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yuvalvv

Help with Sansevieria leaf turning mushy

5 years ago

Hi everyone,

I just noticed one of my Sans' leafs is turning mushy (I actually noticed because it just fell to the side, apparently because the base under the soil is also mushy making the leaf unstable).

The rest of the leafs look just fine - I have it for about 4 months and it's doing pretty well. It's potted in a cactus & succulent soil. I water it every 3-4 weeks (I stick a wooden skewer all the way to the bottom to check if the soil is still wet). When I water I soak the soil under the sink and let excess water drain (the pot has one big drain hole in the middle). Last watering was 2 weeks ago (also added some weak dose of fertilizer).


What could be the cause? Should I do anything? cut the entire leaf? cut only the mushy part (not sure if possible because as I said it got to the base below the soil)?


Thanks!!


Pics:




notice the mushy part on the left:


Comments (11)

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Thanks, will do! And I did repot it some two months ago.

    Following you advice of looking at the newest growth, I have another Sans which has grown two new leafs (stems?) lately, but they look very pale (and are pretty thin). Does this mean it doesn't get enough light (it's in a not-so-bright location)? Or is it supposed to get thicker & more color as it grows?

    Pic (the leaf is about a month old. The other new one is hidden but looks the same):



  • 5 years ago

    It's normal for new rosettes to be a lighter color. I would cut off the damaged leaf from the first pic and not worry about it unless you notice other leaves doing the same thing. Individual leaves do not live forever.

    Yuval thanked Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Sansevieria can live in darker areas in our house but it doesn't like it. They require much more light including direct sun about 1/2 day. Leaves will darken up with age but may never be as healthy looking as the other leaves that was grown in proper light.

  • 5 years ago

    Thanks!

    Is growth any indicator for the plant/leaves health? The last one I posted (the smaller one) has some of the leaves grown by >10cm in 3-4 months (the rest didn't grow at all, perhaps because their tip is damaged? 100% of the damaged tip leaves didn't grow). Is this a good indicator it gets sufficient light?

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Some times just the opposite. Stretching is what called when plant leaves or stems stretch out to receive as much light as it could. When those parts are exposed to bright light, they usually die or burn.

    Now I'm not saying that is what's happening to your plant. Just saying. Right now your plants look in very good shape (except that one mussy spot on that one leaf). Good advise to remove it so as not to spread any potential disease from spreading.

    Once a plant experience shock mostly it stops growing on all leaves. Shock could happen when moved from one extreme to another. Like when leaving the green house to store to house.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    An update:

    Today I found three (four?) more dead (or about to die) leaves:



    When I tried pulling them out they got out smoothly (like there was nothing holding them in the soil). All of the dead leaves are from the same rhizome (as well as the one form the OP). This specific rhizome has one last leaf remaining (which seems fine right now?), but it looks like the rhizome has NO roots at all (I put it back inside the soil for now):


    Can it be saved? Should I worry about the other leaves (which I DO right now)? Don't want to lose the entire plant :(

  • 5 years ago

    It could be some kind of soil mite but I think it is crown rot due to over watering. Soil type is one that holds onto water for a long time. If that's is the cause, then the remaining plant got to be pulled out of the soil and dried out well. Like several days then fresh soil (cactus succulent) and mix with 30% or so with perlite. Hold off watering for about a week after re-potting. The plant can't pick up water until it grows new roots.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Makes sense it's over watering as the crown looks dead. Will take the other leaves out and let them dry, hopefully they're in a better shape!

    The current soil IS cactus/succulent mix tho... I'll try getting some perlite and add it to the mix

    Edit:

    The remaining rhizomes:

    Some seem to have tiny/some roots, some don't have roots at all. Is it a lost cause?

  • 5 years ago

    No, Your on the way to recovery. They should bounce back.

    Don't water for over a week or more. Keep in a light spot but not in sun or super bright area. They need to regrow their roots before they can take up any water.

    When re-potting, Leave as much crown above the soil line as possible. Don't let any water get into the crown area.

    Yuval thanked Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
  • 5 years ago

    Will do, thanks!

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