The Snake plant, also known as Mother-in-Tongue, Law’s is one of the easiest indoor houseplants to care for. It has tall, stiff leaves with yellow bands and a yellow border on occasion but there are cases of not growing snake plant. They’re the ideal houseplant, as well as one of the most hardy. Snake plants are notable for going over two months without watering throughout the winter.
Snake plants grow in pots and have NASA-certified air-cleaning properties, making them an excellent complement to any bedroom. You might have a few problems causing your snake plant not to grow. It’s a good sign you’re seeing no growth whatsoever even though these plants tend to grow slowly.
Common Causes of Not Growing Snake Plant
We have mentioned that snake plants can tolerate some neglect, and their low-maintenance lifestyle is a great plus for folks who don’t have a lot of time to devote to plant care.
However, if your snake plant has abruptly ceased growing, you may have a problem.
Lack of light is the most prevalent culprit, but there are additional factors that can cause your plant to stop growing.
We’ll go over all of the potential issues that could have hampered the growth of your snake plant.
Lack of Light
The recommended quantity of growth for a regular, healthy snake plant is one to three inches every month.
This, of course, is contingent on the growing conditions you give. Snake plants don’t thrive for a variety of reasons, one of which being a lack of light.
Let’s get one thing straight: snake plants are “low light” plants. They do, however, considerably better in indirect sunlight than they do in direct sunshine, such as sitting in a window.
However, some people mistakenly believe that low light equals “no light.” A snake plant must be exposed to sunshine every day in order to grow and thrive.
If your snake plant doesn’t get enough light, it won’t be able to develop and thrive.
Give your snake plant one or two hours of direct sunlight in the morning, then relocate it to indirect sunlight for the remainder of the day to avoid this.
In two to three weeks, you should notice new growth with more light.
Overwatering
Many beginner gardeners and plant enthusiasts make the mistake of overwatering their snake plants. Snake plants, in particular, can be an issue because they don’t require much irrigation.
In fact, you should only water your snake plant once every three weeks, at the most twice.
The soil moisture test is another option. You may check this by inserting your finger two or three inches deep in the pot. It’s time to water if it’s dry.
In the winter, snake plants are especially prone to overwatering.
Water once a month or once and a half months when it’s chilly outside. So, throughout the winter, use the watering can sparingly.
Overwatering will eventually create root rot, which will lead your plant to cease developing. Another issue we’ll examine is root rot, which prevents new growth and can potentially lead to plant death.
Underwatering
We’ll only go over this briefly because we have mentioned how much water your snake plant need. Underwatering, on the other hand, will halt the growth of your plant.
So, while snake plants can tolerate a lot of neglect, drowning them will limit their growth just as effectively as overwatering. When the weather is warm, water every two to three weeks, and once a month throughout the winter.
Root Rot
Root rot is a serious issue that, if not addressed soon, will kill Snake plants. Root rot is caused by too much moisture in the soil, which is frequently caused by overwatering.
The roots of your snake plant will seem brown and decaying if it has root rot. Roots that are healthy should be white or cream in color and firm to the touch.
If your snake plant develops root rot, you may still be able to save it. It’s too late if the entire root system smells like mush.
You can propagate some healthy leaves to start developing your plant from the ground up again.
If the plant’s roots are still healthy, you can salvage it by gently cutting away any brown, rotten roots.
Then, in a fresh container, place the plant in potting soil or a soilless mixture, as desired. Just make sure you don’t overwater!
Becoming Rootbound
Snake plants will also stop growing if they become rootbound. When this happens, the plant roots will slowly grow and grow until they essentially displace most of the soil in the pot.
They can even break the container it’s growing in! When this happens, the plant will have one giant, tangled ball of roots.
When this happens, it will severely slow or even stop the growth of your snake plant.
If you’ve discovered that your plant is rootbound, it will need to be repotted in a bigger pot or divided and placed in two pots.
If you’re going to divide your plant, be very careful when separating the leaves and roots.
Pests and Disease
Although snake plants are tough, they are subject to diseases and pests. Mealybugs and spider mites are the most prevalent pests on snake plants.
These two pests will treat your snake plant like a huge Slurpee, draining the plant’s nourishing sap from the leaves and forcing it to cease growing.
Spray the leaves of your snake plants with water or wash them in a soapy water bucket to get rid of spider mites.
Mealybugs can also be controlled with neem oil.
You might also try handpicking mealybugs if they’re big enough.
Snake plants are susceptible to fungal diseases such as red leaf spot and southern blight.
These disorders will decrease or stop growth, but they will also cause other symptoms. This can include brown patches on the foliage or white, webby fungus growth.
To avoid fungal problems, make sure the soil is well-drained and not overwatered.
Conclusion
With its tall, spiky leaves with yellow stripes and bands, the snake plant is one of the easiest houseplants to cultivate and makes a fantastic addition to any household.
While they don’t grow too much, if they’re in good health, they should show signs of growth.
It’s most likely due to a lack of appropriate sunshine, incorrect watering, root rot, pests, or diseases if your snake plant has stopped developing.
It could possibly be because the roots have become rootbound, indicating that the plant requires a larger container.