Help - Snake Plant dying - overwatered???
Hi, I haven't got much experience with snake plants and when I bought this one a few weeks ago I was told they don't need much water and to keep it quite dry. But that if the leaves start to shrivel up on the sides, this is a sign of it drying out and that I should water it. I kept it quite dry and soon enough the leaves started wrinkling on the sides and looked like they were drying out. So I watered it a bit. But nothing changed. I gave it a bit more water, but it stayed the same. I then started to think that actually I might have overwatered it, as the top was really dry, but the soil at the bottom of the pot was quite wet. I took it out of the pot to let the soil dry, but the condition didn't improve. So I decided to repot it in cactus soil as recommended on some forums. I did this yesterday and the roots looked healthy to me - checked some videos online on repotting snake plants and the roots looked the same. But the bottom of the plant, where the leaves all come together was actually quite wet. So I really think that I overwatered it. I have now put it into the cactus mix and NOT watered it yet. But I don't know how long I should wait and if this is even the right thing to do? The leaves still seem dried out rather than rotten...
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Comments (6)
kbenoehr
7 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (16)Remove the bottom few leaves of each cutting so that you can insert the stems without having any of the leaves touch the soil...or another plant. I've never waited for a succulent cutting to callus over...so get them into a coarse medium pronto. Water them well initially....See MoreHELP!!! My snake plant is dying
Comments (26)MRJoss, Mine is doing something similar. I brought it home from Calloways about a month ago and left it in a similar light setting to what they had (low) to acclamate to the house. It started as a small brown spot that expanded quickly. The same thing is starting to happen to multiple leaves. I haven't overwatered it or fertilized it. It is very ugly now and too many leaves are effected to remove them and have a substantial plant left. I'm going to try to return it. This bottom of this article refers to the problem: http://www.ourhouseplants.com/plants/sansevieria . All of the other plants purchased at the time are doing great - multiple succulents and cactus, a dracaenas, a pothos, and several ferns....See MoreSnake plant inside my room dying
Comments (14)apachekumaran, to answer your new question, yes, your plant needs a normal pot with a drainage hole and saucer once it's stable (e.g. the soil has been dry and the rot stops spreading). Replanting it might be too stressful, but it's probably a toss-up between leaving it in place while waiting for the soil to dry out vs. disturbing it while getting it into a better pot and dry soil right away. I'm sure someone with more experience than I have will pipe in about which is better, and what kind of faster-draining soil this plant will be happy in. I don't know how your pot works, but if there's any excess water in a reservoir it needs to be drained right away, and in the future make sure that your plant's soil doesn't come in contact with water that has drained out (that is, no standing water in a saucer) As an aside, don't rely on what a potting soil's bag says; many soils that call themselves fast-draining actually stay soggy if watered on a schedule, instead of when the plant actually needs water....See MoreSnake plant leaves dying
Comments (1)Thrips are not really a problem on Sans, and I doubt it is pest related. The only pest that really seems to get Sans is a type of mealiebug and you will have no doubt if you get them.....which you don't. Pull the plant out and check the roots and soil. I typically lose a few large leaves like that over winter. It looks like most of them may be part of one pup?? The inner plastic pot looks misshapen......which often happens with Sans as they push out new underground rhizomes. Could water now be running AROUND the root ball and going out the drainage (without really moistening the soil?). How are the roots (Do they look healthy and abundant?)? The plant probably needs a good repot anyway. I would suggest cutting off dead/brown leaves. Removing plastic pot. knocking off most of the old soil. Repotting into that clay pot with fresh/new appropriate soil (probably good to add some extra perlit to whatever mix you are using). Note these plants can take fairly frequent watering in spring and summer when temps are warm and the plant actively growing. Of course much less watering during cool periods and shorter days....See Morekbenoehr
7 years ago
Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
7 years agolmontestella
7 years ago
Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6