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What's wrong with my snake plant?

9 years ago

I've been excited to have a snake plant for a while now. I looked all over & could not find one in stores for sale so I bought one of the Home Depot website. They had wonderful reviews. Out of the box it looked a bit lopsided & had a few leaves wide. I've had it about a week & it's getting wider & floppier each day! I love the tight upright shape of snake plants & Im just not getting that look! I have not watered it yet, soil feels dry at the top with light moisture towards the bottom. Help!

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Comments (8)

savana3
9 years ago
Nothing is wrong with your flower. The leaves look healthy and fresh. I would recommend that you replant some of the leaves in another pot so that they have more room to grow. It looks very cramped in one pot. You can also try to tie the leaves together gently with a cotton band and keep them like that for a while so that they don't fall over. Good luck!
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
9 years ago
Is that the pot it arrived in? Was it exposed to cold during shipping?
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Chris, it is obvious to me, from your photos, and the size of the leaf that this is an older leaf. Because of the size. Your newest leaves are much taller, right? Sans are a group unto themselves. I've been met with much resistance on this form (years ago, I've been 'away') about the sans tip spike. Your plants are beautifully healthy and you have nothing to worry about. Plants have a finite life, somewhere between puppies and fish. So, older leaves fail first. It is a circle-of-life thing and easily explained when looking at a plant that is more than a few months old. Hoyas have leaves that fail around the same time leaving you with a plant full of yellowing, failing leaves... leading to freak out and 'WHAT did I DO?!' Nothing, they just all grew around the same time, hit old age around the same time, and left you in that plant parent place. Because everything else about this plant looks spectacular, I think this is just an 'age' thing. The white spots on the leaf can be a wax thing, or a water spot 'calcium' deposit best solved with a vinegar wash. White or cider vinegar, on a cotton ball or paper towel tested on an out-of-the-way spot. I've used vinegar on all from orchids to crotons... Softer leaved plants do NOT benefit. T'will make your babies look like they JUST stepped out of the salon. Now, my controvertial statement about tip spikes is this: Once the spike is broken, the leaf stops growing. If you allow the spikes protection and space, you can specifically control size by snapping the spike where you want the leaf to stop. (Yes, I have photographic evidence, but this post is about your plant, your issues.) Your plant looks wonderful to me. Listen to Toni, she is an HP expert! I ALWAYS ask her citrus questions!
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The yellow color with the veining is classic chlorosis, which is almost certainly caused by an iron deficiency. I don't know anything about Grow and Bloom, but check to see if it contains iron. Potash won't hurt anything, but I don't think potash is your problem. A potash deficiency usually shows a fairly uniform olive drab color without the veining on the hyacinths. Potash deficient hyacinths usually have really long roots as well. Nitrate won't hurt anything either. I don't think you really want to add phosphate because of the algae risk. Add iron. Find a chelated micro-nutrient mix, like Fertilome Liquid Iron. You should see improvement within a couple days. Go ahead and add some potash too. It won't hurt.
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Just a few questions? How long did you own this plant. Was the spots on it for some time? You just bought it and now see these? Could be; Chemical spray, salt or bleach. Bug invasion. Mold or fungus (the worse). After watching it for a while. If spots get worse. I would use a spray fungicide or sulfur dust on it. I might stay the same and would have to put up with it until the plant is big enough to remove the leaf.
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I would snip it off at the base as close to the soil as possible. If it pulls away easily, do that and make sure you don't leave dead plant flesh attached to your plant bases. Currently I'm sunning mine for a couple of hours. They've been in the house all winter. I introduced them gradually of course. I've been having the exact same problem lately as you. I repotted them last year so that shouldn't be an issue. I think they need nutrients too but I'll have to look that up. If you figure out why your leaves are doing that, please pass along and a cure if you know one. Thank you a million.
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Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
9 years ago
Biggest killer of this plant is water. Hold off the watering till warmer spring comes. Water just a little when needed.
Stush
gardenper
9 years ago
You might be able to cut off some of those floppy leaves and start a new plant, or even divide that one into 2-3 lesser plants.
Galleriagirl11
Original Author
9 years ago
I'm sure it was exposed to old during shipping. It was quite cold out when it was delivered. It's in its orginal plastic pot just sitting in the decorative pot. So I should replant it in a larger pot & not water it after replanting?

Also would a cactus soil that Ive used on my succulents be appropriate?

Thanks!
Maryl (Okla. Zone 7a)
9 years ago
I love sans because they can be so forgiving. I put mine outside in the summer and when autumn comes I bring them back in. Because they've grown they sometimes have trouble fitting back on the windowsill. If a leaf is sticking out I'll just cut the offending leaf off near the base with a very sharp knife. It doesn't seem to hurt them. I think of them as semi-dormant in winter and they only get a trickle of water once or twice a month. Again, they do fine. Personally, while they are in this semi-dormant state I wouldn't repot them. The roots aren't really going to actively grow much in the winter so to disturb them might not be a good thing. Late spring, is when I usually divide or repot mine. Cactus mix ought to do alright. I have a blend of my own, but unlike many other cactus/succulents I've grown (and killed) they aren't as fussy about it as long as the drainage is good......Good luck with your plant. It's very nice looking specimen.......Maryl
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
9 years ago
It sounds like it got too cold to me. Let it dry out, give plenty of light & hopefully it can recover. I would leave it alone for a couple months, consider repotting around then, and removing any leaves you don't like. New growth should be stiffly upright like it is supposed to be.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
9 years ago
How is your plant doing at this point?

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