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justin_lejeune39

Snake Plant Brown Tips

6 years ago


I purchased this snake plant about 2 weeks ago and have noticed brown tips on the leaves developing. Most are small and insignificant, but on one leaf, the brown dry part is slowly spreading down the leaf (noticeably larger every week or so). It is in what I think is mostly cactus soil, but the bottom of the pot is still moist. Haven’t watered since I got it yet, as I’m waiting for the soil to dry completely. Does anyone know what this could be?

Comments (8)

  • 6 years ago

    Pls show the whole plant, including pot & soil so we can try to properly assess it. Just the tip is not enough, sorry.

  • 6 years ago

    Karen - sorry about that. Was going to but wasn’t sure if I could include two pictures. Attached is one of the whole plant. It’s by window that gets good sun but not overwhelming. Pot is plastic.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I'm sorry I never got back to you, nor did anyone else either.

    I see you've posted abt this again. We discourage this practice, you might have pls come back to the original post & added a comment to bring it back up. Sorry you had no way to know that.

    Unfortunately, I don't know what to suggest, other than take it out of direct sun.

    If the browning continues down the leaves, I'd consider returning it to the Vendor, tho' your newer post says you changed the pot already.

    Did you add fertilizer too? The little green balls there? Your other post mentions you think it's in Cactus & Succulent (C&S) soil. Don't know abt that; doesn't look like it has much Perlite. I would have added lots more Perlite to ensure fast draining,

    Is that saucer attached to the pot? If so, rip it off so plant can drain properly.

    Don't know what part of the US you're in, but pls. water the poor thing 'til some water comes out the bottom. It's 80-90s here in NYC, where I'm watering my Sans at least every 10 days or so.

  • 6 years ago

    Thanks for all the information! I’m in the NYC area as well but was afraid to water it since it was moist - most places recommended letting the soil dry almost completely. Do you think it’d be worth replacing some of that soil with more perlite and a faster draining mix? That was my guess of what they’d put it in but like you said, doesn’t seem to be as aerated as it should be.

  • 6 years ago

    Also, no I did not fertilize it - it came that way.

  • 6 years ago

    This is great info, thanks! I’m thinking it could be the direct light since it’s right next to the window. The saucer is separate from the pot, which has holes, so I’m assuming it’s needed to catch the drainage water, right?

  • 6 years ago

    The saucer is fine as long as it's not attached.

    I'd get a bag of Cactus & Succulent (C&S) soil & another bag of Perlite & combine them 50/50 (equal parts) & repot it. Even tho' it's called C&S soil, it's not usually fast draining enough w/out the addition of Perlite (or Pumice) as most of us have discovered through experience.

    Try to get all the old soil off the roots & while you're there, why not take a pic of the roots to show us? Don't be surprised if they're orange in color. Was the original pot the same size or is this one larger?

    Sorry to disagree w/ Vaughn, but Sans can take full sun if exposed gradually over time. If that were a problem, they wouldn't be able to grow in the tropics (where they grow like crazy) or FLA where I hear the grow along roadsides.

    I don't filter my water & have at least a dozen different Sans. plants indoors. I do let the water sit out for a few days before using it.

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