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What cause snake plant turning yellow and soft? The inclusion of snake plants in homes is becoming more common. Fans who have followed the species for a long time are perplexed by a recent (and questionable) decision to rename it Dracaena rather than Sansevieria. It has led some people who are unfamiliar with the plant to unwittingly inflict damage to or even kill their snake plants.
Yellowing of the leaves is one of the most common issues brought on by this misconception (the two genera have quite different requirements for their upkeep). The good news is that, in most cases, the reasons may be fixed before the plant suffers any significant harm.
The Snake Plant Turning Yellow and Soft (Causes and Solutions)
There might be a few different reasons why the leaves of your snake plant turning yellow and soft. The majority of those are concerned about care requirements. All of the things listed below are known to cause leaves to turn yellow, and solutions are given when they are easy to find.
Plant’s Age
There might be a few different reasons why the leaves on your snake plant turning yellow and soft. The majority of those are concerned about care requirements. All of the things listed below are known to cause leaves to turn yellow, and solutions are given when they are easy to find.
Pests & Disease Infection
Disease, particularly fungal diseases, is a typical factor that leads to yellowing of the leaves. Neem soil soaks or foliar sprays may be used to help prevent fungal infections, and you should avoid getting the plant’s leaves wet while you’re watering it. Neem foliar sprays can also be used.
In the event that your plant contracts a fungal disease such as anthracnose or fungal leaf spot, you will be required to treat the problem using fungicides and potentially remove parts of the leaves that are afflicted with the disease.
Infestation
In a similar vein, a frequent pest infestation, such as that caused by aphids or mealybugs, might result in yellow dots appearing on the leaves of the plant. Pests such as these are piercing insects that feed on the sap of the leaves.
This may, over time, not only cause the leaves to fade from the infestation, but it can also encourage certain fungal ailments such as sooty mold.
Neem soil soaks and foliar sprays may be used to treat infestations as well as to prevent more infestations from occurring. However, in more severe cases of infestations, chemical pesticides may be required for treatment.
Overcrowding Plant
Plants that are root-bound are unable to absorb water and nutrients from the soil as they should. If the roots of a plant are visible above the soil’s surface or there are drainage holes, you should be able to determine whether or not the plant is root-bound. The simplest solution to this problem is to re-pot the snake plant in new potting soil in a container that is one size bigger than the previous one.
Take into account that the plant can experience some transplant stress, which will persist for a few days and during which time you won’t see any change in its health.
Substandard Nutrition
An excess of fertilizer may cause chemical burns to the plant and its roots, which can result in the plant’s leaves becoming yellow. On the other hand, a condition known as chlorosis, in which the leaves become yellow owing to a nutritional deficit, may be caused by a soil with a pH that is too low or by a lack of nutrients.
In addition to this, there is a possibility of a buildup of harmful mineral salts in the soil, particularly if you have been watering your plants with tap water. The good news is that the treatment for all three of these circumstances is the same: repotting the plant.
- Take your snake plant out of its old container and place it in a new one.
- Cleanse away the dust and grime.
- Place your snake plant in a pristine container filled with new potting soil.
- You should do this maintenance procedure once every few years, regardless of whether or not the plant requires division at that time.
Poor Watering
A plant might suffer irreparable damage over time if it receives an excessive amount or an insufficient amount of water. The soil shouldn’t be drenched or muddy, nor should it be bone-dry either.
In either circumstance, yellowing of the leaves may occur. However, in the event of over-watering, the leaves may become mushy or soggy, and in the case of under-watering, the leaves may become harder and crunchier.
Instead, utilize the soak-and-dry procedure to make certain that it always receives the appropriate amount of water. Performing this action requires you to put your finger in the dirt. Follow these helpful hints:
- It is time to water when there is a dry feeling one inch down.
- Slowly pour some distilled water or natural rainfall around the plant’s base, taking care to avoid getting the foliage wet.
- Either when you see that liquid is beginning to leak from the drainage holes or when you notice that the soil surface is no longer absorbing at the same pace that you are pouring, you will know that it is time to stop.
A Surplus of Sunlight
Some plants benefit from being exposed directly to sunlight, whereas tropical species more often develop their roots under the shade cast by an overhanging canopy. The leaves of in-acclimatized snake plants may be bleached or even scorched if they are exposed to direct sunlight during the middle of the day.
When a plant gets sunburned, in addition to becoming yellow, the tips and edges of its leaves will often become brown. This is how you can tell if sunburn is the source of your plant’s yellowing.
To prevent this issue, make sure the plant is placed in an area that receives bright, indirect sunlight or light that has been filtered. You might alternatively put it in a window, where it would get direct sunlight in the morning or evening but shade in the middle of the day.
Plant’s Root Rot
This dreadful illness may be brought on by either a bacterial or a fungal infection, and it is often brought on as a consequence of polluted soil or over-watering of the snake plant.
Keep an eye out for leaves that are becoming yellow and fragile because if you don’t catch this illness in a timely manner, it might harm your plant.
Depending on how the infection first entered the root system of the plant, the symptoms may often begin to manifest themselves on the plant’s most superficial leaves first. In other instances, the symptoms will start on only one side of the plant.
The following steps are required in order to treat the condition:
- Take the plant out of the container it was growing in.
- Remove any roots that are infected with disease.
- You can dip the plant in a solution of a fungicide or bleach to treat it.
- It should be replanted in a new container using new potting mix.
Plant’s Variegation
Although it may seem to be an obvious fact, there are occasions when it may nevertheless take you by surprise despite its simplicity. If you were given wrong information about the plant’s cultivar, this is probably why you wouldn’t expect yellow stripes.
If the plant’s previous owner didn’t give it enough light, which is another common reason, the plant’s different colors may be harder to see until it gets enough light.