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Help with falling over snake plant

Marlene (Zone 6b Boston, MA)

6 years ago

Hi all! This is my first time on the sansevieria thread. I'm having trouble with a large snake plant I have.

About 3 weeks ago I noticed a few of the leaves were yellow and rotting around the stem, so I took it out of the pot, and sure enough, it had rotting roots. I had had it in regular old potting soil at that point, then read that these guys are succulents, so I trimmed the rotten roots and rhizomes, and repotted it in Black & Gold Cacti and Succulent mix (which I really like for my other succulents).

However, ever since repotting, the shoots keep falling over. Like, to the point that they completely upheave out of the pot. I have tried staking them to assist in keeping them steady until they grow longer roots, but one in particular keeps falling down. I thought it was stable by now and just lifted the pot (I'm moving so I HAVE to move the pot), and over it went again. Now I can also see that the roots this guy had have dried up and fallen off of the plant. What's going on?

I last watered when I repotted 2-3 weeks ago, and the soil still feels ever so slightly damp about two inches down. The pot has been sitting about 12 feet away from bright southern exposure. The room I am moving to has two bright east-facing windows.

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Comments (4)

robin98
6 years ago
Try rocks. I’ve had a similar situation with a tall sans with poor roots taking ages to stabilise after repotting to a pumice bark mix. Was told not to worry but it’s a pain (as you know) as sometimes you just have to move the plant (when watering or cleaning etc) and then it wobbles all over the place. Can’t be good for it. So I have an assortment of rocks on the surface propping it up. Get in the way of watering a bit but they do help. Do you have drainage in your pot?
Marlene (Zone 6b Boston, MA) thanked robin98
Marlene (Zone 6b Boston, MA)
Original Author
6 years ago
Ah, ok, that’s a good tip, thank you. Yes, there are two drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. I’ve learned the hard way never to use a pot with no holes. ;)
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Thx for posting the pix. I still do't get 'weeping' but it seems that was some kind of rot at the base of the plant which you rightly had to cut off, leaving just the leaves. Is that soil hard to your touch? It appears to be pure peat, w/ some perlite, but that doesn't retain any water. I read your mix description, sadly not good for these plants. Don't know if you want to bother at this point, but I'd change that mix. I'd use ONLY Cactus & Succulent soil & Perlite, mixing them 50/50 of each, nothing else mixed in. I'd Replant them & then pls. just leave them alone for a while to try & root, which can take a considerable amount of time. Sorry I can't be more hopeful, it's a crap shoot at this point. You might mist ONE spray each to the upper part of the leaves as I do see how wrinkly there are. Then, sorry to say, one simply has to stand back & give things time; no amount of fussing or nurturing will change things. Time & patience from here on out, best of luck & condolences on your Grandma's passing. Lena
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That pot seems kind of deep, bottom most soil may still be somewhat wet. What kind of soil is that in? When was the last time you changed the mix? Is that soil hard to the touch? Re-reading your comments, leaves curling inward suggests thirst. Sorry for all the questions, but things like this are often drainage & or soil related. I'd say water it, water it well, 'til it comes out the bottom. Then wait a week & see how it reacts. Don't know where you are in the US, but the North Atlantic has had some hot weather already. 2.5 wks w/out water seems too long a time IMO. If mine, I'd unpot, check the roots & use the occasion to change all the soil to Cactus & Succulent soil & Perlite, mixed in equal parts. If you choose to do this, pls. remove all the old mix by crumbling it off w/ your fingers. Then wait a day or 2 after repotting before you water it.
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Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
6 years ago
Welcome to the group.

I use tomato cages on my taller sans. They come in green now and will do the job. You can remove the cage in a few months after they settle in, or keep it on. Over watering is the #1 killer of sans causing crown rot which usually kills the plant but not always the roots which sometimes sends up another stock.
Marlene (Zone 6b Boston, MA) thanked Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
Marlene (Zone 6b Boston, MA)
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes it definitely got waterlogged in the last soil. My local nursery confused me by always selling them in the same section as tropical plants — serves me right for not doing my own research!

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