Snake plants are one of the easiest houseplants to care for, but even this hardy houseplant has its limits. The plant tends to droop when it gets too much water—one of the common culprits for snake plant problems—resulting in yellowing leaves or a lifeless, droopy appearance.
To help you fix your droopy snake plant, we chatted with a plant expert who shares his advice for what issues make a snake plant droop and what to do to fix it. Read on for his tips for making your snake plant spritely and stately once more.
Meet the Expert
Petar Ivanov is a gardening and plant expert at Fantastic Gardeners, a UK-based company of experts helping people with house maintenance matters.
Overwatering
Snake plants are prone to drooping when overwatered. This is because as a succulent, a snake plant doesn’t require much water to survive. In fact, too much water will drown your snake plant.
Signs to Look Out for
The first sign to watch for is a general droopiness in your snake plant, but other signs include yellowing and soft or mushy leaves, Petar Ivanov, a gardening and plant expert at Fantastic Gardeners, says.
How to Treat Overwatering
The best way to avoid overwatering your snake plant is to water it very sparingly. These plants tend to thrive from neglect, Ivanov explains. When in doubt, look for signs to water your succulent like when the soil has dried out, just as you would with any desert plant.
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Root Rot
Too much water can lead to root rot, which in turn will lead to very droopy snake plant leaves and eventually the plant’s demise.
Signs to Look Out for
Aside from the droopy plant, check for a noticeable smell from the soil. As the roots get waterlogged, they start to rot and die—hence the odor.
How to Treat Root Rot
Remove the plant from its pot, inspect the roots, and trim away any that are soft or brown, Ivanov says. Then repot your plant in fresh, well-draining soil, and ensure the pot has drainage holes.
Outgrowing Its Pot
When your snake plant outgrows its pot, its roots can become tangled and compacted, restricting growth.
Signs to Look Out for
Some of the signs include leaves drooping. Ivanov suggests looking for roots that are starting to grow out of the drainage holes or pushing the plant upward in its pot.
How to Treat Outgrowing Its Pot
Luckily, this problem needs a simple fix.
“Repot your snake plant in a pot 1-2 inches larger than the original, loosening the root ball before placing it in new soil to encourage healthy root expansion,” Ivanov says.
Mealybug and Spider Mite Infestations
These common houseplant pests can cause stress to your snake plant and therefore result
in the plant’s droopy appearance.
Signs to Look Out for
For mealybugs, look for small, cotton-like clusters, and for spider mites, check for webbing on your plant’s leaves.
How to Treat Mealybug and Spider Mite Infestations
The treatment for both these pests is the same. Ivanov suggests isolating the plant, wiping down the leaves with a mild insecticidal soap or neem oil, and inspecting it regularly for any remaining pests.
Not Enough Water
While snake plants are drought-tolerant plants, they still need some moisture to stay upright—and alive.
Signs to Look for
To see if your snake plant needs more water, check for leaves that appear thin, wrinkled, or curled, with drooping as a secondary symptom.
How to Treat Not Enough Water
True, snake plants shouldn’t be watered very often. Still, when you do water them, water the plant thoroughly until the water drains out through the planter’s drainage hole, then allow the soil to dry between waterings, Ivanov says. You can also mist your plant lightly if the air is very dry.
Not Enough Light
Snake plants tolerate low light but prefer moderate to bright, indirect light, Ivanov says. Therefore, too little light can harm your plant, causing it to droop.
Signs to Look for
Signs include drooping, slowed growth, and fading leaf color.
How to Treat Not Enough Light
For this issue, the treatment includes moving the plant to a location with more light. However, avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves, Ivanov warns.
FAQ
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Depending on the issue, the easiest way to instantly perk up a drooping snake plant is to repot it or drain out the extra water.
“If overwatering is suspected, remove the plant from its pot, check for root rot, and repot with fresh, well-draining soil,” Ivanov says.
Alternatively, if underwatering is the issue, give the plant a thorough drink of water. Move the plant to a brighter spot to encourage a quicker revival if low light is the culprit, Ivanov explains.
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Water every two to six weeks, depending on the season and indoor conditions.
“Snake plants need less water in winter, while in warmer months, they can handle more frequent watering,” Ivanov says.
Because the snake plant is a desert plant, always allow the top inch or two of soil to dry completely out before watering again.
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Yes, if caught early. Remove the plant from its pot, trim off rotting roots, and allow the plant to dry out before repotting in fresh soil. Recovery can take time, but with proper care, it can bounce back, Ivanov says.
