The snake plant is one of the most popular houseplants in the United States. It is characterized by stiff, sword-shaped leaves that can reach up to eight feet in height.
Often referred to as the “unkillable plant”, the snake plant can tolerate extreme living conditions that most plants cannot. This low maintenance plant thrives even with very little attention, and can also be propagated quite easily.
That said, it is not completely immune to certain problems, one of the most common being mushy leaves. The possible causes of mushy snake plant leaves include too much water, poor drainage, and high humidity.
In this article, we will discuss each of these causes and how to solve them. So, if you have a similar problem with your own snake plant and wish to learn more, just keep reading.
Why are my snake plant’s leaves mushy?
Too much water
Overwatering is the primary cause of mushy leaves on a snake plant.
These are drought-tolerant plants that thrive in hot, dry climates, and their thick, fleshy leaves store plenty of water for use during dry spells.
Overwatering can come about as a result of watering the plant too often, giving it too much water each time it is watered, using a potting mix or pot that is poorly-draining, or not adjusting your watering habits to changes in the weather or the season.
An overwatered snake plant’s soil is always waterlogged and does not get a chance to dry out completely between waterings. As the water in the soil has nowhere to go, the plant will keep absorbing it until its cells burst from the overload. This weakens the structural integrity of the leaves, which is why they become mushy.
If your snake plant’s leaves are mushy, it is a good idea to inspect it for possible root rot.
Root rot is a serious consequence of continuous overwatering, caused by prolonged exposure of the roots to waterlogged soil. Because they never get a chance to dry out, they are unable to absorb oxygen and will drown.
The dead roots become susceptible to opportunistic pathogens that make the rot more aggressive, spreading it faster to the rest of the plant. If root rot goes untreated, it can kill the plant.
Because root rot occurs beneath the soil’s surface, early detection is almost impossible unless you are familiar with the symptoms. Most people do not know there is a problem until the leaves and stems begin to show signs of infection, such as black spots and an unpleasant smell.
Remedy
If you think you are overwatering your snake plant, stop watering it immediately and make sure it is getting plenty of light so the soil dries out quickly. If the soil dries out and the plant seems to be recovering well, you might have caught the problem before it became serious.
If, however, you suspect root rot, remove the plant from its pot and brush or wash away the excess soil to reveal the roots for inspection. Look for root sections that are brown, black, mushy, soft, and smelly – these are rotten.
Prune off the rotten roots using a sterile pair of scissors until only healthy, white roots remain. Then, air-dry the roots by laying the plant on a flat surface for a few hours.
When the roots are dry, you can repot the plant in a clean pot with fresh, well-draining soil. If you have removed all the infected roots and if sufficient healthy roots remained, the plant should recover within a few weeks.
Avoid overwatering in the future by only watering your snake plant when the top two inches of soil are dry to the touch. If the soil is still damp, wait a couple of days before checking again.
Poor drainage
Poorly-draining soil and/or a pot without drainage holes can also cause mushy leaves on a snake plant.
Succulents like the snake plant grow in loose, airy soil in their natural habitats. If they are grown in dense soil that holds onto moisture for longer, they will present with similar symptoms to those of overwatering.
If you use a well-draining succulent soil mix but the pot does not have drainage holes, the excess water will nevertheless be trapped and the soil will still be waterlogged.
This has the same effect as overwatering – the roots will sit in consistently soggy soil, the plant’s leaves will become mushy, and there is a risk of root rot.
Remedy
If you think that your snake plant’s mushy leaves are due to poor drainage, repot it in order to replace the poorly-draining soil or pot.
Gently remove the plant from its old pot and wash off the soil from the roots. Inspect the roots for rotten sections, prune those off, then place the plant on a flat surface to let it air-dry for a few hours before repotting.
The snake plant’s new pot must have sufficient drainage holes to decrease the chances of overwatering and root rot.
When the roots are dry, fill the new pot with well-draining succulent soil and place the plant in the middle of the pot. Fill the pot with more soil until all of the roots are covered.
You do not have to water the plant immediately after repotting because fresh soil still has some moisture. Waiting at least a week before watering gives the roots time to recover from the trauma of pruning and repotting.
High humidity
When your snake plant is constantly exposed to high humidity, its leaves could become mushy.
Snake plants are native to dry climates where the humidity is low, so growing them in areas with a higher air moisture content will affect them negatively.
Keeping your plant in the kitchen or the bathroom, for example, will be detrimental because these are the most humid rooms in a house.
Remedy
If your snake plant’s leaves are mushy due to high humidity, try to determine why its surroundings are so humid.
If you are keeping it in the bathroom or kitchen, move it to a different room like the living room or the patio.
If you have a humidifier or any type of misting device in the same room as the snake plant, move either the humidifier or the plant to a different room.
Some areas are consistently humid all year. If you live in a humid climate, your snake plant is not built to thrive in these conditions. If you really want to grow one of these plants despite the humid climate, keep a dehumidifier in the same room to remove some of the moisture in the air.
How to water your snake plant properly
Proper watering starts with checking the moisture of the soil in the pot before watering the plant.
Because snake plants are native to dry climates, they do not need to be watered too often. They can store water in their leaves that they can live on for several weeks.
Wait until the top two inches of soil are completely dry before watering your plant. You can check this by inserting your finger two inches deep into the soil to feel whether the soil has dried or is still damp.
Good watering habits also include adjusting the volume and frequency depending on the weather, season and climate.
Conclusion
The snake plant is a popular, low maintenance houseplant that has distinct, sword-shaped leaves. It is easy to grow and care for, and is hardy enough to tolerate extreme conditions.
Although these plants are not particularly prone to problems, there are some conditions that can cause their leaves to become mushy. The most common reasons for this are too much water, poor drainage, and high humidity.
The sooner the exact cause of the problem is identified, the sooner you can take the necessary measures to save your plant and return it to full health.
Image: istockphoto.com / Bilal photos