Snake plants are some of the most resilient types of plants currently out there which makes them excellent for beginners to grow and care for.
Although they are tough plants, this doesn’t mean they are exempt from dying just like any other plant can.
Unfortunately if the right care isn’t provided, your Sansevieria, snake plant or mother-in-laws-tongue can run into issues than can eventually lead to the death of the plant.
If you’re wondering how to provide the best care in general then you can check out my comprehensive guide on Snake plant care.
Other than that, here are some of the main causes for a Snake plant dying and what you can do about it.
Causes for a Snake plant dying
If you’re wondering why is my Snake plant dying? There isn’t just one point of failure that can cause this, in fact there are several ways this can happen and it’s usually from improper care or just not monitoring the needs of your Snake plant often enough.
Overwatering
Snake plants are drought tolerant plants by nature and thus are super prone to issues when they become overwatered. I’d argue to say that overwatering is the main cause for a dying Snake plant as this causes multiple issues of it’s own and eventually renders the plant useless if gone on long enough.
By having constant standing water, this starves the roots of oxygen which makes them unable to transfer the water and nutrient’s to the plant overall.
This can also lead to a buildup of fungi which can wreck havoc on plants.
In both cases, overwatering can and will eventually lead to root rot which is the one of the main killers of not only Snake plants, but plants in general.
Some signs you may have been overwatering include the following.
- Standing water in the soil
- Drooping leaves
- Yellow leaves
- Brown tips
- Pests are showing up
- Mushy leaves
- Stunted growth
- Foul odor (root rot)
Solution
If you suspect your Snake plant is dying from being overwatered, you will need to cut back on the watering and only water the soil when it’s near completely dry.
You can usually tell it needs water when the top inch or two of the soil is fully dry which is when you should fully soak the plant.
If the soil is moist to the touch then hold of until it’s dry.
For more in depth information on watering, check out my article on how to water a Snake plant.
Now if you’re dealing with root rot then you will need to prune away any affected parts of the plant including unhealthy roots before repotting your Snake plant in fresh soil and a new container.
Cold temperatures
Although Snake plants are tough houseplants, they are actually pretty sensitive to the cold and cannot grow in temperatures lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, at least not for very long.
Ideally you will be growing your Snake plant somewhere between 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit for it to truly thrive.
Otherwise if your Sansevieria gets too cold it will start to slow it’s growth quickly and enter dormancy before it eventually dies.
Some signs your Snake plant may be too cold and dying in the process can include the following.
- Stunted growth
- No growth or has become dormant
- Brown or black spots
- Loss of it’s natural color or looking pale
Solution
If your Snake plant is suffering from cold temperatures outdoors then it’s time to bring it inside for the time being as soon as possible.
It’s unlikely that the temps would be too low indoors, but if your Snake plant is growing near air vents that get constant cool drafts, this can also negatively affect the plant in a similar manner.
In any case, you simply need to find a location indoors that stays in a warm and constant temperature range so it can recover and begin growing again.
Give it some warmth!
I’m not yelling (maybe a little).
If you’re interested in knowing more about Snake plant temperature ranges, I have an article on Snake plant temperature tolerance that you can have a look at.
Poor drainage
Even if you feel like you’re not watering your Snake plant too much and that may be true, if the soil doesn’t drain well then you might as well be overwatering as the end result is still the same.
Lack of good drainage is another common way to cause a dying Snake plant since the water stays in the soil and starves the roots of oxygen.
Not only do Snake plants require less watering than most plants, but they also require great drainage to go along side it and by not providing adequate drainage, you are just asking for problems to occur.
You should also be using drainage holes for the best drainage possible.
Solution
Snake plants require a soil mix that is in the ph range between 5.5 and 7.5 which means slightly acidic for the most part, but it can be close to neutral as well.
If your soil isn’t draining well then it’s time to either switch to a different soil entirely or add in some materials for added drainage help such as perlite or pebbles below the soil so the water has someplace to go.
For soil you can use a mix of succulent and cactus soil since it’s made to drain super well and then you can add the perlite as needed.
If you’re wondering if Snake plants need drainage holes, I have an article on why you should over here.
In any case you have to have great drainage at any cost, otherwise your Snake plant will range from unhappy to dying if not provided.
Root rot
One of the worst things that can happen to plants is root rot which is most often caused by overwatering or the poor drainage.
Root rot can actually kill your Snake plant in as fast as a week if no action is taken to save the plant and is annoying to deal with in general.
This is why you will often hear it’s better to underwater a Snake plant than it is to overwater them and this is very true, especially when it comes to solving Snake plant problems as underwatering issues are just must easier to fix than a rotted plant.
Some signs your Snake plant is dying from root rot include the following.
- Dark mushy leaves
- Leaves are going limp or falling over
- There is a bad odor coming from the plant (rotted roots)
- Your Snake plant isn’t growing
- The soil is soggy or isn’t draining
Solution
If you suspect you have root rot, then you will need to act quickly to save your plant before it becomes too late and it becomes unrecoverable.
Some steps needed to save it goes as follows.
- Prune badly damaged leaves
- Prune dark mushy roots away and keep any healthy firm ones
- Repot in fresh soil with a new container
- Ensure drainage is optimized for prevention
For more on the topic of root rot in Snake plants, check out my article on Snake plant root rot and how to save it.
Also if you want to know how to properly do a repot, I have an article on how to repot a Snake plant that’s worth checking out as well.
Can you save a dying Snake plant?
In the vast majority of cases a dying Snake plant can be saved as long as you remove the root cause of why it’s dying and then make an effort to prevent the cause from occurring again.
In most cases it will be a simple fix such as going easy on the watering or making sure the temperature gets back in order.
In the case of root rot though, you need to act fast or before it’s too late as it’s not always garenteed that the plant can be saved.
If your Snake plant ever becomes so unhealthy that you don’t think it can be saved, then you can always propagate a Snake plant with any healthy leaves that remain and grow a whole new plant as a last resort.