Every snake plant owner wants to make the plant grow straight and healthy.
Are your snake plant leaves excessively wrinkled and dry? Is the soil dry and cracky?
This is Lisa’s story and the problems she faced.
I have been keeping a couple of snake plants in my room.
They’re tough plants, so with my minimum gardening knowledge, they still thrive well.
However, one day, I noticed that the leaves were looking a bit different than usual.
They’re droopy and wrinkled. I wasn’t sure if it was a bad sign or just a bad day for the plant.
I left them, thinking they’ll be back to normal if I treated it like usual.
Did I make the right decision? Because if not, I don’t really know what to do.
Keep reading for the solutions!
The reasons for wrinkled snake plant leaves, the indications of…
…wrinkled snake plant leaves, the potential remedies to wrinkled snake plant leaves,..
…and the steps that you may take to prevent wrinkles in snake plant leaves…
…will be discussed in this blog.
Let’s get started!
Wrinkled Snake Plant Leaves
A snake plant (Sansevieria) with wrinkles usually indicates something is wrong.
Shriveling and wilting of snake plants are usually caused by water problems,..
…but other factors can also contribute.
Just like fixing mushy leaves on your snake plant, treating wrinkled snake plant…
…leaves will be effective if you follow the instructions correctly.
Although your snake plant’s leaves wrinkle most often due to either…
…overwatering or insufficient water, you can also wrinkle your snake plant’s leaves…
…because you are using the wrong soil or fertilizer.
That is why it is important to know what soil you use for the snake plant and the proper fertilization for it.
Wrinkled Snake Plant Leaves Cause
Credit: plantophiles.com
Wrinkled snake plant leaves can be caused by several things.
If you’re still experiencing problems with your wrinkled snake plant, it might be time to fix it.
The snake plant grows by forming dense stands through its creeping root…
…system when it is in good health.
Typically, a mature plant has dark green leaves with light grey stripes, and its leaves are stiff.
Two to six feet high, the leaves can grow.
When the environment is not favorable, the leaves begin to wrinkle.
Wrinkled snake plant leaves can be caused by the following:
Hot Weather
Wrinkled snake plant leaves can be caused by hot weather.
The leaves of your snake plant will be darker in spring and summer,..
…and the gray stripes will be more visible.
It is common for the leaves to wrinkle in the summer months because of the heat.
Sansevieria leaves can easily curl and shrink in high temperatures.
When a plant wilts or wrinkles, it is because it is losing more water than it is receiving.
You can get snake plant leaves to curl and shrivel easily if you do not water them more frequently.
If you watered once during the cool season, you should increase…
…the frequency during the hot season.
In addition, it is important to avoid overwatering the snake plant…
…because root rot is another serious problem that may arise.
When the fall comes, the snake plant goes dormant.
Watering is less necessary at this point.
During the winter, however, this state will not last and no growth will take place.
Watering
Increasing or reducing the frequency of watering your snake plant may not always be a good idea.
Whether you need to water sansevieria depends on whether it’s the wet season,..
…the dry season, or if it’s dormant.
When snake plants do not get enough water, their leaves will wrinkle.
Moreover, snake plant leaves will exhibit brown tips when they are drying.
Check the soil for stiffness or bone-dryness to determine if underwatering…
…is causing wrinkled snake plant leaves.
Soil-drainage Rate
A well-draining soil mix is ideal for snake plants, prone to waterlogging…
…and underwatering problems.
When Sansevieria leaves are planted in soil that is not free-draining,..
…they will wrinkle because of the risk of overwatering.
In contrast, soil that does not hold water will lead to high water loss, resulting in wrinkled leaves.
Likewise, leaf wrinkles can occur in snake plants in soil that lacks minerals.
This is why it is advisable to fertilize the snake plant when it is being planted.
When your snake plant wrinkles, you may need to move it to another pot…
…with fresh, well-drained, and mineral-balanced soil.
Too Much Sunlight
Snake plants lose water at a high rate if they are exposed to too much sunlight,..
…leaving their leaves wrinkled and curling.
The leaves of your sansevieria will curl, wrinkle, and form…
…brown tips when placed in bright direct sunlight.
You will also have a wrinkled snake plant if you move the plant into a dark spot.
Plants that struggle to get enough light for photosynthesis lose texture easily.
So if you do not have a window facing east that gets adequate sunlight,..
…move the plant outside periodically so that it can take advantage…
…of the sun’s rays for photosynthesis.
Stress & Shock
Snake plants may suffer shock due to:
- The transportation process can be stressful
- Environment change
- Pets nibbling in the house
Snake plants start to wrinkle their leaves when they are stressed.
It will gradually adapt to its new environment and flourish once again if you let it be.
Animals such as cats tend to play with and nibble at anything, so your snake plant can be damaged.
As a result, if you have pets like cats in the house, you should hang…
…your snake plant in a higher place where they cannot reach it.
Humidity and Temperature
Snake plants do not grow well in temperatures below 55°F.
The ideal temperature is between 65°F and 80°F.
Consequently, if you see wrinkled snake plant leaves in the winter,..
…they are probably being affected by temperature and humidity changes.
The snake plant is also susceptible to extreme temperatures during the hot season.
Dehydration causes the leaves to wrinkle when the temperature changes drastically.
During winter, you can save your snake plant by avoiding cold drafts.
Pot Size
Roots cannot grow properly in a small pot, resulting in stunted growth.
You will notice that your snake plant is no longer growing.
A bigger pot, however, may result in overwatering of your plant, resulting in wrinkled leaves.
Thus, make sure the pot you choose for your snake plant is the right size.
It’s important to avoid overwatering the pot by ensuring it has good drainage.
Root Rot
It is common to see snake plants with root rot if they are overwatered.
When the soil is overwatered, it becomes waterlogged, which causes the roots to rot.
Your snake plant’s roots cannot absorb nutrients from waterlogged soil, preventing it from thriving.
Yellow snake plant leaves or wrinkled snake plant leaves may have root rot.
Therefore, stop watering everything and remove the dead roots of the snake plant.
Using antifungals or charcoal powder, you can nurse your plant back…
…to health after removing rotten roots.
Fertilizer Burn
Fertilizer is essential for plants to grow well.
In addition to utilizing the nutrients from fertilizer, snake plants also thrive when fertilized.
In contrast, if fertilizer is used in an incorrect amount or…
…the wrong type, the situation is reversed.
You should turn to your fertilizer whenever your leaves begin curling and drying.
You can resolve this issue by watering the plant regularly to flush out excess fertilizer.
Changing the soil is also an option.
Change the soil and add a well-balanced fertilizer to your snake plant.
How to Fix a Wrinkled Snake Plant
Once you discover what’s causing the wrinkled snake plant leaves, you can fix it.
Here’s how to fix wrinkled snake plant leaves:
- If your snake plant wrinkles, water it once a month in the spring and once a week during the dry season. In Sansevieria, this will fix the problem if it is caused by too much water or underwatering.
- Use a good drainage medium for planting Sansevieria. Your snake plant will not wrinkle if the soil is well drained and has balanced minerals.
- When the plant is growing rapidly, you should only fertilize it once every two or three months. Get the best results by using organic fertilizer.
- You should place the wrinkled snake plant leaves in a spot with bright indirect light.
- You should increase humidity in the room where snake plants grow to prevent the leaves from wrinkling. A plant humidifier can also be used for this.
- You should keep your snake plant away from cold drafts. Place them in warmer areas of the house.
- Filtered water should be used to water the plant. You should not use filtered water to water snake plants as this can cause wrinkles.
Plants such as snake plants can be tricky to care for.
You can prevent wrinkled snake plant leaves by properly watering your snake plant.
Implementing these tips can help your snake plant thrive.
Conclusion
It is best to check the potting mix and water condition before…
…you blame the wrinkled snake plant leaves.
You may need to repot your snake plant and supply fresh potting soil…
…if these remedies fail to cure the problem.
It’s important to keep your snake plant healthy by watering it correctly.
Overwatering will cause the leaves to droop and turn brown, so make sure not to do it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my snake plant leaves turning brown?
drainage issues are most likely to blame.
Place the snake plant in a location that gets plenty of light and check the potting…
…soil and water it on a regular basis.
We have the article about it in our blog.
Go check out here: What Causes My Snake Plant To Turn Brown?
Can I repot my snake plant if its root system becomes too large or crowded in its potting soil?
If the root system of your snake plant gets too big or squeezed…
…in the potting soil, you should repot it.
You may repot your snake plant by removing the old potting soil…
…and replacing it with fresh potting soil.
How can I fix the white spots on my snake plant leaves?
Mix one part water with three parts rubbing alcohol to treat the…
…white patches on your snake plant leaves.
Leave the leaves in the solution for a few minutes before rinsing them off.
Is it okay to fertilize my snake plant with a houseplant fertilizer?
Since the plants will not have the same nutrient requirements,..
…it is not advised to fertilize a snake plant with houseplant fertilizer.
What is the best way to water my snake plant?
Water your snake plant well.
Watering too much water will cause wrinkled snake plant leaves and turn brown.