Why Are My Snake Plant Leaves Soft?

Snake plants, also known as Sansevierias, are one of the hardiest indoor plants. 

Their unique, sleek, and straight-standing leaves give a modern and trendy look that can complement any indoor decor. 

While the Snake plant will not give you much trouble, look out for the most common affliction in these plants, which is mushy or soft leaves. 

The soft leaves issue is relatively easy to handle, and the problem usually arises from a single issue, so it is easy to identify too. 

3 Reasons Why Snake Plant Leaves Turn Soft

The most likely cause for your Snake plant leaves to turn soft is overwatering or root rot. 

Here are a few insights on why your Snake plant’s leaves may have turned soft – 

1. Overwatering

This is often a very common issue with Snake plants as Sansevierias are extremely sensitive to overwatering, and their roots can become waterlogged quite quickly. 

Following this, the roots of the Snake plant can rot. 

When you notice that your plant’s leaves are mushy, first check the moisture levels in the soil and then gently lift the plant to examine its roots. 

If you find that the soil in the pot is damp, remove the roots from the container and lightly dust off any remaining soil that is clinging to the roots. 

Replace the soil or any potting mix you use completely so that there is no moist soil remaining in the container. 

It would be good for your plant if you trimmed away the mushy or rotten roots. 

Following the above steps will help your plant recover and grow back normally. 

2. Drainage 

If you think you are watering the plant appropriately and the plant still has mushy leaves, the fault may lie in how the water is being drained. 

First, you can check if your pot is well-draining, and second, if the soil is porous enough. 

You can ensure smooth drainage by mixing perlite in your soil mix and planting the Snake plant in a container with holes in the bottom of the pot. 

To make this process easier, add small stones or pebbles so that the soil does not form clumps at the bottom of the pot. 

Usually, Snake plants come in plastic pots from the nursery, which is not sustainable for the plant in the long run. 

The ideal material for pots is clay or terracotta, which are expensive and easily breakable. 

The advantage of using these pots is that the material allows for the water to evaporate more easily.

3. Humidity 

Snake plants do well in low and average humidity conditions. 

So, if the room is too humid, the plants turn soft and mushy. 

Placing the Snake plant near humidifiers or misting it regularly can increase the chances of root rot and plant damage. 

Move the plant away if it is kept in a highly humid room, or if your house tends to be humid most of the time, invest in a dehumidifier so that the snake plant can thrive. 

How To Fix Soft Snake Plant Leaves?

Fixing soft Snake plant leaves is an issue that many plant owners face, as the chances of overwatering the plant are high. 

Once you find a few mushy leaves, check the soil and roots of the plant. 

There is a good chance that the cause of this issue is overwatering, bad drainage, or humidity, which directly affects roots and leads to root rot. 

To fix this issue, here is what you can do: 

1. Remove the plant from its damp soil and place it in a new potting mix. If the root rot has spread, cut off the mushy or damp roots. 
2. Replace any plastic container that the plant is kept in with a terracotta or clay pot so that excess water is drained well. 
3. If the room where the Snake plant is kept is known to get too humid, shift the plant to a less humid space or get a dehumidifier so that the leaves do not turn soft. 

In the next section, let’s learn more about how you can avoid this issue altogether.

3 Tips To Avoid Soft Leaves On Your Snake Plant

When the sleek and beautiful leaves of the Snake plant turn soft, the plant loses its charm and, if not taken care of immediately, it may lose all its leaves. 

So, here are a few things you can do –

1. Inspect The Leaves Regularly

Routinely examine the leaves of your plant so that you will know when the symptoms of root rot or waterlogging set in. 

If you are lucky, only a couple of leaves will be damaged, which can be taken care of easily by pruning. 

Pruning can be done quite easily with just one clean knife or blade. 

Cut the leaf close to its base and as close as possible to the soil. 

This will bring the plant back to its former glory as soft leaves are a waste of the plant’s energy. 

You can also do this with other damaged leaves. 

Dry leaves may come off on their own. 

It is good for the plant to be pruned once in a while as it helps maintain its appearance and conserve its energy. 

2. Clean The Leaves

Clean the surface of the leaves to ensure that the leaves remain shiny. 

Cleaning also helps you notice if there is any difference in the texture of the leaves. 

Change of feel or texture does not only point to a root rot issue but also insect infestation. 

Clean the leaves by wiping down the surface of each leaf with dry tissue paper. 

3. Repotting

Repotting is essential, especially when your plant has outgrown its container or if the plant is facing drainage issues. 

It enhances growth in the plant and provides fresh nutrients to it. 

Snake plants do not need to be repotted regularly; once every 2-3 years is good enough as long as the plant is doing alright.

Now, let’s check out the FAQs below.

FAQs

Over To You

Did you enjoy this guide?

I think the tips I’ve shared above are good enough to address the soft leaves issues in your Snake plant.

So, do try them out!

If you have any questions, please write them down in the comments section.

Do share this guide with your friends and family if it helped in any way possible.