What to Do When Snake Plant Leaves Go Soft? Learn the Correct Way to Handle It

Snake plant (Sansevieria) is a common household potted plant, a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Sansevieria in the Asparagaceae family. During cultivation, soft leaves are a frequent problem. In fact, soft snake plant leaves are mainly caused by four reasons: direct strong sunlight, overwatering, too-low temperatures, and bacterial soft rot. Now let us take a look together at what to do when snake plant leaves go soft!

Direct Strong Sunlight

[Cause] Snake plant is a relatively shade-tolerant plant and can be grown in diffused light, or in a place where the light is not very intense. If exposed to scorching sun, it will develop sunburn spots and soft leaves.

[Solution] Snake plant likes light, so it must be exposed to sunlight regularly. It is best to place it somewhere it can receive direct sunlight. If conditions do not allow this, then place it somewhere close to the sunlight. Being kept in a dark place for a long time will cause the leaves to turn yellow.

Frequent Watering

[Cause] Snake plant has an underdeveloped root system. Watering too frequently can easily cause the roots to lack oxygen and rot, which then causes the leaves to go soft.

[Solution] When watering snake plant, follow the principle of keeping it dry rather than wet. In spring, when new shoots sprout at the root crown, water a little more to keep the potting soil moist. In the rainy season, never let water accumulate in the pot. Normally, you can wipe dust off the leaf surface with clean water to keep the leaves clean and glossy. Generally speaking, if the soil is relatively loose, water twice a week; in winter when the weather is colder, just water once.

Temperature Too Low

[Cause] Snake plant likes a warm environment. When the temperature is too low, its growth will also be affected.

[Solution] Snake plant has fairly high temperature requirements. Its suitable growing temperature is 20-30°C, and it stops growing below 13°C. In winter, the lowest temperature should not drop below 10°C, otherwise the base of the plant will rot, causing the whole plant to die.

Bacterial Soft Rot

[Cause] After snake plant is damaged by bacterial soft rot, the leaves turn pale yellow-green or grayish yellow, and water-soaked soft rot spots appear on the stem near the ground, making it easy to break. The rhizome becomes yellow and soft-rotted, and the roots die.

[Solution] When watering, avoid splashing water onto the leaves. If diseased leaves are found, remove and destroy them promptly. When the disease occurs, spray with 12% copper quinolinolate 600x solution or 72% agricultural streptomycin 4000x solution. Spray once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive times.