The snake plant is a beautiful flowering houseplant that many people love to have in their homes. It has long, slender leaves and comes in a variety of colors. It can be planted outdoors during the summer months, but for the most part, it will stay indoors as an attractive decoration. However, if your snake plant starts to wither or die you may want to check its roots for root rot! Luckily there are ways you can prevent root rotting from happening by implementing these tips.
What is Root Rot?
Root rot is the process of bacteria infecting a plant’s roots. You might see it start with wilted leaves and then more signs will appear as time goes on. The most common sign of root rot is yellowish-brown discoloration at or near the base of your snake plant’s stem. It may also have dark spots underneath its leaves.
What Possible Causes Root Rot in A Snake Plant?
If your snake plant’s roots have been sitting in water that is too cold for a prolonged period of time, it could lead to root rot. You’ll also see the same thing happen if you overwater them – particularly during winter months when soil moisture and air humidity are both low. If there is not enough drainage at the bottom of your pot, the water may not be able to evaporate.
Overwatering your
Overwatering your snake plant is also a common cause of root rot because it will make the soil moist and cold. This can lead to bacteria growing in your roots, which then leads to rotting! Additionally, overwatering might result from not changing potting soil often enough or using poor-quality potting soil that has too much peat moss (which holds water close to the roots) or not enough perlite (which helps soil hold more air).
Inadequate drainage
Inadequate drainage can also cause root rot. If the soil is too wet, it won’t drain properly and water will accumulate at or near the roots of your snake plant. This could lead to bacteria invading its roots, which then causes them to wither and die! You might see signs of this if you notice discoloration around the bottom of your pot or on the surface near its roots.
Size of the pot
The size of the pot can also affect your snake plant. When a potted plant’s roots are too crowded, they will compete for nutrients which weakens them and makes it more susceptible to infection from bacteria or fungi.
Type of potting soil
The type of potting soil you’re using can also lead to root rot. If the soil is too wet, it will not drain properly and this could cause problems for your snake plant’s roots. Some people use a mix of different soils because they believe that one makes better drainage than another – but they often don’t realize how much mixing changes the soil’s properties. This can lead to root rot if the plant is grown in a pot with a lot of peat moss that doesn’t have enough perlite mixed in, for example.
Air circulation around the plant
Air circulation around your snake plant is also crucial for preventing root rot. Plants need oxygen to grow healthy and strong, but if they don’t get enough of it, their roots will start to die off! If you notice a tangle of leaves at its base or brown spots on its leaves, this could be because there’s not enough air circulating around your snake plant.
The Tools Could Be Contaminated
The tools you are using to look at and/or touch your snake plant may have bacteria or fungi on them which can then be transferred to the root zone. You should always wash your hands with soap before handling any plants!
Propagation Issues
There are also certain propagation issues that can lead to root rot. One example is if a plant has been brought outside for the summer and then put back inside, it might not have enough time to adjust which could make its roots more susceptible to bacteria or fungi. Also not changing the water after propagating a plant can contribute to root rot.
Solution: If your snake plants have been sitting in water for too long or if they are overwatered, the roots may be rotting and need some help! You should give them air circulation by rotating their pot every few days (or at least once per week) so that new parts of the roots will get air. You also want to make sure they have good drainage so that the soil can drain properly and doesn’t stay too wet for too long.
Overfertilization
Overfertilizing your snake plant is another common cause of root rot. This can happen when you use a fertilizer that has too low levels of nitrogen and/or phosphorus or if you’re using an organic fertilizer with high salt content, for example.
What Kinds of Root Rot Symptoms Might I See?
Root rot symptoms are often easy to identify since they start as wilted leaves and then more signs will appear as time goes on. The most common sign of root rot is yellowish-brown discoloration at or near the base of your snake plant’s stem, and it might also have dark spots underneath its leaves.
Leaves Appearance
If you notice the leaves of your snake plant have curling brown spots or yellowing edges, then this could be a sign that it has root rot. You should make sure to give your plants plenty of air because they need oxygen for healthy growth.
You also want to avoid overwatering and make sure the soil drains properly so it doesn’t stay wet for too long. If you notice any wilted leaves or brown spots on your snake plant, this could be a sign of root rot and you should take action by giving more air to the roots and making sure they are draining well.
Foul smell from the soil
A foul smell coming from your plant’s soil could also be a sign of root rot. This is because the bacteria or fungi that are causing the problem will often produce spores and those can have an unpleasant odor as they decay.
Yellow or brown leaves
If you notice yellowing or brown leaves on your snake plant, this could be a sign of root rot. It might also have curling brown spots underneath its leaves which is another symptom of the problem.
Leaves that turn black and fall off
When roots are rotting, they will often produce ethylene gas which can cause leaf tips to turn brown. If you notice this happening, it might be a sign of root rot and your snake plant needs help!
Droopy or wilted leaves
A drooping or wilted leaf could be a symptom of root rot as well. If you notice this, it might be because the roots are drying out and losing water due to poor drainage or overwatering.
Soil Appearance
If you see that the soil around your snake plant is dark or black, this could also be a sign of root rot. This is because bacteria and fungi are decomposing in the water which then soils the top layer of soil. This could be happening if:
-There’s not enough air circulating around your snake plant!
-The tools you are using to water your plant could be contributing to the problem
You want to make sure you’re using a fertilizer that doesn’t have too low of nitrogen or phosphorus levels If you fertilize with organic, use one with high salt content. You can also skip fertilizing for a while and then start again when the weather cools off.
Exposure To Extreme Temperatures
A snake plant can handle a wide range of temperatures, but it is important to make sure that when you bring your snake plant inside or outside during the change in seasons they are not exposed to extreme heat. Make sure there is plenty of air circulation around them and be aware if any leaves start turning yellow or brown quickly!
Mealybugs
These tiny insects can be found on the roots of your snake plant. If they are not removed, they will feed off and damage the root system which can lead to rot! The easiest way to get rid of these pests is by using a cotton swab dipped in alcohol or rubbing alcohol. Simply rub it all over the mealybugs until they’re gone.
Spider Mites
Spider mites can be a problem because they will feed on the root hairs and can also lead to rot! They are difficult to spot but you may want to check for them if your plant is shriveling up or not growing as well. The best way to get rid of spider mites is by using an insecticide directly on the plant’s soil.
Red Leaf Spot
If you see red leaf spots on your snake plant, this is a sign that it’s dying. This usually happens when plants are left in colder temperatures and there is not enough water to support their growth. You can try adding more fertilizer or moving the plant into warmer conditions – but if these do not work then the best thing to do would be to cut the plant back and start over.
– I highly recommend that you move your snake Plant to a place where it will get plenty of air circulation – this is important!
– Another thing you can do if there’s an odor coming from the soil is mix in some charcoal into the soil or potting mix which should help mask any unpleasant smells.
– You might also want to try applying a fungicide – but make sure you follow the instructions carefully and wear gloves!
How to Treat Root Rot in Snake Plants
The best way to treat root rot is by giving it enough drainage and watering as needed. You can do this by adding perlite, peat moss, sand or gravel around the edge of your snake plant’s pot so that water has somewhere to go.
If your snake plant has been overwatered, you should allow its soil to dry out for a few days before re-watering it again with tepid water and in the right proportions (you’ll want about half as much water). You may also need to repot or move your snake plant if there is not enough drainage in its pot.
How Can You Prevent Root Rot?
One of the most important things you can do is water your snake plant correctly. It’s best to only use tepid, room-temperature water that is either filtered or boiled and then allowed to cool. You should also use soil that is sterile and free from molds, fungi, or other harmful organisms.
It’s important to remember not to let the plant sit in water for too long because this can lead to root rot! When watering plants you want to make sure you’re not giving them more than they need at any given time. You also want to make sure it’s being watered enough so that the soil is wet and not soggy.
If you notice your snake plant has wilted leaves, yellowish-brown discoloration at or near its base of stem, dark spots underneath the leaves, or a withering appearance, then it may have root rot! You can prevent this by following the steps mentioned above.
Neem Oil
A natural way to deter pests is with neem oil! This can be applied directly on the leaves of plants and will keep them from attacking other nearby plants. If you have a mealybug infestation, then neem oil should help get rid of these bugs by smearing it all around your plant’s base so that they cannot attach themselves.
Conclusion
It’s important to remember not to let the plant sit in water for too long because this can lead to root rot! When watering plants you want to make sure you’re not giving them more than they need at any given time. You also want to make sure it’s being watered enough so that the soil is wet and not soggy.
If you notice your snake plant has wilted leaves, yellowish-brown discoloration at or near its base of stem, dark spots underneath the leaves, or a withering appearance, then it may have root rot! You can prevent this by following the steps mentioned above.