The main problem with these plants is that they are easy to maintain, but they are prone to overwatering. Overwatered snake plant does not mean you poured too much water on a plant. A wet soil signifies too much time spent in the water.
You haven’t allowed the soil to dry completely before watering it again. An overwatered snake plant’s roots can rot if it is submerged in water for a long period of time. When you want to grow any plant well, you must know how to keep the roots healthy. This requires taking care of any problems as early as possible so they do not cause permanent damage. Let’s examine why snake plants overwater and how to save them.
Symptoms of Overwatered Snake Plant
The snake plant will show signs of too much water if it has been receiving it. As a result, it’s a little difficult to determine what the same symptom means. For instance, sometimes it can bIt can be difficult to distinguish between the signs of overwatering and underwatering, for instance. than one indicator of illness. By noticing all the signals, you can correctly diagnose and fix your plant.
Dampness of soil
You can check the soil dampness to see if your snake plant is getting more water than it needs. The plant should be watered 4-5 days after you have watered it last time or just before your usual watering is to stick your finger 1-2 inches into the soil and see how it feels. It means there is too much moisture in the soil.
You can also measure soil moisture with an electronic moisture meter. When you water your plants when the soil is still moist, it is a sign that you are watering too frequently. To save the remaining plants, you need to transplant immediately if the soil is very wet and smelly.
Appearance of the leaves
Sansevieria leaves will show signs of overwatering the most. The snake plant is a succulent, and all its parts (including leaves, rhizomes, roots) can store water. Water is held in the leaves when a plant receives excess water. That is one of the overwatered snake plant sign
The leaves become mushy and soggy after some time. Yellow and shriveled leaves appear gradually. Yellowish green patches are possible or they can turn completely yellow. There are many reasons why a snake plant may turn yellow, but overwatered leaves will appear soft and pulpy.
Yellowing leaves tend to appear first on the oldest leaves. After a while, they bend or collapse. Often, snake plant leaves that are droopy indicate overwatering. Leaves will also emit a bad odor if decay has started.
Root decay
Remove your plant from its container to inspect the roots. By examining the roots, you can estimate the severity of the root damage. Healthy plant roots will be yellow or white. However, there are areas of decaying roots that are dark brownish. You may touch the rotting roots, and they will feel mushy and squishy. Another certain sign of root damage caused by overwatering is an unpleasant odor.
Fungus or Mold on Soil
OThe consequences of overwatering range from fungus to soil mold to root rot.Mold is much more likely to form on wet foliage than on dry foliage. Generally, fungal infections appear near the center of the rosette. Sometimes, the soil surface and stem will be infested as well.
Among snake plants, the most frequent fungal problems are Red leaf spot and southern blight. A red spot on the leaf or a white web on the soil is how you can identify them.
Identifying the Cause
When you realize that your snake plant is overwatered and is showing some of the symptoms listed above, the next step is to determine the cause. Your own plants can be interpreted based on the information provided. Perhaps knowing things such as the plant’s temperature would help? Is the area sufficiently bright light? There’s a draft there, right? Some of the reasons that can cause a snake plant to become overwatered are listed here.
Watering Too Frequently
It is clear that too much watering contributes to this issue. The plant needed water before you watered it. Sansevieria is a drought-tolerant species that doesn’t need frequent watering. Water snake plants every two to three weeks when the weather is warm.
Each time you water the soil, make sure the top layer is completely dry. Finger tests are an excellent way to determine the moisture and dryness of soil. Overwatering is much less likely to occur when your plants are in the ground. However, they should not be in standing water.