snake plant brown tips
Is your snake plant looking a little worse for wear or does your snake plants have brown tips or spots?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. A lot of people have this problem. But don’t fret, we’ve got the solutions for you.
We want to help you get your snake plant back to its former glory. With just a few simple steps, your plant will be looking better than ever in no time at all!
All the brown tips and spots on your snake plant will disappear.
Follow our guide on how to deal with snake plant brown tips and see the results for yourself!
What is a snake plant?
A snake plant, also known as a mother-in-law’s tongue, is a popular houseplant that is relatively easy to care for.
Snake plants are native to Africa and Asia and have long, thin leaves that are often variegated with green and white stripes.
Snake plants can grow quite tall, up to 6 feet (1.8 m), and are often used as floor plants or in large pots.
Why are my snake plant’s leaves turning brown?
There are a few reasons why your snake plant’s leaves may be turning brown. One possibility is that the plant is not getting enough water.
If the soil is too dry, the leaves will start to turn brown and wilt.
Another possibility is that the plant is getting too much direct sunlight. If the leaves are exposed to too much sun, they will start to turn brown and dry out.
Finally, it is also possible that your plant is not getting enough nutrients. If the leaves are turning yellow or brown and falling off, this may be a sign that the plant is not getting enough nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium.
Read further to learn about possible reasons for snake plant brown tips and solutions to fix this problem.
How to Identify the brown tips on a snake plant?
To fix the snake plant brown tips, the first step is to identify what type of browning is your snake plant experiencing. There are three types of browning that can occur on a snake plant:
- Tip burn: Tip burn is when the tips of the leaves turn brown and dry out
- Marginal burn: Marginal burn is when the edges of the leaves turn brown.
- Brown spots on the leaves
While tip burn and marginal burn are due to the same reasons in most cases, brown spots on leaves are causes and treated differently.
Snake plant has brown tips (causes and fixes)
Snake plants are a hardy plant and are good for beginners. However, they come with their own set of problems.
The most common problem is brown tips, which can be caused by lack of water, too much sun, or lack of nutrients.
Let’s look at how you can deal with snake plant brown tips:
Direct Sunlight:
If your plant is getting too much direct sunlight, the leaves will start to burn and eventually brown and dry out.
The best way to fix this problem is to move the plant to a location where it will get indirect or filtered light.
Now, tell me, did you move your plant from shade or indirect sunlight to direct sunlight sometime in the last few days or weeks?
See, if you are moving your snake plant to a new location, make sure to do it gradually over the course of a few weeks so that the plant can get used to the new light conditions.
If you move it too quickly, the leaves may burn from the sudden change in light.
Solution to burn due to direct sunlight:
- Move the plant to a location where it will get indirect or filtered light.
- Prune the damaged leaves and water your plant.
Overfertilization of the Snake plant :
If you think your plant is getting too much fertilizer, the best thing to do is to flush the soil with water and stop fertilising any further.
To flush the soil, simply water your plant until the water runs out of the bottom of the pot. This will help to wash away any excess fertilizer that may be in the soil.
Snake plant should only be fertilised during the growing season , which is typically from spring to summer. If you fertilise during the winter, it may cause the plant to go into dormancy.
Remember that snake plants needs a dilute solution of 10:10:10 or a 20:20:20 fertilizer
Solution to brown tips caused by over-fertilization:
- Flush the soil with water to remove any excess fertilizer.
- Stop fertilising until the growing season begins again in spring.
- Use the right fertiliser
- You can also consider repotting
Pests: Spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids
These pests can cause the leaves of your plant to turn brown and eventually die.
If you think your plant has pests, the best thing to do is to quarantine the plant and treat it with an insecticide.
A few causes that your plant was infected by pests:
- It was kept with another plant that was infected
- You bought an infected plant
- The infestation came from outside
- You overwatered the snake plant which invites pests and diseases
Solution to brown tips caused by pests:
- Quarantine the plant
- Treat it with an insecticide. Be sure to follow the instructions on the insecticide label strictly.
- Go organic and use neem oil with water to treat the pest
Note: Use insecticide and organic solution for at least 14 days. This is to ensure you kill all the pests and the eggs laid.
Underwatering:
If your plant is not getting enough water, the leaves will start to wilt and eventually turn brown and dry out.
While snake plant is a succulent and can survive for long periods of time without water, it still needs to be watered on a regular basis.
Water your plant when the soil is dry to the touch and be sure to empty any water that collects in the saucer under the pot.
Solution to brown tips caused by underwatering:
- Water your plant when the soil is dry to the touch.
- Be sure to empty any water that collects in the saucer under the pot.
- Ensure that the water does not have excess of chlorine. If it does, boil the tap water to dissolve chlorine, let is sit and once its normal temperature, water the plant
Stress caused by the cold weather
If your plant is stressed by the cold weather, the leaves will start to turn brown and die. The best way to deal with this problem is to move the plant to a warmer location.
Solution to brown tips caused by stress caused by the Cold weather:
- Move the plant to a warmer location.
- Ensure humidity levels of 40-50%. Use a humidifier if need be.
Overwatering:
Overwatering your snake plant can cause brown spots on it leaves. if you’re experiencing it, the best thing to do is to let the soil dry out completely before watering again.
Remember that snake plants need well-drained soil and should never be allowed to sit in water. You will see the leaves drooping and snake plants tips turning yellow if they’re overwatered.
Solution to brown spots on snake plants caused by overwatering:
- Let the soil dry out completely before watering again.
- Make sure the plant is in well-drained soil.
- Water your plant less frequently.
- Check drainage holes are working properly
- Create a watering regime
If required, repot the plant and ensure there is no root rot.
Other causes for snake plant’s brown tips:
Over-Chlorinated Water:
If you’re using tap water to water your plants, it’s possible that the high levels of chlorine in the water are causing the brown tips.
The best way to solve this problem is to boil the water and let it cool before watering your plant. This will allow the chlorine to dissipate.
You can also use distilled water to water your plants.
Solution to snake plant brown tips caused by over-chlorinated water:
- Boil the water, cool it down and then water the plant
- Use distilled water to water your plant.
Low humidity:
Snake plants prefer high humidity levels, so if the air in your home is dry, it’s possible that the low humidity is causing the brown tips.
You can increase the humidity around your plant by misting it regularly or using a humidifier.
Solution to snake plant brown tips caused by low humidity:
- Increase the humidity around your plant by misting it regularly or using a humidifier.
Feel For Drafts:
Another possible reason for your plant’s brown tips is drafts. If the air around your plant is too dry or too cold, it can cause the tips to turn brown.
For example, if you kept the plant near a radiator, heating duct or a warm window, the soil can dry out quickly.
To solve this problem, you can move your plant to a different location in your home or office.
Solution to brown tips caused by drafts:
- Move your plant to a different location.
- Keep the plant away from heat sources.
- Monitor the temperature and humidity levels around your plant.
Scarring:
If you see brown tips on the leaves of your snake plant, it’s possible that the plant was damaged physically.
It could also happen if the pot was knocked over, leaves were torn by pets or children , or the plant was hit by something.
Solution to brown tips caused by scarring:
- There is no solution for this problem. The only thing you can do is to cut off the damaged leaves and wait for the plant to grow new ones.
What to do to make sure Your snake plant is healthy?
A few best tips to make sure your snake plant is healthy:
- Give your snake plant bright, indirect light.
- Water your snake plant when the topsoil is dry to the touch.
- Allow the water to drain completely and never leave your snake plant sitting in water.
- Be sure to empty any water that collects in the saucer under the pot.
- Never expose your snake plant to direct sunlight as this will cause the leaves to scorch.
- Fertilize your snake plant once a month during the spring and summer months with a balanced fertilizer diluted by half. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how often to fertilize. During the fall and winter months, you can reduce the fertilizer to once every two months.
- Pruning is not necessary but if you want to, you can remove any yellow or brown leaves as well as any that are damaged. Be sure to use sharp, clean shears and make a clean cut at the base of the leaf.
With proper care, your snake plant will be healthy and thrive for many years. By following the tips above, you can avoid any problems that might arise and keep your plant looking its best.
FAQS – snake plant brown tips
Should I cut brown tips off snake plant?
If the brown tips are caused by scarring, there is no solution. The only thing you can do is to cut off the damaged leaves and wait for the plant to grow new ones.
If the brown tips are caused by over-chlorinated water, low humidity, or drafts, you can try some of the solutions listed above.
What does it mean when snake plant leaves turn brown?
There are a few possible reasons why your snake plant leaves might turn brown. It could be due to overwatering, underwatering, pests, diseases, over fertilisation, over-chlorinated water, low humidity, drafts, or scarring.
To determine the cause, you can try some of the solutions listed above.
Why are the tips of my snake plant browning?
The most common reasons for browning tips are due to overwatering, underwatering, or low humidity.
If you see brown tips on the leaves of your snake plant, it’s also possible that the plant was damaged physically. It could also happen if the pot was knocked over, leaves were torn by pets or children , or the plant was hit by something.
To solve the problem, you can try some of the solutions listed above.
How fast do snake plant grows?
Snake plants tend to grow slowly, especially if kept indoors or in partial shade. However, if they are grown in full sunlight, the growth of the snake plant is much faster. Learn more about growth of snake plant here.
What does a snake plant look like when overwatered?
When a snake plant is overwatered, the leaves will start to yellow and then brown. The leaves will also become mushy and soft. If you think your plant is overwatered, you can try some of the solutions listed above.
How do you dry out an overwatered snake plant?
The best way to dry out an overwatered snake plant is to let the plant sit in a sunny location until the soil is dry to the touch. You can then resume watering as normal.
If the plant is too wet, you can also try repotting it in dry soil. Be sure to let the plant dry out completely before repotting.
Can overwatering kill a snake plant?
Yes, overwatering can kill a snake plant. When the roots of a plant are constantly wet, they will start to rot. This will eventually kill the plant. If you think your plant is overwatered, you can try some of the solutions listed above.
Why are my snake plant tips turning yellow?
Some of the other reasons for snake plants turning yellow include –
- Extreme sun exposure
- Extended low temperature
- Fungal disease
- Insect attack
- Nutrient imbalance
- Unsuitable soil pH
- Compact soil
- Learn more about it here!
How do you know when your snake plant needs water?
One of the best ways to know when your snake plant needs water is to check the soil. The topsoil should be dry to the touch before you water the plant. You can also look at the leaves of the plant. If they are starting to yellow or brown, it’s a good indication that the plant needs water.
Another way to tell if your plant needs water is to lift the pot. If it feels light, it means the plant needs water.
How often should I water my snake plant?
In general, you should water your snake plant once every one to two weeks. During the spring and summer months, you can water the plant more frequently if necessary. During the fall and winter months, you can reduce the fertilizer to once every two months.
Pruning is not necessary but if you want to, you can remove any yellow or brown leaves as well as any that are damaged. Be sure to use sharp, clean shears and make a clean cut at the base of the leaf.
Are snake plants indoor or outdoor plants?
The snake plant is a versatile plant that can grow well both indoors and outdoors, provided it has the right conditions to thrive.
When should I repot my snake plant?
You should repot your snake plant every two to three years. Be sure to use a pot that is slightly larger than the previous one. You can also add fresh potting soil to the new pot.
Is snake plants toxic to dogs?
Yes, snake plants are mildly toxic to dogs. Check out this post how to prevent your dog from chewing on snake plant.
How do I propagate my snake plant?
You can read more about snake plant propagation here.
Final thoughts on snake plant brown tips
It’s important to correctly identify the cause of your snake plant leaves turning brown so you can take appropriate action.
If it is due to overwatering, underwatering, pests, diseases, or over fertilisation, then taking corrective measures should help restore your plant’s health.
In any case, you can revive the plant with a little extra care.
Have you been able to determine the cause of your snake plant leaves turning brown?