Sansevieria (Snake Plants) is an excellent plant for the living room, especially the bedroom; the Snake plant helps to control healthy airflow and filter indoor air. Despite their slow growth, snake plants are unique because they are among the few plants that can transform carbon dioxide into oxygen.
Why do the leaves of snake plants curl? An insect infestation is the most likely reason for curling leaves on a snake plant, although other common causes include overwatering, underwatering, cold stress, and fungus infections. It’s not difficult to identify which of these problems is affecting your snake plant; you have to observe your plant and how you have been treating it so you can fix the issue.
Why is My Snake Plant Leaves Curling?
Here are the main causes of your snake plant’s leaves curling and what you are doing incorrectly to your plant. Snake plant leaves curling is 1 way to identify a snake plant that is on the verge of dying.
Improper pH
Any soil used for indoor snake plants must have the proper pH because the pH of the soil affects how readily available the soil’s nutrients are. A pH of between 5.5 and 7.5 is ideal for snake plant soil.
Your snake plant soil can be affected when you water your plant with polluted water, which may affect your plant soil. If the ground in your snake plant is highly copper-concentrated, the plants’ leaves may bleach and curl.
Both Under And Over Watering
Your snake plant can only perform its typical physiological tasks if you give it enough water. Your snake plant’s roots cannot absorb the necessary nutrients from the soil without water. Additionally, it cannot transport the necessary elements to the leaves without water; as a result, your snake plant’s leaves curl.
Overwatering your snake plant can also damage the plant; in addition to yellowing, overwatered snake plants also exhibit curled leaves. Your snake plant will contract root rot disease if you overwater it; the root system will eventually become dysfunctional due to root rot.
Insect Infestation
Many insects, such as bugs, thrip, and mites, can affect your plants. Thrip infestations are the most frequent disease that affects snake plants. These minor black bugs prefer the entire plant, including the leaves, buds, and stems. These insects feed by breaking through the cell wall and harming the plant. Your snake plant’s leaves may curl as a result of this damage.
The leaves and buds of a snake plant with thrips will appear to have tiny black dots, while the leaves of mites will have little white spots. Look for these colored patches if you think your snake plant has been affected by insects.
Insect-spotting indicators:
- Twisted or misaligned curling leaves
- Leaves with brown, white, or yellow markings
- Leaf yellowing and drooping
- The same-sized black dots on the buds
Repotting
After a recent repotting, if you notice curling leaves which are expected, transplant shock is the reason for that. Snake plants’ leaves may curl as they get used to their new environment, similar to when you change the lighting too soon.
Disease
Diseases are one of the problems that could be affecting your snake plants. The snake plant frequently experiences diseases such as fungal disease and root rot due to the over-watering of the snake plant.
The red leaf spot can frequently cause leaves to have crimson lesions or a white growth that resembles a web.
If the soil is wet and the plant appears dehydrated, this is a strong indicator that the roots are rotting. Put a wooden skewer into the ground, pull it out after a few hours, and feel the soil to gauge its moisture content to determine whether it needs watering.
Temperature
Your snake plant may be experiencing a temperature dip as a contributing factor to your leaves’ curling. In response to abrupt temperature fluctuations, snake plants will react and curl more often when they abruptly occur.
Since snake plants are naturally tropical, they do best in warmer climates. They can withstand freezing conditions and are very versatile plants.
Lack Of Or Excessive Light
Long periods in the sun’s direct rays can cause a plant to lose water quickly, which causes the leaves to curl.
The place where your snake plant is located is crucial.
Will My Snake Plant Survive Severe Wilting?
Snake plants are hardy and may grow in a variety of environments, and apart from their useful benefits, they are excellent at recovering after being on the verge of death. If you follow these procedures, you might be able to resuscitate your snake plant and avoid getting it in bad conditions.
How to Rejuvenate Snake Plant
Verify Soil Ph
To determine the pH of your soil, use a soil pH tester; it is essential to check if your snake plant soil’s pH is too low or acidic.
Overwatering And Underwatering Issues
It can take several weeks for snake plants to rehydrate if dehydrated. Curled leaves typically indicate dehydration; if you allow it some time to absorb the water, it should recover.
Snake plants can thrive in your wonderful home with little water, It only has to be watered once every two to four weeks to meet their moisture requirements. 1 of the most common errors, yet one of the simplest to fix, is overwatering your snake plant.
We employ the soil moisture finger approach to avoid mushy and water-logged roots. It is a simple yet excellent method for identifying if your snake plant needs a top-up of water.
- Simply knuckle deep into the ground with your index finger.
- Check to see whether any moist dirt is stuck to your finger as you slowly draw it out.
- If your finger has soil on it, moisture is present.
- If your finger comes out clean, then water it.
Eliminate Infestation
You can quickly get rid of these pests from your snake plant by shaking your plant or wiping it with a towel dipped in alcohol. A highly efficient natural method of battling these insects is neem oil.
Shock Repotting
After repotting, treat your snake plant gently and avoid subjecting it to any abrupt changes that can heighten its shock at the transition. Make sure your snake plant gets adequate water and isn’t in direct sunlight by closely checking it.
To Solve The Fungus Issue
Carefully water your plants properly and remove any dead leaves and let the plant dry out more than usual to prevent root rot if it. Snake plants are tough and usually bounce back, but if the plant keeps dying, take it out of the pot, throw out any rotten leaves and roots and change the soil.
Temperature Fix
We advise bringing your potted plant inside the house to a warmer temperature during winter, at the very least, to shield them from the chilly weather.
The ideal temperature range for keeping snake plants is between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Avoid Using Excessive Or Little Lighting
Keep the plant out of the direct afternoon sun; additionally, be careful to keep it away from the heating vent; snake plants can endure low light, so it is best to maintain it somewhere where it can get indirect daylight.
Many gardeners adore snake plants, which are very common houseplants; the leaves will frequently become drooping and mushy from overwatering or the cold from the window. When you notice your snake plant leaves spreading, they are looking for light. At the same time, the foliage will frequently curl from being underwater.