Wondering how to treat your Snake plant fungus?
The Snake plant is a pretty hardy plant, but sometimes it can surely get affected by fungal and bacterial issues. If you don't tackle these issues early on, the plant can easily succumb to them.
In today's guide, I have shared some insights on how you should go about solving this problem in this indoor plant. So, let's begin!
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What Is Snake Plant Fungus?
The Snake plant is easy to grow, but moisture and warm temperatures invite fungus to stress the plant out.
The plant is also susceptible to root rot and various fungal problems.
Overwatering can cause the roots to rot and a build-up of salts in the soil.
In the following section, I have talked about these issues in more detail. So, here are the different types of fungus on the Snake plant -
1. Red Leaf Spot
The name 'Red leaf spot' clearly indicates this fungal issue makes red spots on the leaves of the Snake plant.
The red or reddish-brown spots first seem small on some leaves but expand to other plant parts and increase in size.
You may not notice these spots at the start of the problem, but they spread quickly and make large liquid lesions on the Snake plant leaves.
As you can see in the above photo, these spots spread rapidly to other plants. So, you need to be proactive in treating this issue in your Snake plant.
2. Southern Blight
Southern blight is one of the most common fungus issues on Snake plants that can kill your plant within a few days.
This fungus mainly starts from the soil and affects the roots and leaves.
Afterward, leaves turn yellow and brown over the next few days.
If you do not take action, leaves get softened, and your Snake plant could die within 7 to 10 days.
3. Rust
Rust is a less common fungal problem in Snake plants, but it is not possible to predict whether it will attack your plant or not.
So, it is better to keep rust in your notes that can also attack your Snake plant.
It appears as white spots or white raised areas under the leaves. You can also find signs of rust near the Snake plant stem.
These white spots turn orange-brown and then black if the problem continues.
How To Identify Snake Plant Fungus
Identifying Snake plant fungus could be tricky, but these guidelines will help to confirm your plant is in danger.
Here's how to do it -
- Closely examine your Snake plant and check leaves from the upper and underside. If there are some unusual patches or spots, mark them as Snake plant fungus.
- Secondly, observe the color of plant leaves. Typically, Snake plant leaves are long with pointed edges, and you can also see the light yellow pattern. But if they don't look like this and have black or brown spots, you should be ready for Snake plant fungus treatment.
- Check plant stem and roots as some Snake plant fungus issues like Southern Blight affect these parts.
Now, let's see how you can treat this issue.
5 Solutions For Snake Plant Fungus Treatment
Once you have identified the Snake plant fungus, don't allow it to kill and spread to other plants.
Immediately reconsider your watering schedule as the first measure to treat Snake plants, and then follow this treatment plan to save the Snake plant.
1. Cut Affected Leaves
Cutting affected Snake plant leaves is the best solution for fungal problems, especially when they have just started. It is necessary because the spots or patches may spread across your plant.
New and fresh plant leaves will grow after removing older leaves, making Snake plants fresh and green.
2. Give Neem Oil Treatment
Neem oil is an effective treatment against fungal issues, and you can definitely use it on your Snake plant too.
Be sure to use neem oil during the morning or evening hours because if you apply it during the middle of the day, the combination of neem oil with sunlight can burn the leaves.
You can follow the given steps to use neem oil on Snake plants -
- Take a one-liter can and mix 1 ½ teaspoons of neem oil concentrate with one teaspoon of mild liquid soap. Fill the can with water and mix well.
- Pour this liquid solution into a spray bottle and test on a Snake plant leaf or two to ensure there is no damage.
- Now spray the liquid from the top and bottom of the leaves. Also, use it in hidden plant leaves to avoid chances of fungal problems in the future.
- Keep the plant out of direct sunlight until the leaves are dry.
3. Natural Snake Plant Fungus Treatment
Before going into details about some chemicals, you must opt for natural methods that are no risk to plant in either way.
The natural methods for Snake plant fungus treatment are -
- Mix a gallon of water with 1 teaspoon of Apple cider vinegar and spray it on the affected plant. The treatment is safe and does not damage your plant.
- Sprinkle Sulfur dust on the fungus-infected area of the Snake plant.
- You can also sprinkle cinnamon powder on the plant leaves.
4. Use Fungicide
Fungicides have a special place to treat fungal issues and work as a quick way to get rid of the fungus. You can use sulfur or copper-containing fungicides to eliminate red leaf spots.
These chemicals directly kill fungus and also prevent it from growing later on.
Note: You can also look at the following section, where I've shared some useful fungicides to treat this issue.
5. Avoid Overwatering
If someone says to narrate the cause of Snake plant fungus in one word, it will be 'Overwatering.'
So, the best treatment plus prevention is to limit watering. Do not keep your plant wet all the time and avoid watering in the evening.
When you water the plant in the evening, the topsoil remains wet for a really long time and attracts fungal growth to the plant. Therefore, always check the soil before watering and water when the soil is almost dried.
Alright, now, let's have a look at the FAQs below.
FAQs
There are various ways to kill plant fungi, including fungicides, neem oil, sulfur dust, and cinnamon powder.
If you see brown spots on your Snake plant, it is likely due to a fungal infection.
You can cut off any affected leaves and treat the plant with some of the aforementioned suggestions. Also, be sure to avoid overwatering.
There are a few reasons why your Snake plant may be getting brown spots.
One possibility is that your plant is infected with a fungus, which can be treated with fungicides or other methods. Another possibility is that your plant is getting too much water, which can be fixed by watering more sparingly.
Finally, if your plant is in direct sunlight for too long, the leaves may burn, resulting in brown spots. Try moving your plant to a shadier spot or using sunscreen for plants to protect it from the sun.
Your Snake plant might receive too much sun if the leaves start turning yellow or brown. If this is the case, you should move your plant to a location where it will receive less sun. Snake plants do well in bright and indirect light.
An overwatered Snake plant may have wet leaves that are soft and limp. The leaves may also be yellow, brown, or black.
The plant's roots may be black and rotten, and the plant may also have a strong, unpleasant odor.
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