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Why Is My Snake Plant Turning Yellow? How To Treat It?

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If you are searching for a cheap, sustainable form of air filter machines, look no further than snake plants! Scientifically known as Sansevieria, these plants help regulate air circulation by converting CO2 into O2 at night.

Many households enjoy having snake plants not only for aesthetic purposes, but also for their practical applications.

However, there comes a time when snake plants show unhealthy symptoms in their leaves, especially yellowing. If you ever wonder, “Why is my snake plant turning yellow?” then the answer is right here. 

Why Is My Snake Plant Turning Yellow
Why Is My Snake Plant Turning Yellow? via Reddit

Why Is My Snake Plant Turning Yellow?

There are several reasons explaining why your snake plant suddenly looks worse. While the most prominent causes are overwatering and rotten roots, do not forget to take into account other problems. 

Insect infestation, fungal diseases, sunlight overexposure, and aging are all possible causes of yellow leaves.

How To Treat Snake Plants With Yellow Leaves

Upon realizing something is wrong with your household greens, make sure to take these steps and treat your snake plants immediately.

  • Monitor your watering: If there is too much water, you end up drowning the plants by preventing the roots from getting the much-needed oxygen. 

On the other hand, little watering leads to dried tips and edges of the plant’s leaves, which will soon fall off and die.

Balance between these two ends and water your plants using the appropriate amount. And remember to check your watering techniques! For example, do not water repeatedly but wait for the soil to dry completely before your next move.   

  • Check the sunlight source: If your snake plants do not have enough exposure to natural lights, they might appear weak and compromised. 

Vice versa, basking in bright sunlight for hours turns the leaves into a mortifying shade. It is best that you keep your snake plants somewhere with moderate lighting so that they can continue with photosynthesis undisturbed. 

Why Is My Snake Plant Turning Yellow 2
Why Is My Snake Plant Turning Yellow? via Reddit
  • Supervise the fertilizer: Sometimes, adding too much fertilizer overwhelms the plant and makes it unable to absorb all the nutrients. Should you happen to overfeed your snake plants, wash away the soil carefully using water. 

Instead of using chemical substances, turn to manure or organic compost for better impact. Your plants stand a higher chance of recovering if their intake is under control.

  • Remove the rotten parts: Diseases from the plant’s roots can be contagious and spread to other healthy areas. Hence, once you figure out which types of fungus or ailments the roots are going through, cut them off right away. 

Use a sterilized pair of scissors to take out what has gone beyond repair and trim the yellow edges of the leaves. 

Is Your Snake Plant Dying? Top 3 Ways To Save Your Snake Plant – Snake Plant Care

How To Prevent Snake Plants From Going Yellow

Without proper care, your snake plants are prone to re-yellowing. Below are a few tips and tricks on how to keep your snake plants healthy all year round.

  • You need to check how dry the soil is before watering. Insert your fingers into the soil at roughly 2 inches. If the soil is already dry, feel free to start splashing water. 

But if the soil still shows signs of moisture, let it evaporate naturally first.

  •  If you detect signs of growth, transfer your snake plants to another pot. When the pot is too small, the roots end up cramping each other. 

As a result, the air is blocked, and less oxygen reaches the destination. Putting the green into a spacious container allows it to ventilate freely.

  • Snake plants are more likely to thrive if the surrounding environments are warm and dry. Therefore, it is best that you keep the temperature at no higher than 27 degrees Celsius or 85 degrees Fahrenheit.  

FAQs

1. Can yellow snake plant leaves turn green again?

If you detect the problems early on and proceed to treat snake plants as soon as possible, turning green again will be a possibility. But when the leaves are left overlooked for more than a week, chances are the damage is irreversible.

2. How often should you water snake plants?

Snake plants are not fond of excessive watering. You should moisturize them once every two weeks, leaving plenty of time for the soil to dry on its own. 

If the weather is scorching hot, consider increasing the watering frequencies. During the winter months, when the soil is too humid, you can limit the watering to only once a month.

3. Should you cut yellow leaves off?

Yes. It is necessary to remove sick leaves before the disease gets to other parts of the plant. You can start by snipping the edges and tips so the rest stays fresh. 

But if the yellow leaves are way too many, you cannot possibly clear all of them. Find out what causes this situation and fix it instead of merely taking care of the symptoms. 

4. How do you know if the snake plant is overwatered?

The best telling signs of being overwatered are limp and heavy leaves. Upon direct contact, you can sense how soft and squishy the leaves are. 

Sometimes, they bend over and separate themselves from the healthy, long-standing leaves. 

5. What does a healthy snake plant look like?

A normal snake plant prides itself on various tall, fleshy and full leaves. Their surfaces are smooth and without wrinkles, while the tips are slightly pointy. 

6. What kind of sunlight is best for snake plants?

Snake plants prefer exposure to indirect sunlight, as it is milder in effect and does not cause burning leaves. Therefore, you should not leave your snake plants outdoors without a filter to lessen the impact of the sun. 

>> Related Post: Why Is My Snake Plant Curling – 7 Causes And Solutions


Conclusion

Now, you already have the answer to the question, “Why is my snake plant turning yellow?” Make sure to take the treatment measures above and revive the plants. And, of course, it never kills to be preventative so that the Sansevieria always stays healthy.