Why is my snake plant turning yellow?

Wondering why is my snake plant turning yellow? Let’s diagnose this common snake plant care problem and get your snake plant healthy again!

Snake plants (sansevieria) are super popular houseplants. These plants have a unique shape and beautiful leaves that can grow several feet upward.

Read my Snake plant care guide!

They are super easy to keep happy and advertised often as “unkillable”.

So, if your snake plant isn’t doing well, you might be a little puzzled.

A snake plant was one of my first plants – it had a tag on it that said IRON PLANT HARD TO KILL – and I killed it within the month.

Even easy plants can have problems and need some troubleshooting.

So, today we are going to chat about yellowing leaves on a snake plant and what to do about them!

Why is my snake plant turning yellow?

Here are a few common reasons that you might get snake plant yellowing leaves.

• Overwatering
• Low humidity
• Inconsistant watering
• Insufficient light
• Root bound plant
• Bacterial Leaf Spot
• Pests
• Old age

Overwatering

Overwatering is the #1 cause of yellowing leaves on most indoor house plants. In general, plants don’t like to sit in excess water. Pooling water can lead to root rot which will kill your plant.

Keep in mind that snake plants really don’t need much water. They can go quite a while between waterings.

If you suspect overwatering, stick your finger about 2 inches into the soil. Does it feel wet? Don’t water again until it dries out.

If your plant is way over watered, take it out of the pot. Dump out any excess water and wet soil and re-pot with fresh potting mix.

Be sure that your pot has drainage holes to prevent excess water from pooling in the future.

Low humidity

I find this to be MUCH less frequent than over watering, but low humidity can cause leaf drop. Usually the leaves will get brown, crispy spots on them (often on the tips). Then, the leaves might turn yellow.

These symptoms indicate that the plant is drying out. If it’s being watered well, misting the leaves can help to improve humidity in the air.

Inconsistant watering

In my experience, snake plants are NOT very picky. However, some claim that they like to be on a watering schedule.

Going from bone dry to soaking wet at random intervals could stress out your plant and lead to yellowing leaves.

If in doubt, establish a regular watering schedule and try to stick to it.

Insufficient light

Snake plants don’t need hardly any light – they do fine far away from windows. However, they still need SOME light.

If your plant isn’t getting enough light, the leaves will start to turn yellow and drop. This will especially happen to older leaves towards the base of the plant.

The cure to this is to move your plant into brighter light. It will be much happier.

Root Bound Plant

It is possible that your plant has become root bound. Basically, the roots are too big for the pot.

Pull it out of the pot and see! If it’s been there a while – this is a real possibility.

If the roots are tightly packed or even poking out the drainage hole – time for a bigger pot. Add fresh potting soil while you are at it for a happier plant!

Bacterial Leaf Spot

Soft, brown, mushy spots on a leaf are called Bacterial Leaf Spots. This come from water sitting on the leaves and rotting them.

Remove all effected leaves and avoid getting the leaves wet when you water it!

Over Fertilization

Snake plants don’t need to be fertilized to thrive. If you fertilize them a lot of too often, they can get yellow and mushy.

Pests

Spider mites, scale, and mealy bugs can get on the underside of leaves and suck the nutrients out of your plant.

If you suspect pests, isolate your plant to help prevent it from spreading to other plants.

Old age

As plants get older, it is natural for some of the older leaves to yellow and fall off, making room for new growth. Keeping a leaf green takes energy, and some plants decide to allocate that energy to new plants.

If this is the case, you will have yellowing of older leaves – near the base of the plant – only, and not new growth.

FAQs about yellowing snake plant leaves

What do you do when snake plant leaves turn yellow?

When your snake plant’s leaves start turning yellow, that is a warning sign that it is likely in distress. If a lot of leaves turn yellow and drop, it’s a lot of stress. Time to take action! Diagnose the problem from the list above and do your best to treat it.

Can Yellow snake plant leaves turn green again?

No, yellow or dead leaves will not turn into healthy leaves again. Once they lose their chloroform, the plant abandons them and moves on. #ruthless

Should I remove yellow leaves from snake plants?

Removing yellowing leaves is a personal preference. I tend to tug on them lightly and if they pop off easily, I pop them off.

You can read my complete guide to removing dead leaves here!

What does an overwatered snake plant look like?

Overwatered plants get limp, yellow leaves that drop and fall off. They can also get mushy brown or black spots on the leaves.

My snake plants usually have the leaves flop over before they turn yellow. Take it as a warning sign and peel back on the watering!

Do snake plants leaves turn yellow in fall?

No, these plant leaves don’t change seasonally like a maple tree. If your plant’s leaves are yellowing, it indicates a problem. Maybe the cool weather is getting it if it is outdoors.

Why are my snake plant leaves turning yellow and brown

If your snake plant leaves are turning yellow and crispy brown, that indicates it needs more water or humidity. If it is mushy brown and yellow, that indicated overwatering and potentially root rot.

Snake plant yellowing tips indicate that the problem is just beginning and you have time to fix it. Let the plant dry out and don’t water again until the soil is dry!

Why are my snake plant leaves turning brown?

Brown crispy plant leaves indicate not enough water, low humidity, or too much direct sunlight. If your plant has been in direct sunlight, it could be sunburnt as well.

Why are my snake plant leaves turning yellow with black spots?

If your plant leaves are yellow with black spots, it is severely overwatered. Pull it out of the pot, dump any excess, add new dry potting soil, and repot them in a pot with drainage holes. Only water your plant when the soil feels dry to the touch.

Why is my snake plant leaves turning yellow after repotting?

Yellowish snake plant leaves can indicate stress or shock. Repotting a plant can cause stress. Be sure it has plenty of drainage, is not over or under watered, and is getting enough light.

Any more questions about yellowing snake plant leaves?!

Thanks for reading!

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