If you go only by the odds, you're over-watering. Sans don't necessarily like to go completely dry before you water, but it's better to let them go that dry than it is to over-water.

Houseplants aren't difficult, especially Sans, but if you're going to grow ANY plant well, you first need to know how to keep the root system healthy. I'll leave a link below that will take you to a thread that, if you take it to heart, will help you avoid most of the pitfalls that commonly befall even gardeners with a considerable amount of time spent growing houseplants. I hope you find it useful.

Al

Here is a link that might be useful: An overview, if you click me.

Ok, you need to put your finger in the soil - press it down about 2 inches and tell us if it's wet.

some of those leaves look basically dead. But, this type of plant - if there's good roots, you may be able to get them to grow back some new leaves.

you really need to test the soil. And, if it's really wet, and smelly - you need to do an immediate transplant - and try to salvage what roots/plant you can - and get them into some really good draining soil/mix.

But, first test ... stick a finger in and tell us how wet the soil is.

Hi Trevor11, and welcome to the forum. That's a pretty plant. You've already gotten great information. I just want to add two thoughts.

1, Googling is a great idea; it's important to be as informed as you can. Equally important, though is to be able to interpret the information you find online--to be able to relate it directly to your own plants. What I mean by that is, to tell whether a plant is too wet, you need to stick your finger (or a wooden dowel or chopstick) into the soil. I appreciated the information you gave us, and the photos, too, but I didn't read about you actually checking the soil to see how wet it was, before you added more water or dried the plant with a hair-dryer. Maybe you did that, and maybe you said you did and I missed it--sorry, if that's the case (been a long day here). I'm a hands-on person, but I think it's really important to check out information you find online, for yourself, in your own growing conditions.

2, I wonder if what you're seeing might be heat damage/burning of the leaves from the hair-dryer. I know you said you held it a few feet away, but... If you need to dry out a plant, you can take it out of its pot and wrap the ball of soil in newspaper. That's usually a less risky (and less labor-intensive!) way to go.

You might take the plant out of its pot and take a look at the roots. They can often tell you if the plant's been over-watered. After you do that, let us know what you find. It would also help to know what temperature you've kept the plant in. Is the window area colder? Is there a draft there?

I'm sure your research will pay off, as you continue to grow this plant and others.

Amanda

Roseyd and I were posting at the same time. Great minds test soil alike, :)

Amanda

I have stuck my finger in the dirt, but I wasn't really sure how to describe the moistness of it. I'm sorry I didn't mention this. I just stuck my finger in it after reading your posts and I would say the top is dry, and the next 2 or 3 centimeters in, it is slightly moist, but definitely not "wet". I didn't go any deeper than that, because it's a very tough angle to get my hand in without pushing on the plant. I can look for a popsicle stick or something to put in though.

I'm a little hesitant to take the plant out to take the plant out to see the roots, because I've adjusted the plant and taken it out many times and I don't want to bother it too much. But if you guys still think I should do that, I will.

As for the temperature near the window, I think it's about the same as the rest of the house - Possibly warmer because there is a heater right near there that we turn on a lot.

As for the tray beneath it, there is no water dripping out. There is actually no need for it...my mother just put it there because she didn't want my plant sitting directly on her table. The coffee grounds are there because at one point I took a few pinches of coffee grounds and tried to mix it in with the soil (which I later found out was useless).

I will try to find something non-metal to hold that one leaf up.

I want to know if it would maybe be a good idea to just get rid of all the leaves EXCEPT for the pair in the front right corner of this picture:
http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y451/Trevor119/Snake%20plant%20-%20Pictures%20from%20this%20morning/y_zps984f0e63.jpg
since they look the most alive (even though they are small and thin and floppy) and it looks like they are sprouting 2 new leaves in between.

Am I doing any harm the plant by not cutting the leaves that are dying?

Tapla - I will read your guide.

If anyone asked any questions that I forgot to answer, please let me know! I apologize!

Thank you guys for all your help so far!

Hi Trevor,

Nice plant, sorry you've had this trouble. My name is Karen & I'm a regular at the Sans. forum.

If this were my plant, I'd turn it out of the pot to assess the roots, that will tell a lot. The base of the plant is impossible to see this way, I'm concerned about rot coming from underneath there.

I'd be brave & unpot it & here's the basics: if smelly, it's rotting, if soft, mushy, it's rotting, if so, cut back to healthy tissue which is firm to the touch. Then sprinkle it w/ cinnamon & shake off the excess. If that's the case, I'd get fresh mix & a new pot & pot it up DRY, then don't water for a week.

If you find dry, brittle roots, they're dead & will crumble off in your fingers.

You may find these connected by a thick root, if that smells bad, there's still rot going on.

But the Great thing abt Sans is one can grow them anew from leaves. I'd hope they'd keep their stripe, they MAY not, but that's for another day.

I think this is the fastest, best way to salvage this plant.

Sansevieras are a wonderful group of plants. They grow very slowly. They are very drought tolerant. I have major issues with underwatering. I will second PirateGirl's idea about leaf cuttings. The bottom is rotted out and there is no saving that. As she said. Sanseviera's dont usually keep their variegation after being rooted via leaf cuttings. If you really value the variegation, than I would discard the plant and buy another one. They are generally really cheap to buy in my opinion. If you really value this specific plant, then leaf cuttings will give you a still gorgeousley handsome plant in my opinion. Do what you think is best

how dud that photo get in my post

I don't know, but it happened twice, Teen.
You can edit your post to remove the image.

Don't know how it got there, but it's a cute violet!

It looks like you overwatered the plant, which could be the reason why the leaves are yellowed and shriveled in places.

The use of the hairdryer (never a great idea) could have very easily burned the leaves and caused them to turn yellow. In your photos, I see some leaves are yellow at the base; these leaves are done for, I would cut them off and be done with it. They won't recover... If there are any leaves which are bright green and healthy, those will do just fine.

Using a finger to test the soil is a very good way to measure the dryness/wetness level of the plant. You mentioned trying this and that the soil was only slightly damp. Another test is to pick up the whole pot. If it's extremely heavy you may have overwatered. (Conversely, if it's very light it will need some water ASAP!) Always be sure your plant can drain off excess water and that it never sits in water for a prolonged period of time.

Checking the roots will help you assess the damage level of the root system. If it's stinky or mushy, it's rotting. cut away any roots that are brown and mushy. Roots that are yellow or white are healthy.

I would suggest letting the plant dry out before watering again. Also I might add that the heater nearby could be drying out the plant prematurely, causing it to need more water more often. Be sure the window it is near is not too cold; this can cause yellowing of leaves too. Good luck!

Okay,

I have dug the plants out of the soil. I say "plants" because they are actually not all connected by one root. They used to be, but eventually one side split apart.
Anyway, I would say the soil is NOT moist...it's pretty dry. And the roots didn't smell, and they weren't soft. They seemed dry..they were not crumbly but they looked maybe a bit brittle.

I picked up the pair in the front right of the picture:
http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y451/Trevor119/Snake plant - Pictures from this morning/y_zps984f0e63.jpg
which is connected to the one in the back right, and I disconnected them at the root, since the one in the back seemed dead. Also, out of stress, I impulsively cut off the longer leaf (which, without the support of the pot, was completely flopped over from the bottom), and immediately regretted it.

I took what was left over connected to the root and sprinkled cinnamon on it and shook/blew the excess off, and planted it in a small cup. (using the same soil, taken from the bottom of the pot).

I will take a picture of it with my mother's camera when she comes home.

If you guys don't think think there is much hope for what I have planted in the cup, any advice on planting cuttings from my thicker leaves would be appreciated. (However, I would prefer not to do that if I don't have to)

Thanks,
Trevor

It wasnt moist?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thats unusual!!!!??????
Thanks eahamel for the compliment on my variegated AV

Hello everyone. I have a snake plant and it has little whit hairs growing iff the side of the leaf, what are these?

Hard to say w/o a picture. Can you rule out mealybug?

Al

No water for 2 months and no natural light ? Lol

anthonysears

I believe your remark was directed at the original post? that was 3years ago...

New post by Olivia Curtis is about something totally different..

Olivia, in the future, it is much better to start brand new thread as you'll get more ppl reading it and responding to your question, not to something that hasn't been read for 3 years. Just trying to be helpful...and pls. post photos - it is difficult to ID an ailment without seeing patient :)

I repotted my snake plant this morning and the roots were dry. Does that mean that it was not getting enough water

By the process of elimination, we can say A) it wasn't getting too much water, B) it wasn't getting just the right amount of water ...... and, C) there aren't a lot of options left.

Al

i am 100% sure it is overwatering and root rot. to save your plant you need to repot it. pull it out from this planter, cut rotting parts and leaves and repot it in dry soil. believe me snake plant won't die even if you will leave it out of soil for some days. let it sit in dry soil for 2-3 days then add water. also note that people suggest deep watering instead of shallow but with experience says that you need to add very little water to this plant, let it dry (2-3 days depending on temperature where you live) and then again add little water. that means frequent but little watering. i add half cup water to a 12 inch pot in 2-3 days and my plants placed outdoor in shaded area ( hot temperature 30 -40°c)