Unfortunately, snake plants are not invincible and when they aren’t taken care of properly, snake plant leaves turn yellow.
There are a few reasons why your snake plant leaves are yellowing, and this could be improper watering, a lack of sunlight, or even a fungal disease or insect infestation.
There are a few reasons for your snake plant turning yellow and in this blog post, we will discuss 5 common reasons that snake plant leaves turn yellow. We hope that you can avoid these mistakes so your snake plant can flourish!
5 reasons why your snake plant is turning yellow
As mentioned above, there are numerous reasons why your snake plant’s leaves are turning yellow. Let’s take a look at the most common reasons and what you can do to restore some life into your snake plant.
Improper or too much watering
You might think that watering your snake plant a few times a day might be the best method of helping it to grow, but it can actually be the kiss of death for some of these plants. The snake plant in particular can be very sensitive to watering.
When it comes to watering, you can water a snake plant as much as every 2 weeks or as little as every 6 weeks. These plants really can thrive in harsh conditions, barely needing any water at all to sustain themselves. Other watering issues to be mindful of with snake plants are:
Improper drainage
You’ll need to make sure that the water drains properly, so ensure that you have adequate holes in the bottom of your plant pot. If your soil has trouble draining off the water, then this could lead to calcium deposits forming on the roots, which could quickly put an end to your plant’s life. Stagnant water will be the cause of many fungi, which could really ravage your tree over the course of just a few weeks.
A lack of water
However, on the flip side, you might not be watering your plant enough. If you go away on a vacation, then this can be another reason why your plant is yellowing upon your return. A good method of checking there’s enough water in your plant is by patting the soil with your finger. If the soil comes away on your finger, then this tells you there is adequate moisture in the soil itself. However, if your finger is coming up dry, then I would suggest that you top up your water with a little water.
A lack of sunlight
This is another common reason that your plant might be yellowing. One thing that you might want to avoid is putting it in direct sunlight, as most plants do not like this. You should always put your plant in indirect sunlight, as this way it will get all the nutrients without experiencing any leaf burn.
These snake plants are very easy to care for, all you have to do is make sure they are getting an adequate 8 hours or so of indirect sunlight every day, just as they would get in nature. Making sure your plant is inadequate shade will definitely prevent it from yellowing and developing brown, dry tips.
Rotting roots
This is one of the great unseen dangers that you can experience with a plant. Under the soil, your plants might be rotting, due to an excess of water that has caused fungus to build up. This fungus is especially damaging to the roots.
If your roots are rotting, then you should simply remove them. Rotting roots will often come away in your hands. They take the form of a brown mulch that you can easily trim away. I would also recommend that you repot the plant, as giving it fresh soil will also be the best chance of it regrowing.
Insect infestation
There are many types of bugs that would just love to feast on your snake plant. Creatures such as mealybugs, aphids, and parasites will actually accelerate the level at which your plants will start to yellow. If you are noticing them rapidly turning yellow, I would recommend that you give them a little spray.
I would avoid using pesticides, as this might damage the quality of your leaves even further. Rubbing alcohol on the leaves will be a nice and natural method of getting rid of the parasites that build upon the leaves.
However, if the plants are really damaged, you can get special oils that will not only get rid of the insects that are ravaging your plant but will also restore some vitality of the plant.
For example, rosemary oil is a natural and effective treatment to deter pests and keep your plant safe from any harsh chemicals. Just dilute rosemary oil with water and spray it all over the affected leaves.
Fungal disease
Fungal diseases are diseases that can affect all aspects of the plant, from the root to the leaf. You’ll need to inspect the whole of the plant to find out whether it has these diseases, so this might require you to take your plant out of the pot.
For example, Southern Blight is a soil-borne disease caused by a fungus called Sclerotium rolfsii. This fungus thrives in humid environments that are wet and hot and can be brought about by drainage problems and overwatering.
As this disease spreads over the root system, the leaves of your plant will turn yellow and brown.
If your plant is experiencing fungal leaf spots, then this is a definite sign that it is getting poor-quality air. It might also be a sign that you are giving your plant too much water. Make sure that you are checking the soil regularly to avoid this.
Final thoughts
I hope that this article has helped you identify why the leaves of your snake plant are turning yellow, and the methods you can use to reverse this problem and return your snake plant to its former glory.
Sometimes it can be a combination of the issues above, as an issue with the root can be caused by a fungal disease that is in turn caused by overwatering or poor drainage.
It can be a bit inconvenient, but taking the plant out of the pot and inspecting the roots can tell you a lot about the health of your plant.
