Not So Straight of Leaves, Why is That?
Diseases can make snake plants’ leaves curl, and some diseases manifest as curling leaves.
The same underlying problems that result in curled leaves can also cause drooping and wrinkled snake plant leaves.
I have detailed the possible causes of curling and drooping leaves and how to resolve them in the following article.
Most often, ends of snake plant leaves curl because they are overwatered, have pest infestations, or suffer from fungal disease.
Overwatering
Since the snake plant’s rhizomes store water, it is drought-tolerant; overwatering can cause root decay, which can then eradicate the necessary nutrition to the leaves.
If the leaves are not supplied with nutrients, they may begin to droop and curl.
It’s okay to water your snake plant thoroughly, but you will need to make sure that the soil has completely dried before you water it again.
Pests
The presence of pests can also contribute to the loss of uprightness and wrinkled leaves of snake plants.
There are a few types of pests that are more common for snake plants including thrips, mealybugs, and spider mites.
Thrips
Small, black insects, thrips feed on plants, leaving spots in the leaves and spreading throughout the whole plant. Infested snake plants will also have curled leaves.
Use magnifying glasses or a shake test to find out if thrips are getting on the leaves of the snake plant. Shake the leaves of the snake plant over a white cloth or paper. You must take care not to touch the snake plant with your hands, as it might get eaten by small black insects.
Solution. Removing leaves infested with black thrips and dead or diseased leaves is important. The remaining healthy leaves should be wiped with a damp cloth to remove any thrips that remain.
Mealybugs
A mealybug is a common houseplant pest that has an oval-shaped body, a flat and waxy surface and a white, cotton structure to its eggs.
Solution. You can handle a small infestation by treating the plant with insecticidal soap or by removing the mealybugs with a cotton ball. A severe infestation requires use of insecticidal soap.
Spider Mites
Spider mites have the appearance of round, red or black mites that you can identify by using the same “shake test” method described in my article on how to identify thrips.
Similarly to mealybugs, spider mites feed on the sap of the snake plant, which causes it to become weak, wrinkled and droopy. Sometimes, in extremely advanced stages, snake plants will even lose their leaves.
Solution. Infestations on the leaves that are way too small can be controlled by wiping the spider mites off with a damp sponge.
Getting rid of the infestation quickly by hosing the plant down is another option. Serious infestations should be treated with insecticidal soap.
As an alternative to insecticides, a dish soap and water mixture can be used as opposed to dish soap and water alone.
Fungus
There are also fungal diseases that can cause snake plant leaves to curl or wrinkle, such as southern blight and red spot disease.
There will be other symptoms if the problem is caused by a fungal disease, which will allow you to distinguish which kind of fungal infection you are dealing with.
In more advanced stages of the disease, red spot will produce red lesions, web-like growths, brown and hardened leaves, and darker color leaves.
Fungus problems usually occur due to misplaced water, especially when it is being over-watered. Excessive watering can cause fungus issues to overtake your plant.
Solution. Several steps can help to repot your snake plant if it has been overwatered for a long period of time, especially if you suspect you could be dealing with a fungal problem.
You need to remove any diseased leaves. If the fungal disease has become too severe, you may need to dispose of the plant entirely unless you collect a healthy cutting and propagate your snake plant that way.
Frost Damage
The snake plant goes through thermal shock and displays a variety of symptoms including scarring, wilting, wrinkling, and curling leaves.
Snake plants prefer a temperature range between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. With such a wide temperature range, you are unlikely to experience frost damage during the winter months if you are keeping your snake plant indoors.
During the summer and fall, plants kept outside are at risk from frost damage. Be sure to take your snake plant inside whenever it gets too cold.
Should You Cut Off Dying Leaves?
The snake plant’s leaves that are brown, diseased, or damaged can be removed. If only the tips are brown, the leaves can be removed.
You can remove other leaves entirely by cutting them down as close as possible to their base. Use a clean, sharp blade or pruning shears.
It is possible to gently pull dried leaves or otherwise deceased leaves out from the roots. Once they are easily displaced, you can rest assured that they were time to go.
Can You Save a Dying Snake Plant?
When they are provided with the right environmental conditions, snake plants have the power to bounce back.
There are a few things you can do to bring snake plants back from the edge of death, depending on the underlying problems:
Your snake plant may not be healthy because it was overwatered. As a result, you can try repotting it in a well-draining potting medium and watering it only when the soil is dry.
You should adjust your watering regime slightly to normal if your plants are underwatering.
In any case of pest infestations or fungal diseases, administering the appropriate treatment tends to resolve the issue.
The humidity requirement for snake plants must be reevaluated, as must the temperature range of 50-85 °F and the light requirements (bright, indirect light).
Your snake plant should grow much better with an appropriate care regimen.
Because snake plants come in so many varieties (Bird’s nest, Futura Robusta, Bantel’s Sensation, to name a few) and are elegant, they’re a common sight in many households.
Gardeners who want healthy plants should not have any difficulties meeting these requirements, as we also have a great deal of knowledge about their requirements.
Wrapping Up
Once the initial requirements have been met, snake plants are adaptable plants that require minimal maintenance.
Even though plants are relatively resilient, they are not immune to neglect or inappropriate conditions. Poor snake plant performance can be caused by root rot, pest infestations, exposure to extreme temperatures, and fungal diseases.
Plants with these conditions usually curl their leaves, which shortens the plant’s lifespan and can ruin its aesthetics.