Help - Snake Plant dying - overwatered???

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

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.

Featured Answer

Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Can't be sure but looks like frost damage. Rot is setting in and sometimes it can't be stopped. First I would change the soil to a more gritty mix. Re-pot using a lot more perlite (50-50) and trim away any rotted parts and let dry out a few days and them lightly mist the plant. Sans can take a lot of dry spells but some thing looks wrong here. Need more information. Looks like the plants I gave to some one who returned them two years latter and was full of mealies. They recovered well after treatment and with full bright light.

I don't see mealies on photos but I hope it's not a fungus disease.

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Comments (6)

kbenoehr
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you for getting back to me. What sort of additional information would you need? You said that yours recovered well in light? Should I move it into direct sunlight? The soil I've got now was recommended to me, as it's a fast draining cactus soil.

You would suggest letting it dry out a few days and then just mist the leaves and see what happens?
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Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
9 years ago
I don't know where it was at. Dark corner or drafty cold spot? Bright sun is always best but must be done slowly over weeks if it is not used to it. I have good results in bright light. Soil looks too peaty but I have seen them grow good in almost any soil except the heavy variegated ones.

There is a very bad Sans disease that killed many sans. Don't really know much about this. Hopefully Russ responds, He was the one who informed me about it. If this is the case, keep away from other Sans for now. I think it starts as a soft wet spot on the leaf and continues thru to the rest of plant and it just turns soft and dies. I had this happen to a Silver Futura I had. Lucky it didn't spread to my other sans. It was purchased at a Wal-Mart but I have had very good stock from Wal-Mart before. It starts at the main nursery that sells to all of the big box stores. Leaves start to wilt due to poor roots. Wetting the roots only adds to the rot. Misting the leaves help to keep them from wilting but only a very small amount. Sans require only a small amount of water and too much leads to rot. During the hot summer and a healthy plant, they can live in water. Tiffiny grows hers in the summer outside and in regular garden soil with all the rain summer gives them and they grow exceeding well.
kbenoehr thanked Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
kbenoehr
Original Author
9 years ago
Once again, thank you for the detailed reply. It has been quite near a window that is frequently open. So it might have got some draft/cold. What would be the cure for that apart from moving it to a different spot?
Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
9 years ago
I think you answered your own question. Watch that temps don't drop below 50's but I heard that drafts are the worst for plants. I guess it's the temp change.

Good new that it's not the Sans disease.
lmontestella
9 years ago
Pls. do not mist Sans. not good for them.

Also, whoever recommended that mix sadly, is mistaken. Pls. say what makes you think that's fast draining mix? That is not fast draining, looks just the opposite, looks very water retentive. I'm sorry, not trying to be rude, but that soil looks awful for that plant. It's not the darkness, it's the very fine texture.

I'd add at least 50% perlite to that, preferably w/ new soil like cactus & succulent mix. Sorry.