Skip to Content

Why Is My Snake Plant Drooping? (5 Reasons & How To Fix It)

Sharing is caring!

The snake plant, also known as the mother-in-law plant, is a popular ornamental plant that impresses with its tall, slender upright leaves. So, if your snake plant has drooping leaves, that’s a sign that something is wrong.

So, why is my snake plant drooping? Keep reading to get the correct answer.

Why Is My Snake Plant Drooping
“My sister’s snake plant is all droopy and falling over. Soil is dryish. Leaves are not mushy.” via Reddit

5 Reasons Why Your Snake Plant Droops

1. Overwatering

All plants need enough water to grow properly. However, over-watering can be harmful to any plant, not just snake plants. In fact, over-watering is one of the most common problems with plants.

The snake plant is also known as succulent. These plants typically thrive in the hot, dry areas of tropical West Africa.

 It means they have rubbery and thick leaves, which retain moisture. That’s why they require less water than your regular plants. So, they can be easy to overwater, becoming susceptible to root rot if they receive too much water.

This plant only requires watering once every two to four weeks. But you need to water more often for plants that receive a lot of light or grow at high temperatures.

Why Is My Snake Plant Drooping 2
“My Snake Plant Drooping” via Reddit

In winter, you can reduce the frequency of watering your plants and only water when their leaves look a bit wilted.

If root rot has already begun, all you need to do is water them with 3% hydrogen peroxide for the next 3 months. This will return them to their former glory.

However, if root rot of your plants is more severe, it is essential to repot the entire plant. This effort will help you remove dead roots and make room for good ones to grow.

2.  Lack Of Heat And Bad Lighting

The lack of heat can also be your problem if your snake plant drooped. So, keep the temperature above 50°F to keep them healthy. Plus, you need to place them near a heat source or at least a little further from a window during winter days.

Although these plants grow well in the shade, they tend to grow even better when exposed to natural sunlight. Bad Lighting can cause snake plants to become unhealthy, causing them to droop.

However, exposing them to constant direct sunlight is also not wise. Yes, too much light can also cause them to grow improperly. So, it’s best to place them in direct light for about eight hours a day.

In addition, it is feasible to use obstacles to block sunlight, such as blinds. Thanks to that, you don’t need to move them as often every day.

3. Bound Roots

Improper potting is a big problem for snake plants and any plant.

If their roots don’t have enough space to grow properly, these roots can become bound. Simply put, their roots get tangled together, restricting their growth. Combining this with root rot and other diseases can cause snake plants to not “breathe” properly.

These plants basically do not require frequent repotting like most other common plants. Besides, they also require less water and nutrients than usual. However, these plants still need enough soil for their roots to soak in available water and nutrients.

It is best to make sure that the roots of your plants take up 3/4 of the space in your pot. This ensures that they have plenty of room to grow healthy.

We recommend repotting them every three to five years. If you cannot put your snake plants in a larger pot, it is feasible to trim the roots.

If you want to prune their roots, remove them from the pot and lay it on its side gently. Then use a sharp knife to cut each root.

Want to determine if your snake plants need repotting or pruning? We have tips for you. 

All you need to do is dig up some soil on the side of the pot and see if the roots are thick to the pot edges. If you notice more roots than soil, consider pruning the roots or finding a larger pot.

4.  Bad Drainage And Soil

If you water your plants the way we mentioned above but the situation does not improve, the cause may be that the soil is simply holding too much water and does not have adequate drainage.

Besides that, it is essential to make sure that the pot you are using has proper drainage. Otherwise, overwatering may occur.

The reason is that when water does not drain properly, it can stay there until the next watering, resulting in over-watering. Over time, the roots of your snake plants will rot.

So, if you feel drainage problems are the cause, repot your plants and use soil made for succulents as this type of soil requires fewer nutrients and water to live.

When repotting, remove as much of the old soil as possible. Also, you need to choose a pot that is large enough to allow the roots to function properly.

>> Related Post: How to Make the Best Potting Mix for Indoor Plants According to the Nature of Your Plants Themselves

5. Pests

If your snake plants suffer from one of the above problems and become weak, they are susceptible to pests. For example, fungus gnats can attack these plants if they are overwatered or poorly drained.

Why Is My Snake Plant Drooping 3
Fungus Gnat via Reddit

In this case, it’s essential to repot and soil, cut off rotten roots and follow the watering and drainage tips we mentioned above. Then water with 3% hydrogen peroxide and combine with an insecticide.

In addition, spider mites and mealybugs are also a threat to your snake plants. You can treat it by spraying insecticides as above.

>> Related Posts:


Final Thought

Why is my snake plant drooping? To help you answer this question, we have provided you with the five most common causes and their respective solutions. Hopefully, they are useful to you.

Thank you for reading! Please share this article with your loved ones.