Concerned about your yellowing snake plant? From overwatering to the wrong kind of soil, there are quite a few causes of why snake plants turn yellow. That said, you’re probably wondering- how do you save a yellowing snake plant, and if it is actually possible to do that.
Well, that’s exactly what we’ve answered here and more.
Can a Yellowing Snake Plant Actually be Saved?
If you have a snake plant in your garden, and you’re starting to see its leaves yellowing, you might be concerned. A more pressing question is- can a yellowing snake plant actually be saved?
Well, it turns out yes! If you’re able to take action appropriately and at the right time, there is a good chance that you can save your yellowing snake plant.
Recommended Read: Why is My Snake Plant Turning Yellow?
How Do You Save a Yellowing Snake Plant?
To save a yellowing snake plant, there are quite a few steps that you can take. First, you’ll need to identify what caused the yellowing in the first place.
Adjust the Watering Schedule
If the leaves of your snake plant have started to turn yellow, and you suspect it is possibly due to overwatering, adjusting the watering schedule might help.
Remember that snake plants are succulents, and take up water from the soil and store it in the cells, which is why it is very easy for them to be ‘overwatered.’
Another sign that your snake plant is overwatered is that you’ll start to notice the leaves losing their firmness and turning sort of limp and soggy.
The Fix
If you’re one of those who tend to be confused about how much water is enough for the snake plant, here’s a tip that might help. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering it once again.
Adopting this style of watering doesn’t just help stop yellowing of leaves, but also prevents root rot.
Dealing With the Root Rot
Root rot is another common issue that goes hand in hand with overwatering, and leads to yellowing leaves in the snake plant.
The Fix
To fix the root rot, you can treat the soil with a good commercially available fungicide. Alternatively, you can just apply hydrogen peroxide, which is known to kill may soil borne pathogens that cause root rot.
Changing the Soil
Poor draining soil is another key factor that usually causes the snake plant leaves to turn yellow. For most succulents, compact soil is a big no-no as it can cause the water to retain for too long.
Make sure you choose well draining soil and team it up with a proper watering schedule to ensure that your snake plant has healthy, green leaves.
The Fix
You can either choose to transplant the snake plant into a pot that has well draining soil, or drill some holes into the bottom of the pot to ensure that the excess water seeps out.
Other Techniques
Apart from these fixes, there are a few other steps that you can take to save your yellowing snake plant.
- Just like most succulents, the Sansevieria trifasciata may develop yellow discoloration on its leaves if exposed to extreme heat or direct sunlight. Remember to place the pot indoors or near a window that doesn’t have direct sunlight.
- During the winter months specifically, fertilizing your mother in law’s tongue plant can have negative effects. High concentration of nutrients in the soil can increase the plant’s sensitivity to low temperatures, and lead to yellowing leaves. Consider fertilizing during fall or spring.
- Sometimes, you’ll notice the snake plant leaves turning yellow despite fixing everything else. In this case, it could possibly be due to mineral deficiencies in the soil. This can easily be fixed by changing the soil to a cactus or succulent potting mix.
Considering getting some more succulents for your indoor garden? The tiger jaw succulent is an excellent choice, and here’s a bit more about it.
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