Snake plant advice please!!

5 years ago

Help! This poor thing keeps getting these scary looking spots! Apparently I can’t even keep the easiest plant healthy. :( I keep this snake plant inside, away from direct sunlight and only water it maaaaaybe once every other month, letting the water drain completely before putting it back in the white pot. I’ve read that they thrive on neglect and get root rot easily, so I intentionally stay away from watering it. I’ve had it about a year and it hasn’t seemed to grow an inch!

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robinswfl

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I don't know where you live (what zone, I mean).... but from the photo and your text, I can suggest a couple of things. I offer these as a person who has more than 10 types of Sansevierias, which is what a "snake plant" is. I have some of the more exotic Sans varieties which are a little harder to care for than the one you have.

1) I can't even see SOIL in that pot. Maybe it's the picture, or maybe there is no soil. You talk about watering it BEFORE you put it back in the white pot -- so I'm wondering if it is in soil at all. My suggestion is -- this is a BIG plant. Repot it into a plastic (lightweight) pot. Buy some cactus/succulent soil and perlite. Sift the perlite to eliminate dust. Wash it to eliminate dust. Mix it 50/50 with the soil.

2) Sansevierias CAN HANDLE sunlight -- both SOME direct sunlight and lots of "indirect" sunlight. I live in FLORIDA -- hot and sunny most of the time. My Sans are grown outside on a lanai and most of them get about 2 hours of direct sunlight a day and also a healthy amount of "indirect" light.

3) Watering every other month is probably TOO LITTLE. Water the plant when it is dry. If in doubt, wait an extra day or two, but NOT an extra week or two. Stick your finger into the soil as far as you can, or get some wooden skewers to stick into the soil. If the soil is dry, nothing will stick to the skewer.

4) NO PLANT thrives on neglect. Every plant thrives on proper care. If you research here on HOUZZ, which used to be GardenWeb, there is a TON of information about caring for Sansevierias. Yours doesn't really look bad and should bounce back easily with PROPER planting media, light and watering. Hope this helps.

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Comments (6)

greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
5 years ago
Oh that poor plant.

Far too little water. Repot in a porous, fast draining mix, and these will thrive with regular watering.

Move it closer to a window so that it receives some light.

Josh
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User
5 years ago
"only water it maaaaaybe once every other month"

Yeah, that's not going to do it, as the above all noted. Water it at least monthly, and they do like a light mix. Although I'll confess my mother's did well in a heavier mix as she was famous for forgetting hers. It occasionally went as much as months between waterings if I also forgot it, but usually no more than 4 weeks.

That is not optimal and I'm not suggesting care like that.

https://www.joyusgarden.com/sansevierias-snake-plant-care/

Notice "die-hard," not "immortal." :-)
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
5 years ago
Indeed, Morpheus.

They survive *in spite of* neglect...they do not survive *because of* it.

Josh
Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
5 years ago
Abby,

Seems your doing a good job. Way too little watering. All good advise given. Our formula for good Snake Plants is Cold + Water = Death (rot). But Warm + Water = Great growth.

During the hot summer months when I leave my plants outside, I give them all the water the pots can hold. While inside where it's colder in my basement, Maybe once every month. And then just a little. And they do poorly during this time till summer comes around again.

Seems you loose a leaf when you get a new leaf. That could be expected from the minimum care your given them. You could always just cut the bad sections or even the whole leaf off if it offends you. Make sure to keep the cut section dry for a few days before watering it again.
Trisha
5 years ago
If you're worried you're not sure about watering this guy buy a moisture monitor from Amazon for about $8. Make sure you put the rods deep down in the pot and get your reading. Then use it on all your "mysterious" plants until the monitor trains you on watering behavior. Before you know it you'll become a better waterer and less of a guesser that kills and wounds plants. For $8 is worth all those plants you've collected and you'll get to know your plants better.