The snake plant, or Sansevieria trifasciata, is native to Africa and Asia. It is popularly used in home decor since it adds aesthetic value while removing toxic pollutants from the air. Its graceful, sword-shaped leaves grow upright and resemble artificial foliage. However, the snake plant is also prone to discoloration and can turn yellow for various reasons.
Snake Plant Turning Yellow: What Are The Common Reasons?
Below are some common reasons that snake plants turn yellow:
1. Your snake plant is overexposed to sunlight
Snake plants are hardy succulents that are easy to cultivate. However, some plant owners tend to place the plants in areas with full sun or extreme sunlight. This can cause sunburn and yellow leaves for snake plants.
If kept indoors, placing them near the windows allows them to get more light than they need. They can be affected by the scorching sun and may turn yellow and brown, which could also make the plants very dry.
2. Your snake plant is overwatered or underwatered
Snake plants do not need much water to survive and tend to wither and die if overwatered. Similarly, if your plants are underwatered their leaves may also turn yellow. If you notice the leaves turning yellow, you need to evaluate your watering routine.
If you failed to water your snake plant for a couple of days because you were out of town, it may start to show signs of yellowing. When plants are underwatered, the root system cannot absorb water and nutrients from the soil. As a result, the plant dehydrates and the leaves turn to yellow.
You can fix this problem by watering the snake plant at least every two to six weeks. If they are overwatered, give them a rest for a few days before resuming the watering routine.
3. Your snake plant has root rot
Too much water can cause root rot and damage the overall functionality of the root system. It will eventually become damaged and start to decay. When root rot develops, snake plants cannot absorb enough of the nutrients that are important for their growth and wellbeing.
This can result in the leaves turning yellow, a fungus may develop in the roots, and the plant could eventually die.
4. Your plant is naturally aging
Snake plant leaves may also turn yellow simply due to the natural aging process of the plants. This means that the yellow leaves will be replaced by new, green-colored leaves.
5. Due to pest infestation
Stressed or weakened snake plants are more prone to insect infestations. Pests like spider mites and mealybugs drain your plants of moisture as they suck on their sap or juice. As a result, the leaves and fronds turn yellow and the plants may eventually die, especially if they have experienced other issues such as nutrient deficiency.
6. The plant is over-fertilized
Your concern for your plants could endanger them, especially if you over-fertilize the plants. You should also not fertilize the plants during wintertime, which is a dormant time for them. Plants should ideally be fertilized only during the growth period. You may opt to use the nitrogen-phosphorus and potassium fertilizers for your plant, with a ratio of 7:4:10.
7. The soil is old and depleted
The soil you use for your snake plants is essential as it can also affect the health and condition of plants. Using old and depleted soil allows the roots to stay wet for longer periods and could lead to root rot and yellowing leaves. Old soil loses draining capacity and becomes heavier over the years. You need to replace the soil of your plants every few years and feed them with a nutrient-rich fertilizer.
8. The pot is overcrowded
Snake plants that are planted too tightly together in one pot could also suffer from yellowing leaves. In this case, the nutrients and moisture will be insufficient for the plants and they need to be transplanted to a bigger planter. You may also opt to divide the plants into smaller clusters.
Conclusion
If you notice your snake plant turning yellow, act on the problem at once to save your plant. Certain reasons that it could turn yellow include over- or underwatering, pest infestation and nutrient deficiency. It could also be due to old and depleted soil, overcrowded pots, or overfertilization.
Image: istockphoto.com / skymoon13