A physical damage can also make the snake plant leaves develop brown patches. On the other end, make sure that your plant is never sitting in watering for extended periods of time and always ensure that you have a drainage hole. The browning of leaves is usually a result of stress. By sucking the leaves dry they cause leaf dehydration that leads to plant stress and browning of leaves. When the damage is severe, snip off the whole leaf at the soil line. Flush the potting mix by running plenty of water through it. Diseases. If your spider plant leaves turn black, it’s a sure sign of bacterial leaf blight. Cut away any leaves that are brown or yellow. Still no roots, and I noticed from the cut area it’s turning brown. The key to mastering how to cut an Aloe Vera plant without killing it is to prune it only when it needs it. Although cutting them off will neither benefit nor harm your plant, you can cut them off if you find them too unsightly. If the leaves aren't a healthy green, the plant may be getting too much sunlight. Just check with local nurseries to make sure these plants aren’t invasive in your area. Like we mentioned earlier, division is the best way to ensure that your new plant will have the same variegation as your main plant. A simple way to protect your plants from insects is to keep them healthy and clean. The best solution is to cut the entire leaf off to improve the plant’s appearance. Underwatered snake plants are easy to treat as you just have to resume the regular watering. The drooping leaves sound like they may have been damaged by cold. Check out this post on how to identify the pests and get rid of them. Can I Cut the Brown Tips Off my Snake Plant? In some cases, the entire leaf might be dead, while sometimes only the tip of the leaf is dead. It starts outs … Then the first sign you’ll notice is crispy, brown tips. Yes, but leave just a little bit of brown on each leaf to avoid stressing the plant. Plants in low light might need to be repotted every 5 to 10 years. Be aware of the signs and treat your plants accordingly. Use liquid or slow release fertilizers and apply them cautiously. You can also wash the leaves with mild soap water. In order to say goodbye to the rotten ends of your leaves, cut the bottoms off well above the 'melty' and yellowed ends. Extreme sun exposure results in the drying up of plant tissue. When the underlying problem is taken care of, your snake plant will grow plenty more new healthy leaves. Some mild direct sun is good for the snake plant, but keep your outdoor plants in a shade. Always use sterilized tools to cut the leaves, especially if there is any fungus infestation. Or moving a big plant from one place to another may result in some harm to the outer foliage. Fungal growths first appear white before changing to a deep brown color. If you are noticing dry, brown tips on your Sansevieria, it is most likely caused by infrequent or sporadic watering. Your snake plant can have brown spots due to a lot of different reasons. If it's brown and dry, then cut the whole leaf, but not too far from the main branch so that it will grow a new leaf. Read more on properly watering the snake plants. When the potting medium remains wet for too long, roots will suffer damage due to rotting. This can suffocate the roots and make the plant unhealthy. Simply cut away the dying brown parts if they look very unappealing. Sometimes the edges of the leaves become wavy and they fold over. Avoid sudden change of light conditions. For snake plants in brighter light, expect to transplant every 3 to 5 years. They are very hardy and like neglect, so just don't over water. Look for natural divisions in the plant when deciding where to cut. The brown tips I will cut off at an angle and before I know it these new plants are putting out babies.. Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata), also called mother-in-law's tongue, is a common houseplant native to western Africa. Repotting: Snake plants are slow growers and rarely need repotting (they actually grow better when pot-bound). Snake plants thrive and grow healthier with a little feeding, but just be careful not to overdo it. Snake plants can definitely be grown in direct sunlight when they are acclimatized to it. This can turn the leaves yellow and develop brown spots. To correct this problem, place your snake plants behind a light curtain-covered window for bright but indirect sunlight. You can actually see two rhizomes in the picture above. Mother in law’s tongue plants aren’t winter hardy and shouldn’t be exposed to freezing cold climates. By cutting back on the water you will reduce the possibility of your Snake Plant rotting from being overwatered, ... Bear in mind if you do cut off the growing tips, that particular leaf will never grow taller. Take your sterilized tool and cut the leaf as close to the soil as possible. Inadequate watering, overfertilization, and environmental stress is the root cause of a dying snake plant. Proper watering is probably the most important thing you can do to keep your snake plant in good health. How to Prune and Propagate Whole Snake Plant Leaves Cut the leaf all the way down to the soil line. You can also cut your snake plant in half with a sharp knife to gain a brand new plant. And the plant stress can be caused by many different factors. A. This can often cause brown leaf tips, or brown edges on the leaves. Brown edges are the dead parts of the leaves and cannot be treated. You can remove the affected parts if you think it’s an aesthetic issue. … You should start the treatment as soon as possible after you identify the pest attacking your snake plant. Let’s start with this cylindrical snake plant (Sansevieria bacularis ‘Mikado’). For more details on fertilizers, you may find this helpful. Make sure that the soil and leaves don’t remain wet for long. While snake plant problems are not common, thrips is an infestation that can wipe out one or more plants. The best way to know this is to feel the top 1.5-2 inches of soil with your finger. Don’t worry though, as if you give your snake plant the care it needs, it will grow plenty more healthy leaves and then the impact of the brown tips will be less noticeable. Maintain a good watering regimen to avoid any fungal problems. Snake plants are pretty hardy, it should regrow. After the root rot becomes severe and the roots cannot absorb moisture or nutrients anymore, then the brown tips can appear. Fertilizing your snake plants too often or using a strong fertilizer can cause damage to the roots. It is possible that the roots are still alive, so new leaves may sprout from that. It’s not that it was totally root-bound, but I thought I’d use this opportunity to show you, dear reader, the process of potting up snake plant pups so you can distract yourself, keep busy, and multiply your houseplant collection practically for free. If the damage is minimal, you can just remove the affected parts. Use diluted fertilizer at the most once a month only during the growing season. Is there anything I can do to make the plant grow bigger? I am struggling on finding answers and was hoping that you will have answer for me. First of all, isolate the infected plant so that the disease doesn’t spread to other healthy plants. It features long, thick, upright green leaves. Sansevieria (commonly known as the snake plant) is a very tolerant plant that is hard to kill. Why are my mother-in-law’s tongue leaves turn yellow? Once your plant looks happy again, you can resume the fertilization. Using a knife to remove outer leaves at the base Many of the tips of my Snake plant are either broken or brown. If a plant does not look like it can be saved, destroy it so that it cannot infect your other plants. Groom your Snake Plant. These low maintenance, evergreen plants have a reputation of being hardy. Move the snake plants a few feet away from the heater to prevent any heat damage. When the temperature drops below 50°F (10°C), they suffer permanent damage to the leaves. On the other hand, if the leaves are extremely soggy, mushy, drooped, dead, turned completely yellow, got red dots all over them or have dried out, it’s better to cut them off. Grasp the leaf with the dead foliage just below where the brown foliage stops. Cut the terminal point of the outer leaves if you fear you might brush against the leaves while digging up the plant. Although snake plants are less susceptible to pest infestation, they can sometimes attract insects like spider mites and mealybugs. Or is that all? Unfortunately, the damage that has already happened is permanent. If all leaves are mushy at their bottoms, they are as good as gone. She received her Bachelor's degree from West Virginia University. post on how to identify the pests and get rid of them, Disadvantages of snake plants and the workarounds, Sansevieria Masoniana (Whale’s fin plant) – The ultimate care guide, Snake Plant Care – How to grow Mother In Law’s Tongue, Sansevieria Trifasciata Laurentii – How to grow and care for the snake plant, Viper’s bowstring hemp – How to grow and cultivate the plant. This cause of brown leaf tips happens most frequently with container grown plants, but can happen with plants in the ground in particularly heavy clay soils that may act like a container. When the roots get burned by powerful chemicals, it impacts the foliage as well. Avoid feeding your snake plants in winter when they’re in resting state. Once you have root rot, you can start to get yellow leaves and also brown tips as well. Your email address will not be published. If the plant seems to be outgrowing its container, you can divide it into two or more new plants. It is crucial to understand why your snake plant is dying to take appropriate action so that you can revive your snake plant. Check these posts for more information on saving overwatered or underwatered snake plants. After about 3 … Nell What is your favorite house plant? I cut my snake plants two months ago and have been water propagating it. The snake plant is also called Sansevieria and “mother-in-law’s tongue,” for its sharp, upright leaves, which are mottled green and yellow and resemble a snake. A former cake decorator and competitive horticulturist, Amelia Allonsy is most at home in the kitchen or with her hands in the dirt. Snake plant leaves can be quite tough, so it may take a little effort to cut through each. When you forget to water for a long time, the plant can get extremely dehydrated. You want to make a straight cut across in what looks to be a healthy section. The dry, shriveled brown parts can spread to the edges and along the leaf. To save the snake plant, stop feeding it for a few months. You'll need to fix the cause of the problem in order to prevent future dead foliage, although sometimes leaves simply die without any major problem. The best fix for browning of snake plants is to identify the primary cause and improve the growing conditions to resolve that problem. Cut your plant and its root structure in half right down the middle. Those crispy brown tips are dead leaf material and they no longer serve any purpose for the plant. Fungal infections may need chemical treatments like using fungicides. Take your clean shears and cut off damaged leaves near the center of the spider plant. However, there are limits to the amount of neglect any plant can tolerate. Isolate your snake plant from other healthy plants, just to be safe. When an underwatered plant is suddenly subjected to excess water, it can also provoke some leaf browning. Mother in law’s tongue or snake plants are a familiar sight in many homes. With their gorgeous sword-shaped leaves, snake plants increase the beauty of your office space or home. However, in this case you may not see the brown tips right away. You may want to take a look at the potting mix. You’ll have to let the plant dry out, then start watering gradually. Cut straight across the leaf as close to the soil as possible. Slightly brown tips on the leaves indicate underwatering and can be fixed as well. You can easily trim the dead leaves, but they may be an indication that the plant requires division. Brown lesions on leaves can indicate a fungus red lead spot. Why does a snake plant get brown tips or patches on the leaves? Plant each half in its own pot with some succulent soil. If it still green but just the tip is brown, then use a sharp pair of scissors to … The leaves will get scars, light brown patches with little mushy texture. However, even the most resistant plant can still be infected with diseases that can affect its growth. Any idea why this is happening? It can survive low light levels, drought, and generally being ignored. Hi Michele – Yes, root rot can certainly be caused by a mix which is too heavy. Your email address will not be published. Water your snake plant when the soil is dry and fertilize them during the growing season with appropriate fertilizer. Try to make a clean cut, rather than a series of jagged cuts. Putting the plant above a heater or radiator is not a good idea. If the soil is dense like mud, it either becomes too wet and soggy or concrete dry. Though the snake plant can store water and withstand long periods of drought, it still enjoys a regular watering routine. Increased stress caused by some extreme changes in the environment can turn the snake plant brown. I ended up with 5 plants from the one and they all are filling in wonderfully. Visually inspect the plant for signs of overcrowding or lack of water that could contribute to the dead foliage. Isolate your snake plant from other healthy plants, just to be safe. If it’s completely dry, the plant can be watered. To propagate a snake plant by rhizome, use a clean, sharp knife to cut the rhizome off of the main plant. Both these bugs are sap sucking insects which damage the leaves by making small wounds on them. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. It’s always good to routinely check your plants to see if they need water or not. Yes you can. If the damage is minimal, you may snip off the brown part of the … You can root healthy portions of the cut leaf to create new snake plants. Put the cuttings right-side-up in fresh soil mix and keep the pot in an area that gets bright, indirect light. If you want to move it from a deep shaded place, gradually expose it to light over the period of a few weeks. If your plant has developed any kind of brown spots, it’s always a good idea to inspect the foliage for signs of infestation. You can cut off the brown tips if you think it is an aesthetic issue. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Don’t fertilize young plants, sick plants or right after they are repotted. So that is one way to get more plants for free. The leaves are commonly striped with shades of green and gray-green and the edges are often outlined with yellow or green around the edges. But if you keep your snake plants in a balcony or outside, just bring them in during winters. This will filter the excess nutrients out of the soil. 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