What to Do About Snake Plant Root Rot? Causes and the Latest Treatment Methods

The snake plant (Sansevieria) is a very common houseplant grown for its foliage. Its leaves bear markings of grayish-white and dark green, just like a tiger's stripes, and the plant as a whole stands fairly upright, giving it a very firm and imposing look. As a foliage plant with strong adaptability, many people have run into root rot while growing it. What causes this? What should you do once a snake plant develops root rot? Below, Qinnong Web explains it for everyone.

1. Causes of root rot in snake plants

Before introducing the remedies for snake plant root rot, let us first explain the causes of root rot in snake plants. Qinnong Web has summarized four points here for your reference. If the snake plant in your home shows signs of root rot, you can first check it against these four points.

1. Overwatering

The root system of the snake plant is not well developed and consists of fleshy roots, so it is often planted shallowly. Some flower lovers water too much, and the water in the potting soil cannot evaporate in time, which over time leads to root rot in the snake plant.

2. Failure to change the soil

Snake plants are usually repotted every two years. If the soil is not changed for a long time, the nutrients in the soil are used up and the air is scarce, which hinders root respiration and causes root rot. In addition, long-term fertilizing means the fertilizer effect cannot fully dissipate and accumulates in the potting soil, seriously affecting root growth.

3. Poor ventilation

Snake plants do not have high light requirements, but the environment must be well ventilated. If they remain in a stuffy, hot state for a long time, the leaves cannot absorb water, which likewise affects root growth.

4. Pests and diseases

During the growth of the snake plant, it can be harmed by root rot disease and nematodes, causing root damage and even decay.

2. Remedies for snake plant root rot

A snake plant that has already developed root rot can be repotted and planted anew. First, clean away the rotted part of the roots. If conditions allow, sterilize with a carbendazim fungicide, or soak it in a 1000-fold potassium permanganate solution for about an hour, then rinse it with clean water, let it dry in a cool, shady place, and replant it.

3. How to prevent root rot in snake plants

Now that we know the causes of root rot in snake plants, we have also found the ways to prevent it. These mainly come down to the following two points:

1. Repot frequently

Snake plants need to be repotted once every two years. When repotting, replace half the soil with new soil, and disinfect the soil by exposing it to the sun or watering it with a sterilizing agent. Choose a fertile, loose, well-drained soil rich in humus.

2. Water less

Snake plants do not need much water to grow; keeping the potting soil moist is enough. If you do not know how much water to give, you can use the soaking method, which reduces water accumulation in the pot. Reduce watering in winter.

The above is Qinnong Web's introduction on what to do about snake plant root rot. You may have noticed that, apart from the effects of pests and diseases, most causes of snake plant root rot are closely tied to its growth habits. If we fully understand the growth habits of the snake plant before growing it, we can greatly reduce the likelihood of root rot occurring.