, are the ones that fall over. If the center leaves are firmly packed, they can support each other.
Depending on how long and heavy your leaf is, you may need to tie it to the stake to keep it secured.
Can plants recover from overwatering?
- Even if it’s a full-sun plant, move it to a shady spot. Remove any leaves that are dead or withering. These must be easily distinguishable.
- Check for good drainage in your container and, if necessary, provide more air space around the roots. As a result, oxygen will be able to reach the root zone. Remove any roots that are dead or dying, and preserve only the healthy ones.
- Only water when the soil seems dry to the touch, but not too dry. At this point, you should stop fertilizing the plant until it is healthy again.
Your plant’s ability to recover from overwatering is never guaranteed. Within a week or so, you should notice results if your plant survives. You can now return your plant to its original place and continue watering it as usual.
It’s critical to water your plants properly from the beginning and to ensure that they have adequate drainage. If you have a tendency to overwater plants despite your best efforts, it may be advisable to avoid any plants that are more susceptible to overwatering concerns.
Can I save a rotting snake plant?
Remove your plant from the pot if it displays signs of root rot and start over with a new soilless mixture. Remove any discolored, mushy roots or leaves before repotting healthy rhizomes in the new mix. If the rhizomes cannot be salvaged, they should be discarded. Save a few healthy leaves for propagation of new snake plants.