What’s Wrong with My Snake Plant? How to Diagnose and Treat Common Snake Plant Problems

Snake plants, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, are resilient and low-maintenance houseplants. However, they can still develop issues like yellowing, curling, or drooping leaves. If you notice something seems off with your snake plant, don’t panic! This guide will walk you through diagnosing and treating the most common snake plant problems.

Understanding Snake Plant Needs

To properly diagnose potential issues, it helps to first review the basic care needs of snake plants

• Light – Snake plants thrive in bright, indirect light. Too little light leads to weak growth, while too much direct sun scorches leaves.

• Water – Allow soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering causes root rot and yellow leaves. Underwatering leads to wilting and curling.

• Temperature – Ideal temps are 60-80°F Avoid cold drafts

• Soil – A fast-draining potting mix is essential to prevent soggy soil

• Fertilizer – Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength during spring and summer when actively growing.

Keeping these optimal care guidelines in mind will help you pinpoint any deficiencies or problems.

Yellow Leaves on a Snake Plant

Yellowing is one of the most common snake plant issues. Potential causes include:

• Overwatering – Excess moisture leads to root rot and yellow, mushy leaves.

• Underwatering – Lack of water causes leaves to dry out and yellow.

• Poor drainage – Soggy soil from lack of drainage damages roots and leaves.

• Lighting changes – Too much or too little light can turn leaves yellow.

• Low humidity – Dry air causes leaf tips to yellow and brown.

• Nutrient deficiencies – Lack of nutrients causes overall yellowing of leaves.

• Pests – Insects like mealybugs and mites cause yellow spotting.

Adjust watering frequency, amend soil for better drainage, provide adequate humidity and nutrients, and treat any pests to restore a vibrant green color.

Browning Leaves on a Snake Plant

If the tips or edges of your snake plant’s leaves are turning brown, common culprits include:

• Irregular watering – Inconsistent moisture leads to browning. Stick to a thorough watering schedule.

• Overfertilizing – Too much fertilizer can burn and discolor leaves.

• Sunburn – Direct sunlight scorches the leaves, causing browning damage.

• Cold or heat stress – Temperature extremes also damage and discolor leaves.

• Dry air – Low humidity dries out leaf tips, turning them brown.

• Chemicals – Chlorine and fluoride in water can burn leaf tips over time.

Adjust watering and fertilizing practices, move the plant away from intense light sources, monitor temperature fluctuations, use distilled water, and increase ambient humidity to prevent further browning.

Curled Leaves on a Snake Plant

If your snake plant develops curled or wrinkled leaves, the problem could stem from:

• Underwatering – Lack of moisture causes leaves to dry out and curl inward.

• Overwatering – Excess water leads to root damage and nutrient deficiencies that distort growth.

• Intense sunlight – Too much harsh light causes leaves to curl and twist.

• Low temperatures – Chilly air or drafts can make leaves curl tightly inward.

• Pests – Insects feeding on leaves causes curling and crumpling.

• Disease – Fungal or bacterial infections distort leaf growth.

Adjust watering frequency, move to a more moderate light location, maintain warm temps, treat any pests, and watch for signs of disease to remedy curled leaves.

Drooping Leaves on a Snake Plant

A snake plant with drooping, limp leaves is indicating:

• Overwatering – Excess moisture damages roots leading to leaf droop.

• Underwatering – Lack of water causes leaves to go limp.

• Insufficient light – Drooping leaves can indicate not enough brightness.

• Low temps – Chilly air causes leaves to go limp and flop downward.

• Rootbound – When potbound, lack of root space causes drooping.

• Pests – Insects feeding on roots and leaves makes them go limp.

Adjust watering amounts, increase light exposure, maintain indoor temperatures, repot if rootbound, and check for pests or disease to fix drooping. Remove damaged leaves.

White Spots on Snake Plant Leaves

Your snake plant may develop small white spots or markings on its leaves due to:

• Water deposits – Mineral deposits from tap water evaporate and leave white marks.

• Pests – Mealybugs and scale insects cause white dots from secretions and excrement.

• Bacterial leaf spot – This disease causes raised blister-like white spots.

• Chemical damage – Chemicals like gasoline and paint stripper react with leaves.

Adjusting the water source, manually removing pests, treating bacterial infections, and eliminating contact with strong chemicals should eliminate white spots on the leaves.

Black Spots on Snake Plant Leaves

If you notice dark black splotches on your snake plant’s leaves, it’s typically a sign of fungal disease, most commonly:

• Anthracnose – This fungal infection spreads quickly in humid conditions causing black splotches.

• Bacterial soft rot – Bacteria cause moist, smelly black spots that spread rapidly.

• Root and crown rot – Fungal diseases that start underground cause wilting and black discolored leaves.

• Alternaria leaf spot – This fungal issue causes small black spots surrounded by yellowing.

Isolate and prune off affected leaves as soon as you notice black spotting. Improve air circulation and grow conditions while treating with a fungicide to eliminate disease.

White Fuzzy Mold on Snake Plant

A white fuzz or powdery substance on your snake plant’s leaves, stems, or soil is likely:

• Powdery mildew – This fungal disease coats plant surfaces with a white powdery mold. It spreads rapidly in humid conditions.

• Mealybugs – These small white insects secrete a cotton-like substance on plants as they feed.

Improve air circulation, isolate the affected plant, and treat with horticultural oils or fungicides to eliminate white fuzz from powdery mildew or mealybugs.

Snake Plant Leaves Falling Over

If your snake plant leaves are falling over, causes may include:

• Overwatering – Excess moisture causes the fleshy leaves and roots to rot and collapse.

• Underpotting – When rootbound, the plant becomes unstable and top heavy, causing leaves to fall over.

• Insufficient light – Inadequate light leads to weak, floppy growth prone to falling over.

• Physical damage – Leaves may fold over if broken or cut.

Allow soil to dry between waterings, repot when roots fill the container, increase light exposure, and stake leaves to prevent collapse. Remove damaged leaves.

Unpleasant Odor from Snake Plant

If your snake plant develops a foul, rotten smell, the usual causes are:

• Root rot – Waterlogged soil leads to rotting roots that give off a bad odor.

• Bacterial soft rot – Bacteria rapidly breaking down plant tissue creates a nasty smell.

• Fungus gnats – These pests create smelly frass and excrement in wet soil.

Improving drainage, allowing soil to dry out before rewatering, treating pests, and removing diseased roots should eliminate any unpleasant odors.

Snake Plant Not Growing

A snake plant that’s staying the same size and not actively growing is often due to:

• Insufficient light – Lack of adequate sunlight slows growth to a halt.

• Overwatering – Too much moisture damages roots and prevents growth.

• Underwatering – Lack of water stresses the plant, suspending growth.

• Poor drainage – Wet soil deprives roots of air needed for new growth.

• Wrong temperatures – Extreme heat or cold inhibits natural growth.

Adjust lighting, water only when soil is partly dry, amend soil for drainage, maintain ideal temperatures, and fertilize in the growing season to spur new growth.

How to Revive a Dying Snake Plant

If your snake plant is in rough shape but not a lost cause, these last-ditch efforts may help it recover:

• Isolate the plant to prevent disease spread.

• Cut off any mushy, rotten, or heavily damaged leaves and stems.

• Repot in fresh, sterile potting mix suited for cacti and succulents.

• Apply a fungicide drench to soil to kill pathogens.

• Maintain warm temperatures of 65-80°F until stabilized.

• Move to a bright location out of direct sun.

• Allow soil to dry out completely between waterings.

• Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer at 1/4 strength.

• Monitor for new growth and signs of stress. Remove dead sections promptly.

While reviving a severely distressed snake plant is challenging, paying close attention to its ideal care needs can coax even sickly