The snake plant is a cactus-like and vigorous plant. This plant can live in arid, nutrient-poor, and water-poor conditions.
The reason is that it is a flowering plant, so its ability to store water is maximized when there is a drought or lack of water. Many people love to grow snake plants because it is easy to grow, require little care, and save money.
However, one of the common problems when growing snake plants is the browning of leaves. Why are the tips of my snake plant turning brown? What is the main cause of this phenomenon? How to remedy this situation? All your questions are in the article below.
Why Are The Tips Of My Snake Plant Turning Brown?
Before finding a way to fix the situation of leaves turning brown, we need to learn carefully about the cause of this condition to have the appropriate method.
There are many causes for the leaf tips of a snake plant to turn brown. Some of the main causes are related to watering, lighting, humidity, pests, and fertilizers.
Watering problem
Water is one of the three most important elements for plants. Water helps nourish cells, maintain moisture and promote photosynthesis in plants. As you know, the snake plant is a cactus-like plant, so it doesn’t like too much water.
Overwatering the snake plant will cause the root system to weaken and rot. The root system will transport a large amount of water to the leaves and stems, from which the leaves will soften and gradually rot. Brown leaf tips are an early warning sign of over-watering.
However, a lack of water will also cause the leaf tips of the snake plant to turn brown. The snake plant requires little water but it still needs a fixed amount of water to absorb and exchange. Too little water will cause the leaves to lack water, then they will wilt, dry, and turn brown.
Another cause related to watering problems is improper watering frequency. It means that you can water a large amount of water in one go but don’t water it again for a long time, or you can water a small amount but water several times a day. Improper watering will cause the leaves of the snake plant to suffer damage due to the damaged cell structure.
How to water properly?
- Water at least once in 2 weeks
- Check the humidity before watering using your finger or a hygrometer
- Do not over-water, causing excess water to stagnate on the ground
- Make sure there is a drainage hole
- Do not water according to a pre-programmed schedule, but water according to actual needs
- Let the soil dry completely than water slowly until the water overflows from the drain hole
Humidity is too low
Snake plants can live in harsh climates with varying humidity. However, if the humidity is too low, the air is too dry and the leaves will turn brown. It is also a warning sign of too low humidity, and lack of water in this plant.
The ideal humidity for snake plants is 40%, if the humidity is too low you can use a mist sprayer to provide temporary moisture. However, misting is not a good method of maintaining moisture, as it only works on the surface of the leaves.
You can use a humidifier to maintain the ideal humidity for the snake plant. A humidifier will work to maintain the ideal humidity as well as create a dry environment for the snake plant.
Too much direct sunlight
The snake plant is a plant that loves direct sunlight. It needs at least 6 to 8 hours a day to promote photosynthesis and plant growth. However, too much direct sunlight will cause the leaves to burn and dry out.
An early warning sign is the phenomenon of leaf tips turning brown because this is the young leaf and is easily affected by extreme weather. To avoid too much direct sunlight, you should choose a location with warm sunshine in the morning and shade in the afternoon.
The ideal location (One meter from the window) is reasonable because the snake plant can receive morning sunlight, but not the sunlight that causes the leaves to dry out and wilt. If the leaf tips of the snake plant turn brown after being exposed to full sun all day, you need to move it to another location or use a canopy in the afternoon.
In addition, watering and misting will also help this plant revive because sunlight dries the leaves and evaporates quickly. Water is the most important factor to revive snake plants when exposed to too much light.
Excessive fertilizing
Fertilizer is an indispensable and essential source of nutrients for plants. It provides essential minerals and nutrients for plant growth.
The snake plant is a vigorous plant that survives in nutrient-poor soil conditions. So it doesn’t need to fertilize too much to promote growth. Over-fertilizing will cause the root system to shock and the leaf tips to burn due to the excess nitrogen.
Excess nitrogen in the soil will prevent cellular respiration, harming the root and leaf systems of snake plants. You should fertilize no more than once a month to provide nutrients to the plant. The amount of fertilizer should follow the instructions on the package to avoid burning the leaf tips and turning brown.
Read more: Can I Use Succulent Soil For Snake Plant?
Destructive Pests
A top common cause is pests and insects. Some insects such as mealybugs and spiders can attack the leaves and inject poison into the leaf tips of the snake plant. They will suck up the plastic and cause brown spots to appear.
To kill pests and insects, you need to check the snake plant regularly for early detection. Using neem oil to spray the leaves will help kill insects and bugs.
In addition, you also need to regularly clean the leaves, removing white or brown plaque because they can be fungal spores or insect eggs. Do not water the leaves or water at night because low humidity will create conditions for fungi to grow and attack plants.
Read more: White Spots On Snake Plant – What Is Happening?
How To Fix Brown Tips On Snake Plant
Brown spots or browned leaf tips are dead parts and you don’t have any way to revive them. So many people question how to handle these brown leaves. Should brown leaf tips of snake plants be pruned?
Many people think that we should cut off the brown leaf tops and keep the lower leaves. However, this can do more harm than good. The top of the leaf that turns brown will never be able to regrow, so when you prune it will change the appearance of the pot.
In addition, the leaves of the snake plant are very sensitive, so when you prune the brown top you can cause more damage to it. From that cut, insects and vermin can attack if it is not handled cleanly.
For brown leaf tips caused by improper watering, low humidity, sunlight, or external influences, you do not need to prune them. Let them grow naturally and revive in time to come.
However, if the leaf tips are brown due to insects and pests then you need to prune those parts completely as it will spread the disease to the remaining leaves. Because pests and fungi are very contagious and destroy entire leaves in a short time if you are not attentive.
The Last Word
The leaf tops of snake plants turning brown can be caused by some problems related to over-watering or too little water, low humidity, too much direct sunlight, over-fertilizing, or pests.
To prevent this, you need to check the soil moisture before watering and make sure the pot has holes for transpiration. In addition, you need to check the humidity in the air and maintain the ideal humidity at 40%. Place the pot in a location with warm morning sun and afternoon shade to prevent leaf burn.
In addition, the application of fertilizers also needs to be followed by the dosage and period. In particular, regularly check the leaves and clean the leaves to avoid mold and insect eggs on the leaves.