why is my snake plant turning brown ? The snake plant turning brown can have different reasons. The most common cause of snake plant leaves turning brown is not receiving proper light, too little or too much watering of snake plant, excessive and unprincipled fertilization, the infestation of pests and fungal diseases, plant frostbite and very low humidity in the place where snake plant is grown. We examine every one of the things mentioned in this article from the thehplants website so that your plant will not suffer from such problems again. In addition to stating the cause of the problem, we will also examine the treatment method, so stay with us until the end of the article; we recommend you read the article about snake plant care as well.
Receiving direct and intense light, the cause of the snake plant brown tips
Too much sunlight is one of the most common reasons the snake plants brown tips. The mentioned plant will perform best in conditions where the light is soft and indirect (the snake plant is considered one of the indoor plants with low light). If you want to move the plant to the open space or balcony, it is better to do this at the beginning of spring. So that the plant gets used to the place and direct light over time. If you want to move the plant to the open space in the hot seasons and when the light intensity is high, choose a place in the shade at noon (11:00-15:00).
If your plant is too close to the house’s windows and the sunlight is not filtered by transparent curtains to revive the snake plant, it is better to increase the distance of the plant pot from the window at night and filter the sunlight through the window curtain the next day. For those who grow the plant in the greenhouse, the snake plant will have its highest growth and qualitative efficiency in 18,000 to 25,000 lux light. As the amount of light increases, you should increase the amount of moisture and irrigate the plant. I suggest you read the snake plants light article.
Improper watering is the cause of the snake plant leaves turning brown
Both too much watering and too little watering are causes of the snake plant brown tips. So that if the plant is watered a lot, the empty spaces in the pot’s soil will be filled with moisture, and the roots of the plant will not be successful in absorbing nutrients and moisture, and eventually, it will cause the roots to rot. On the other hand, if the amount of irrigation in the snake plant is low, the available moisture does not reach the tips of the plant leaves because the tips of the leaves in the snake plant are the last point where water and nutrients enter. We have discussed the wrinkling of snake plants leaves in a separate article, which I suggest you read.
The best way to water the snake plant is, the available water moistens all parts of the pot’s soil well (from top to bottom and sides) and as soon as the excess water comes out of the bottom of the pot, immediately stop watering the snake plant. (The water exiting from the bottom of the pot will take about 30 to 40 seconds if the soil texture is suitable). Discard the drained water.
Also, before watering, ensure that 1/3 of the soil is dry. The best time to water the snake plant is when the pot’s soil is dry in its lowest layers (close to the pot’s drainage holes) and is free of any moisture.
In general, the snake plant can store water due to its type of leaves, like zz plants. As a result, you only need to water your plant occasionally. If you want more information about snake plant irrigation, read the article water snake plants.
Apart from burning plant leaves, the yellowing of snake plants leaves and the withering of snake plant are other damages caused by improper watering of your beloved plant. Therefore, it is suggested that you pay attention to the time and method of watering your beloved plant.
Excessive and unprincipled fertilizing is another cause of snake plant turning brown’ edge
The snake plant is one of the plants that does not need many chemical fertilizers. It will be sufficient and appropriate for this plant to be fed with complete and balanced fertilizers once a month in the hot seasons of the year, i.e., spring and summer, and once every three months in the cold seasons of the year (autumn and winter). When fertilizing the snake plant leaves is too frequent, or the dosage is not usual, the soil environment becomes toxic, and its PH changes, which is precisely why you, dear reader, will see the color of the leaves of your beloved plant change. If you are sure that the cause of the burn on your snake plant leaf’s edge is excessive fertilization, to revive the snake plant leaves, it is recommended to wash the pot’s soil three times for 5 minutes with lukewarm water to reduce the amount of harmful and excess salts in the pot’s soil. (If you don’t want to wash the pot’s soil, you can replace it).
The disease that causes the snake plant brown tips
Pests of houseplants attach to the beautiful leaves of the snake plant and feed on the sap inside the leaves and damage them.
If you see irregular holes and yellow and brown spots on the leaves of your plant that are not submerged in water, consider that the reason for the burn of your snake plants leaves is due to an infestation of pests.
To revive the snake plant and free it from pests, it is suggested to wipe the infected spots (such as honeydew) from the leaves of your plant with a clean and damp cloth, and then, if you see insects, destroy them with the relevant poisons.
In addition to pest infestation, another cause of snake plant leaf brown may be the infestation of fungal diseases.
One of the signs that the fungus has invaded your snake plant is the appearance of yellow and brown spots on the plant’s leaves. Unlike the spots produced by pests, these spots are immersed in water and are often surrounded by a yellow halo.
Fungal diseases attack the plant when you have dusted the snake plant or not watered it very carefully. Therefore, it is suggested to revive the snake plant; if you spray it, make sure to create gentle ventilation around it half an hour after spraying it. And on the other hand, irrigate the snake plant only at the time and in the manner mentioned at the beginning of this article.
Does the cold cause the snake plant leaves turning brown?
The snake plant is native to tropical and dry regions, and it will perform best when the temperature ranges from 59 to 86 °F. When the temperature of the place where the snake plant is kept is less than 59°F, the plant collects its leaves a little to protect itself, and over time, if the snake plant is not revived, you will see the color of the leaves of your plant change.
The ambient temperature of the house is often suitable for the cultivation of the snake plant unless the plant is exposed to cooling systems (summer season) and house openings (doors that are constantly opened and closed) in the winter season. Therefore, to prevent the burning of the snake plant leaves, it is always recommended to have a small thermometer next to the pot to prevent such bitter incidents.
Does low humidity cause the snake plant turning brown?
The humidity of the home environment is suitable for the snake plant in the summer season, but with the arrival of the winter season and the use of heating systems, the air inside the house becomes extremely dry, and its humidity decreases (that is, it becomes less than 40%, which is the tolerance threshold of the snake plant). And this factor can also cause the tip of the snake plant leaves turning brown.
Of course, increasing the temperature of the storage place and also receiving a lot of light will reduce the humidity of the environment and the place where the plant is kept, so you should provide the required humidity of the plant by using methods such as making an island, spraying and using a cold misting device. Be sure to read the snake plant humidity article.
What is the cause of the snake plant leaves turning brown?
Burns on the leaves can have several causes, too much spray on the leaves of the plant causes browns when the environment around the plant is hot. And another reason is a fungal disease; when a plant is infected with a fungal disease, this brown occurs. Sometimes the plant may be exposed to direct sunlight, and a brown occurs.
The yellowing and burning of the snake plant leaves’ tips are caused by water and high humidity. Due to the depth of your snake plant pot, when you water the plant, there is still moisture at the bottom of the pot, which can cause the tips of the snake plant leaves turning brown. It is better to reduce watering. Cut the tips of burnt leaves with scissors. Do not pour water on the leaves, either. If two weeks have passed since changing the pot, you can move the pot to a brighter place. Pay attention to the fact that the storage place must have good ventilation. Please keep in touch with us and let us know if the yellowing of the leaves continues after observing all these things.
Summarizing the reasons for snake plant leaves turning brown
According to what was said, to prevent the burning of the snake plant brown tips, it is recommended to always have a container of water next to the plant pot in the cold season to increase the humidity of the surrounding environment by water evaporation. Or if you want to increase the humidity of the environment by spraying snake plant, it is recommended, as mentioned, to provide gentle ventilation for your beloved plant after spraying snake plant.
If you have any experience regarding the maintenance and snake plant leaves turning brown, be sure to share them with us and other readers of the site in the comment section.