Why does my snake plant look bad? Sansevieria trifasciata (mother-in-law’s tongue) is known as a particularly tough houseplant, tolerant of neglect of watering, feeding, and low light. However, if that’s the case, the reasons most commonly blamed are overwatering, inadequate soil drainage, not enough heat, infestation by pests or diseases, poor lighting, or root rot. Your plant will recover if you identify and fix the underlying issue.
Why Does My Snake Plant Look Bad?
Your plant will recover if you identify and fix the underlying issue. Here are the common cause of why does my snake plant look bad.
1. Overwatering And Root Rot
A snake plant is a succulent, which means its rubbery leaves hold a great deal of moisture. Most succulents require less watering than house plants, and the snake plant is no exception. It normally thrives in hot, dry areas of the West African tropics. They are therefore easy to overwater, and if they get too much moisture, they can develop root rot. In most cases, snake plant require watering just once every two to four weeks, while plants that receive more heat or light need to be watered more frequently. The leaves need only be watered a bit when they appear wilted in the winter months. One of the hardest skills to master when caring for houseplants is watering them properly.
2. Inadequate Soil And Drainage
A container with no drainage holes caused root rot on this snake plant, leading it to droop. Your watering regime may seem to be in check, but the soil may be holding too much water and not having adequate drainage.
Make sure the pot is large enough to hold the plant and remove as much soil as possible when repotting. It is easy to tell whether soil is well drained by seeing water coming out of the bottom drainage holes when you water. This is usually a sign that your soil isn’t absorbing enough water, even after you pour a cup or two.
3. Need Repotting And/Or Root Trimming
A common problem with houseplants is that they become rootbound if not replanted or trimmed periodically. When snake plants’ roots become rootbound to some extent, they may become unhealthy and droop; however, they do not require frequent repotting. When repotting or trimming a plant, you should loosen the soil away from the sides of the pot with your fingers and check for thick roots that reach all the way to the sides.
The plant may need a larger pot if there are too many roots. Instead of simply carving the mass into a smaller root ball, carefully tease the roots apart, trimming entire chunks of root off where needed until the root system has room to move and branches outward. The objective is to break up the clump of roots so that it resembles a normal root mass.
4. Temperature Issues: Lack Of Heat
It’s possible that a snake plant can get too dry, but this is unlikely to be the issue if the leaves are drooping. Most likely, it isn’t receiving enough heat. Keep the temperature above 50°F to keep your plant healthy. You should also remember that even if it’s warm inside your home, the temperature outside by the window may be cooler. Consider putting the plant closer to the heat source or farther away from the window in this case.
5. Poor Lighting
The snake plant can tolerate shade quite well. However, they do much better in partial sunlight. There’s a possibility your plant is getting too little light, making it unhealthy and causing it to droop. As well as benefiting snake plants’ health, partial sun also tends to enhance their aesthetics, with their distinctive pattern on their leaves increasingly visible. A south-facing window with direct light all day long may be too much for snake plants, causing their leaves to droop in addition to the extreme heat.
6. Pests
This is one of the causes why does my snake plant look bad. Many snake plants will be weakened or vulnerable to pests if they have one of the above problems. An overwatered or poorly drained plant can suffer from fungus gnat infestations (fruit fly-looking insects that emerge from the soil as larvae). These pests typically appear on the plants before their leaves begin to droop or fall off, as they exhibit tiny brown marks or faded spots on their leaves before they completely droop. If that’s the case, spray an insecticide on the affected area.