Healthy vs Unhealthy Snake Plant [Signs of Both] –ISBUZZLE

We all love to see a beautiful and healthy snake plant as an addition to our home, office, or wherever you try to grow it, because it looks great anywhere.

Unfortunately, the best care isn’t always provided because life can get in the way and you may have neglected your Sansevieria a little more than expected.

Although snake plants are hardy plants that are easy to care for, problems can still arise when you least expect them and take your snake plant from healthy to unhealthy.

So when it comes to a healthy or unhealthy snake plant, there are visible signs that it is healthy such as firm leaves that are straight or unhealthy with discolored leaves that are not straight.

These are the ways to know whether your snake plant is healthy or not.

Signs of an Unhealthy Snake Plant

There are a number of indicators that your mother-in-law’s tongue is unhealthy that don’t always stem from just one source of trouble, as many different things can cause unhealthy symptoms.

Some signs to look out for that indicate you have an unhealthy snake plant include the following.

yellowing of leaves

Although snake plants often have a yellow streak on the leaves, you know you have a problem when the leaves start to turn overwhelmingly yellow.

Yellowing leaves can be due to a number of causes, including overwatering, lack of light, pests, and lack of nutrients, to name a few.

Whatever the cause, pale yellow leaves are a major warning sign that your snake plant is unhealthy and the cause should be investigated, especially if you suspect you haven’t been watering properly.

If your snake plant has yellow leaves, check out my article on yellowing snake plant to learn all about this issue in detail.

brown dots

The brown tips of a snake plant are another warning sign that it is not getting proper care and is starting to grow poorly.

Brown tips can also be caused by a number of factors, including nutrient deficiencies, improper watering, pest problems, sunburn, and humidity issues.

I must say that the brown tips are not as bad as the pale yellow leaves.

If you have it, read more here.

hanging leaves

If your snake plant’s leaves aren’t straight and are more likely to droop or curl, that’s another sign that your plant isn’t really thriving.

Leaf drop can also be caused by a variety of causes, such as too much heat, submerged or overwatered, root rot, pests, inadequate lighting, etc.

Normally, snake plant leaves will be straight and firm, so when the leaves start to droop and can’t stand upright, it’s time to investigate.

If so, check out my article on Hanging Snake Plants for detailed information.

understory growth

If your snake plant is growing slower or has stopped growing, that’s definitely a sign that something is wrong.

Keep in mind that snake plants go dormant in late fall and winter, so if they haven’t grown during those times, your Sansevieria is fine.

It’s just when it should be actively growing, such as spring and summer, and it’s not like your snake plant isn’t healthy.

It could be something as simple as being root bound and in need of a transplant, or it could be something more serious like root rot due to excess water.

Either way, it’s worth a look.

soft leaves or roots

Loose leaves are never a good sign with snake plants, as their leaves are normally firm and smooth when healthy.

If the plant has developed limp leaves that are very discolored, or if the plant smells bad, it probably has root rot.

To make sure it’s rotten, you’ll usually want to check the roots as well.

If they are also soft or crumble easily, you have root rot, which is really the worst case scenario, and by all definitions, you have an unhealthy snake plant.

If you remotely believe this is happening, it’s time to act before it’s too late because the rot works fast and you don’t want to lose your snake plant, do you?

Nobody does.

For the most detailed guide, check out my article on snake plant root rot so you can save it before it’s too late.

Signs you have a healthy snake plant

Now that you know what to look for in an unhealthy snake plant, it’s time to stop worrying and validate that you have a healthy snake plant instead.

Some signs that your snake plant is doing perfectly well include:

the leaves are erect

If your Sansevieria leaves are straight, it means you are giving good care, because that is how they are meant to be.

Do not bend, fall or stretch.

If the leaves can stay straight, that’s a good sign that your snake plant is healthy.

The leaves are firm and smooth.

Snake plants store a lot of water in their leaves, so a healthy plant should have thick and/or firm leaves.

This is one of the reasons they are drought tolerant plants because they can store water for when they need it most.

Also, if the leaves are smooth without cracking, it means they are well hydrated or have adequate moisture.

Alright.

Your snake factory has babies.

If you have a healthy snake plant, over time you will see new leaves growing near the older ones.

These are pups that are basically baby snakes that grow alongside the parent plant, but since they actually grow their own sets of rhizomes and roots, you can actually propagate and multiply your snake plants.

Learn how to propagate a snake plant here.

Pup growth is basically a maximum sign that your snake plant is very healthy.

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Now you can see the huge differences between healthy and unhealthy snake plants and hopefully yours comes first.

If not, you’ll know what to watch out for so you can deal with any problems that come your way.

As always, have fun gardening and have fun taking care of your plants!