Determining the root cause is the first step in solving the issue of your snake plant’s curled leaves. Knowing the cause of the issue and looking for acute symptoms of plant stress can enable you to know how to solve it.
Why do the leaves of snake plants curl? An insect infestation is the most likely reason the snake plant’s leaves curl. Curled leaves can also be caused by overwatering, cold stress, and fungus infections. It’s not difficult to identify which of these problems is the root of snake plant leaves curling, but it’s crucial if you want to resolve the issue and restore your plant to health.
Discover the causes of your snake plant’s twisted leaves and how to quickly and efficiently address each issue by reading on.
What Causes Snake Plants To Curl?
Insects, fungi, cold damage, and insufficient watering are the four main reasons for curling leaves. One of the most reasons for plant leaves curling is thrips, a widespread insect that significantly affects snake plants.
Due to insects and pests, snake plant leaves are curling.
Thrips
A thrip infestation is the most frequent problem that plagues snake plants. They prefer to eat the entire plant, including the leaves, buds, and stems. Thrips feed by breaking through the plant’s cell wall and causing harm. The leaves of your snake plant may curl due to this injury.
You can recognize thrips by how they feed. Thrips will appear as small black spots on the leaves and buds of a snake plant. Try to spot these black patches if you suspect you have thrips. If necessary, you can use a magnifying glass to ensure the bug is indeed a trip.
How Do I Know If Thrip Is Present?
Shaking your plant’s leaves over a piece of white paper will help you recognize thrips. You might have a trip outbreak if you notice little black bugs. You can begin to address the issue once you’ve located this bug. Remove all affected leaves from your snake plant to treat the thrips infection. Using a sharp kitchen knife, remove the dead and withering leaves to complete this.
Keep the curled leaves if they appear to be relatively healthy otherwise. After removing the dead leaves, you should dispose of them far from any other plant life. After that, clean the leaves of your snake plant with a wet cotton ball or cloth. To completely rid the plant of bugs, clean both sides of every leaf.
Spider mites and Mealybugs
Mealybug and spider mite infections are also familiar with snake plants. These insects will consume the snake plant’s sap through the stem. The plant will weaken due to the tiny wounds these bugs leave behind and become unable to hold enough water in its leaves. You will notice leaves breaking off at later stages of infection.
You can detect spider mites by shaking a white piece of paper under a plant. You’ll be able to detect the source of the tension in your snake plant if you spot small, rotund red and black mites.
How Do I Get Rid Of Spidermites?
Wiping the bottom of the leaves using room-temperature water is a quick and efficient way to get rid of spider mites. This eliminates spider mites’ preferred hiding place. You can carefully handle the entire plant and use a damp sponge. You can even sprinkle the plant with a hose outside if you want a quicker fix. Several sprays may be necessary to completely eradicate an infestation on a plant.
The widespread ailment of mealybugs stresses snake plants as well. These are distinguishable by their flat, squishy bodies covered with wax. They have an oval form and the segmented bodies that grubs have. Mealybugs can be recognized in more severe infestations by their white, cotton-like eggs.
How To Remove Mealybugs?
If mealybugs are the source of your problem, you might try to remove them manually. For a small, localized infestation, this is a good treatment option. If you have a bigger problem, you can use an outside water feature to loosen the mealybugs’ grip on the plant.
If a chemical treatment is necessary for your mealybug or spider mite infestation, insecticidal soap is a commonly accessible solution. By getting inside the bugs and disrupting the balance of electrolytes, insecticides help the plant recover. Mealybugs and spider mites will not be attracted to the plant.
Does Fungus Cause Snake Plants To Curl?
The leaves of the snake plant may curl as a result of fungus issues. The snake plant frequently experiences the southern diseases blight and red leaf spot.
In addition to curled leaves, search for indicators of plant stress to identify this as the problem. The red leaf spot can frequently cause leaves to have crimson lesions or a white growth that resembles a web. Due to this fungus infestation, the curled leaves eventually become dark brown and stiffen.
How To Kill Fungus In Snake Plant?
Make sure to use suitable watering methods to eliminate a fungus issue. The problem can be reduced by preserving a setting in which the leaves are dry and by offering well-drained soil at the right temperature.
Make sure to discard the plant far from nearby plant life if the fungal problem is too severe, and you must, in that case. Try transplanting or repotting the plant if it has a severe fungal infestation, but you still want to keep it. While getting rid of the plant’s worst-infected parts, you can save a little piece of it.
What To Know About Repotting Snake Plant?
The size of the pot and the soil’s characteristics should be considered while repotting a snake plant. Repotted snake plants should be placed at the same depth as their original pots. The root ball should be one to two inches underneath the pot rim for effective water absorption.
After repotting the snake plant, adjust the soil levels so that the root ball is at the correct depth. The soil should drain effectively and supply the snake plant with enough nutrients. Think about using fertilizer-rich soil to provide the plant with the most pleasing environment possible.
Can I Preserve Snake Plant After Infection?
Through propagation, you can still preserve a portion of the snake plant even if you believe fungus to be the root of your issue and desire to get rid of your sick plant. Because they quickly establish roots, snake plants are simple to propagate.
Select a leaf that is free of fungus first. Before putting the leaf in another pot, wipe it off to avoid cross-contamination. After cleaning, slice a leaf into three inches and plant it in wet soil. Until you notice growth, the soil needs to be consistently moist.
Your snake plant might be growing better than ever after propagation. This plant’s leaves ensure that it will flourish in various situations and may need to be thinned in the most livable ones.
Can Watering Affect Snake Plant?
Overwatering is a common problem for snake plants, resulting in curled leaves. The snake plant’s roots may become water-logged if they are overwatered. Roots that have become wet might rot and harm the plant. Consider your watering schedule and the soil’s composition when pinpointing this problem.
More frequent watering will likely result in water-logged roots, and curling leaves on your snake plant. You may be triggering the same problem if your soil is heavy in clay. Make sure you water your plants consistently to prevent snake plant leaves from curling due to water stress. Snake plants only require water when the potting soil is almost parched.
What To Do To Prepare The Soil?
Your snake plant may experience additional stress as a result of irregular watering. Another effective treatment is to alter the soil. Ensure that your soil is composed of sandy, well-drained dirt. Making a suitable home for snake plants can be accomplished with a cactus mix.
Cold Damage Causing Snake Plant Leaves To Curl
Curled snake plant leaves can be a result of cold damage. The leaves of your snake plant may suffer damage that results in scarring, wilting, and curling if you keep it outside in cold weather.
For snake plants, a temperature range of 50 to 85 °F is ideal. The wide temperature range is simple to deliver the proper temperature. Only be cautious of low temperatures for plants kept outdoors for part or all of the year.
You might also find my other writing about snake plants interesting.
Ultimate Snake Plant Care Advice
A solid care routine that considers the plant’s diverse habitat requirements is one of the most excellent strategies to prevent your snake plant’s leaves from curling.
Plant stress is brought on by applying insecticides to plants and repotting them to avoid cross-contamination. Additional problems with indoor plants are frequently caused by plant stress. You’ll produce the most robust, resilient snake plant if following the ideal conditions described below.
- The dazzling, oblique sunlight
- Sandy soil that drains well
- When the potting medium is dry, add water
- Moist environment
Will My Snake Plant Survive Wilting?
Snake plants are hardy and may grow in a variety of environments. Expert gardeners claim that they are excellent at recovering after being on the verge of death. Give it your best effort to save the plant if it is ailing if you have a snake plant. You’ll probably be able to resurrect it.