The snake plant would be a serious candidate for the title of the hardest houseplant. Snake plants can endure low light, dehydration, and insects. However, even the most resistant plants can contract illnesses that hurt their growth and attractiveness.
Brown spots are among the leaf diseases that affect snake plants most frequently. Brown patches on snake plants are often caused by fungi, bugs, and inadequate watering. Extreme sunlight exposure, cold, and fertilizer overuse can worsen this issue. Apply a fungicide with a copper base and a natural or synthetic pesticide to eliminate the insects.
This post will discuss ways to prevent diseases from spreading to your snake plant and why brown patches appear on the plant.
What Factors Cause Brown Spots On Snake Plants?
Many things can cause brown spots to appear on your snake plant. Poor treatment is the root cause of improper irrigation or fungus problems.
Yeast Infections
Snake plants can develop reddish-brown lesions on their leaves due to fungi like southern blight and red leaf spots. Brown areas that are soft and squishy will develop and start to secrete a sticky brown liquid.
Another infection that results in brown, wet spots on plant leaves is rust, while bacterial leaf spots are another.
In more detail, let’s examine the three fungi that could be the source of your snake plant’s browning leaves.
A Red Leaf Spot
A red leaf spot is to blame if your snake plant develops crimson or brownish-red blotches. High humidity levels and warm temperatures encourage the formation and spread of this disease. Snake plants with the Southern Blight fungus infestation are displaying brown patches.
The fungus Sclerotium rolfsii is what causes this soil-borne illness. This fungus thrives best in humid, warm environments. So, issues with drainage or overwatering can promote this illness. As the snake plant assaults the root system, it will start to turn yellow and brown. You risk losing your snake plant if you don’t take action.
Rust
Snake plants may not be susceptible to this, but it can still result in rust-like brown blotches on the leaves. Rust is caused by fungi of the Heterobasidiomycetes subclass infecting living plant tissues, especially leaves. Rust fungi migrate from one plant to another after absorbing the sap since they do not feed on decaying organic substances.
Snake plant rust frequently starts on the leaves first and can destroy the entire plant if it is not properly treated.
What Best Ways to Avoid Fungal Issues?
Inspect any new snake plants you bring home for fungus infections and make sure they have enough ventilation around them.
Here are some examples of fungus infection treatments:
Dealing with Southern Blight
By employing fungicides and heat treatment (solarization) to fight southern blight, it is feasible to stop your leaves from rotting.
When the leaves are wet, a fungus or bacteria that Sansevieria is sensitive to spreads. When watering the soil, avoid getting any water on the leaves.
Treatment for Red Leaf Spot
As a remedy, you can trim the affected leaves to stop the reddish-brown stains from appearing elsewhere.
I removed every place on my snake plant with a fungal ailment called a red leaf spot to prevent it from spreading. Since then, I haven’t experienced any issues.
As a prophylactic strategy, fungicides with copper and sulfur characteristics can be sprayed.
Rust Removal
Like red leaf spots, rusts can be treated by removing the affected component. To stop the rust from spreading further, you should also eliminate any diseased leaves still on the ground and restrict your contact with water.
Treatment for Bacterial Leaf Spot
This disease manifests as water-soaked spots that eventually turn brown and is brought on by Pseudomonas spp. or Xanthomonas spp. There is no recommended pharmacological therapy for this illness. The greatest remedy has been mechanical therapy or removing the affected area.
Because the illness can be transferred by splashes of water and damp air, it is best to use caution when watering contaminated clothing.
Infestation of pests
Mealybug and spider mite infestations can affect snake plants. These pests eat the sap from the leaves, which causes stress and the development of brown patches.
How to Avoid a Pest Problem?
Always examining the leaves for signs of an infestation is the best method to stay pest-free. It is better to dispose of the plant if it is already severely afflicted to prevent the chance of contaminating nearby plants.
Washing them off and utilizing natural or chemical pest management are some of the most popular techniques to get rid of pests in snake plants.
You may already have some natural pest control techniques at home, such as the ones listed below:
Aqua Soap
Aphids and spider mites can be dried with this dish soap and water solution. Spray the affected plant with the mixture, which is made by combining 4 cups of water and 5 tablespoons of dish soap.
Spray for Neem
Composed from the seeds of neem trees indigenous to India, this natural pesticide and fungicide are safe to use. Mites, scale, aphids, and other small insects can all be eliminated.
This article discusses How to Get Rid of Bugs on Your Snake Plant (With Pictures) in further detail and offers some helpful advice for preventing pest infestation.
Alcohol Mist
This remedy works well in keeping insects away from indoor plants. To make this solution, combine one or two cups of isopropyl alcohol with a third of the water.
Unreliable Watering
Brown dots are manifesting on an indoor potted snake plant. Snake plant leaves get dark tips or patches due to inconsistent hydration. Both overwatering and underwatering are included. You may know that one of the problems with caring for snake plants is overwatering. Plant degradation and rotten roots may result from it.
Additionally, because of its well-known water-saving qualities, which are practically identical to cactus, underwatering is an equally typical issue for this type of plant. Snake plants can become severely dehydrated and exhibit signs like browned foliage when submerged. article contains all the info you need if you accidentally submerged your snake plant.
How to Address Problems with Variable Watering?
Keeping a routine and checking to see whether your snake plant needs watering or has any other problems is one of the simplest methods to water it properly. Avoid watering the leaves is important to only water your snake plant’s soil.
The leaves could become infected with fungus if water is spilled on them. Brown stains on snake plants are primarily caused by a fungus infestation. If you don’t know the amount of water your snake plant requires. Then look over these comprehensive instructions on watering your snake plant frequently.
How To Address Unfiltered Water Problems?
The most popular solution is to filter the water using any standard water filtration equipment you may have. Additionally, you can soak the water you’ll need to water your plant in the sun for a day before utilizing it. You may be aware that sunshine is a highly powerful chlorine sanitizer. Because chlorine can be broken down by sunlight in two hours by 90%.
Too much sunlight
Snake plants can survive even in the absence of excessive sunlight. It’s also one of the greatest selections for indoor plants because of this. The leaves of your snake plant will have brown blotches or a sunburned appearance if it receives too much sunshine. Consider how well-adjusted your snake plant is in a space with indirect lighting. You’ve suddenly decided to move it into direct sunlight without acclimating it.
Your snake plant, in this instance, takes extra energy that it cannot handle. Brown spots symptoms and eventual tissue damage to the leaves result.
How To Address Issues With Too Much Sunlight?
A gradual adjustment of the light and heat settings will help your snake plant adjust if it is not acclimated to a specific level of light exposure. Therefore, keep your snake plant out of the sun’s direct rays. Without any problems, it survives well in indirect sunshine. The best technique to guarantee a flourishing snake plant free of brown spots is to determine the ideal lighting conditions for your particular plant.
How to Address Fertilizer Overuse Problems?
In the summer and spring, fertilize your snake plant. During the planting season, a potted snake plant only requires a modest amount of fertilizer. Be careful not to overdo it. Apply a small amount of worm compost to the soil in your snake plant pot.
Shake ‘N Feed is another simple-to-use fertilizer for snake plants. You can fertilize all of your indoor plants. Fertilizing throughout the winter can be detrimental when snake plants are dormant. Always read the packing directions for precise measurements before applying fertilizer. You can flush it out by pouring a lot of water through it if you accidentally apply a little too much fertilizer.
Conclusion
As you can see, the majority of reasons why snake plants get brown patches are closely related to how well these plants are taken care of.
Your favorite snake plant will quickly flourish with the proper attention and care. They are the easiest indoor plants to care for, after all. Do you concur?