It is important to understand the common causes of snake plant leaf yellowing. why is snake plant turning yellow?
Occasionally you may notice the leaves of snake plant turning yellow. snake plants they have attractive upright leaves in a variety of colors and variations.
They are very easy to grow, tolerate most mild conditions, and thrive under neglect. Don’t be alarmed! Killing snake plants is not easy.
You just have to find the problem. below I’m sharing nine reasons why snake plant leaves are turning yellow and how to fix them.
What is Snake Plant?
Tropical Plants Native to parts of Africa, snake plants are botanically known as Dracaena trifasciata. For years, they were classified as Sansevieria trifasciata, but this has changed recently.
When shopping for this popular houseplant, most gardeners ask for the snake plant, or call it by its other common name, mother-in-law’s tongue.
These succulents have stiff erect leaves that are snake plant turning yellow variegated with horizontal stripes or bands of gold, light green or gray. depending on the type,
The edges of the leaves may be light green or even golden. there are many species and varieties of snake plant with some growing compactly and others reaching 6 feet or more in height.
Most snake plants have characteristic flat pointed leaves, but some have unique cylindrical shaped leaves.
I have over a dozen snake plants in my collection and have found all of them to be carefree indoor plants.
Reasons for Yellowing Snake Plant Leaves
As mentioned above, snake plants have a good reputation for their ease of cultivation and resilience, but from time to time you may notice,
Your snake plant turning yellow and snake plant’s leaves turning yellow. below I explore some reasons for this and offer tips on how to resolve the issue.
Overwatering
If you notice your snake plant leaves turning yellow, the first question is ‘how often am I watering?’
Snake plants are very drought tolerant and overwatering can cause root rot, yellowing of the leaves and eventually kill the plant.
This is not a plant that requires a watering schedule. snake plant turning yellow I keep my snake plants on the dry side, watering only when the top inch of soil dries out.
Provide water if your finger is obstructed in the growing medium to measure moisture levels.
Poor drainage may also contribute snake plant turning yellow to overwatering. be sure to grow snake plants in containers with drainage holes.
This allows excess water to be drained from the growing medium and collected in a saucer or tray.
As a growing medium, I always use a succulent potting mix for the snake plant. this is a mixture of very well-draining soil and materials such as coir, peat moss, perlite or coarse sand.
Under Water
I just talked about how too much water can cause snake plant leaves to turn yellow, but too little water can also.
They’re drought tolerant plants, but they need soil moisture. Leaves shrivel, turn yellow and fall off if submerged in water.
Again, it is best to maintain very lightly moist soil by drying the top inch of the growing media before the next watering.
Too Much Light
Another cause of yellow leaves is excessive light. A full day of direct bright sunlight can change snake plant turning yellow and leaves from green to yellow to white.
A location with bright, indirect sunlight is considered the best growing medium for snake plants to prevent leaf scorch, or scorch,
Avoid strong midday light or windows with more than five hours of sun per day. You know that too much direct sunlight is responsible for yellowing of the leaves if the plant is near a window.
Snake plant turning yellow and another symptom of too much light is dry, wrinkled leaves.
To solve this problem, place the snake plants in a window with only indirect light or in a window that gets a few hours of sunlight at the beginning or end of the days.
If you’re taking your houseplants outside for the summer, give them a spot that’s shaded from direct sun.
Too Little Light
Snake plants are often houseplants that are tucked away in dark corners of the house. And while they can grow in most conditions, too little light affects the health of the plant.
Plants need light for photosynthesis, and when they don’t get enough light, their growth slows down, such as new leaf production.
You’ll also notice that the appearance of the leaves can change in low light. snake plant turning yellow and Variegated leaves may be green or varietals may become more muted.
The leaves also turn pale, often with a yellowish tint. So if you notice that your snake plant’s leaves are turning yellow and it’s sitting in a spot with little or no light,
It’s time to move it to a brighter location. If that’s not possible, you can add a grow light above the leaves. but the light level should be increased gradually.
Avoid taking the snake plant in low light and place it near a bright window. I recommend introducing the plant to increased light levels for several weeks.
This allows the leaves to adapt to higher levels of light without scorching or burning.
Strange Leaves
One of the reasons I love snake plants so much is that the leaves of most varieties have eye catching variations and markings.
They range in color from light to deep green, as well as cream to golden. If you’re not familiar with snake plants in different colors,
Snake plant turning yellow of You might think that yellowing leaves are a sign of problems like too little light or overwatering.
In this case it’s best to check with a gardener friend or share a photo on your favorite online garden forum.
It is good to be sure and since there are many types and varieties of snake plant, you will find a wide range of colors and combinations.
And as mentioned above, the color of snake plant leaves can change even after they settle in your house.
Snake Plant Turning Yellow New Leaves
New leaves that emerge as snake plants grow can look quite different from existing mature leaves. Often young leaves are pale yellow or light green.
This is a normal growth and not a cause for concern. As the leaves mature, they will develop the true leaf color and variety.
Outdated Pages
Houseplants are living, growing organisms, and their leaves do not last forever. this is a normal part of their life cycle where the oldest leaves turn yellow to brown and then drop.
If the leaves showing discoloration are the oldest, there is no problem in fixing. snake plant turning yellow below I offer tips on when and how to prune snake plant leaves that are turning yellow.
Fertilization
Unlike garden plants, houseplants depend on us for a steady supply of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium.
A lack of nutrients can show up as pale or yellow leaves. Snake plants don’t require high fertility, but they do need to be fed occasionally.
The best time to fertilize a snake plants is when it is actively growing early spring to mid summer. Do not fertilize in the fall and winter when the plant is semi-dormant.
I fertilize the snake plants every two months during the growing season, using an organic all-purpose liquid fertilizer.
Mix it in a watering can and apply it to the growing media. be sure to read the label and properly dilute the fertilizer product to avoid overfeeding the plant.
An Insect Infestation
In my experience, snake plants are rarely bothered by pests, but occasionally you may see aphids, spider mites, or other insects on the leaves or through the growth.
They can come into your home when you buy new plants or bring back houseplants in late summer. other common houseplant pests include mealybugs and thrips.
snake plant turning yellow of One cause of leaf discoloration can be serious insect infestation.
Symptoms of pest problems include leaf yellowing, webbing, small pinprick spots on the leaves and honeydew, a sticky substance produced by insects such as aphids.
When I find a pest on a house plant, I immediately move it to a room where there are no other plants to prevent it from spreading. after that, identify the pests.
This helps you determine how to resolve the issue.
For pests like aphids, I take the plant outside and use a spray bottle or a jet of water from my hose to knock the pests off the plant.
To combat mealybugs, I soak a cotton ball with isopropyl rubbing alcohol and wipe the bugs off the leaves.
An insecticidal soap is effective for spider mites, as well as aphids and other insects. You may need to spray every 4 to 5 days until the pests no longer appear.
Should You Remove Leaves From Yellow Snake Plant?
Yellowing leaves on a snake plant can look alarming, but the damage is sometimes reversed.
For example, if low light has caused pale color or variegation loss, moving the plant to a location with more sun may turn the leaves green.
However, if the leaves turn bright yellow or brown, it is better to remove them. use a sharp, clean garden snip or hand pruner to cut off the leaves below the plant.
Other Ways to Prevent Snake Plant Leaf Yellowing
I’ve got a few more tips for preventing yellowing snake plant leaves. Repot every 3 to 4 years Occasionally snake plants will need to be repotted in a larger pot.
If grown in the same size container for many years, the plant becomes root bound and this can stress the plant, resulting in yellowing leaves.
To check if root space is exhausted, slip the plants out of its pot. If there is little visible soil and the roots are tightly curled, it’s time to move to a larger container.
Find out more about when and how to restore a snake plant. Avoid sites with temperature fluctuations protect your snake plants from temperature extremes.
These plants do better than average temperatures. placing a snake plant near a door that is frequently opened in cold weather can startle this tropical plant.
A drafty window should also be avoided because temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit can damage the leaves and cause the snake plant turning yellow and leaves to turn yellow.
Avoid heat sources It is also important to avoid placing snake plants near heat sources such as heat pumps, fireplaces, or radiators. they can grow mixed or dry leaves.
Reference:
https://www.thespruce.com/snake-plant-leaves-turning-yellow-7372878