Why Is My Snake Plant Tips Going Brown? [8 Reasons]

Snake plants, known scientifically as Sansevieria trifasciata, are extremely anticipated houseplants. One of the reasons for their immense popularity is that they are advertised as being little maintenance and, in some brands’ marketing, impossible to eradicate.

Snake plants are known for their incredible endurance; nevertheless, like other types of plants, they are susceptible to experiencing some level of distress depending on the conditions in their environment.

If the tips of your snake plant have turned brown, you should take this as an early indication that the plant is struggling. However, it has not passed away!

You need to recognize the warning sign, figure out what the issue is, and address it, and your plant will soon be in excellent health again.

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Why Is My Snake Plant Tips Going Brown?

There may be no major problems involved in this situation. Let’s look at the list of potential reasons why the tips of your Snake plant are turning brown, and then work out a solution that will assist your plant in reaching its full potential.

The most common causes of brown tips on snake plants are underwatering and dry conditions with low humidity.

If there is an insufficient supply of water, the plant’s xylem tissue will be unable to carry nutrients and protein toward the ends of the leaves.

After some time, the snake plant leaves will become dried out and brown. There may be more causes of the issue, some of which include an excessive amount of fertilizer, an inadequate amount of light, and high levels of humidity.

Also read: Can You Grow Dieffenbachia in Water?

Inadequate or Inconsistent Watering Can Cause the Snake Plant Tips to Turn Brown

If you notice that the ends of your Snake plant’s stalks or leaves are becoming brown, there is a possibility that you are either overwatering or underwatering your plant.

You can determine which is occurring with a detailed inspection. A snake plant that has not received enough water will have dry and crisp leaves, as well as very dry and compacted soil.

The soil may get smaller, creating a space between itself and the edge of the container. Despite their exceptional water-saving abilities, snake plants have a threshold beyond which they will not survive. The leaf tips are the first to show signs of water stress in a plant.

This is a typical reaction to being underwater, and it usually doesn’t mean your snake plant will die. New leaves will emerge from the rhizome as the plant responds to the newly available water and begins to spread.

The soil of the Snake plant should not be damp or saturated; this indicates that the Snake is receiving an excessive amount of water.

When the soil has reached the point where it is completely dry, which can take anywhere from ten to fourteen days, you should water your plant once more. This will correct the problem.

Water that Has Too Much Chlorine Might Cause Your Snake Plant Tips to Turn Brown

Some houseplants are extremely sensitive to the type of water used to water them. You could kill the plant if you choose the wrong type of water.

The presence of chlorine and chloramine, typically found in tap water, is one of the primary reasons why our drinking water is suitable for ingestion by humans.

Nevertheless, certain plants are more vulnerable to these compounds and may exhibit distress symptoms when present in the environment.

You can lessen the effects of chlorine on your plant by treating the water you use or by exposing the water you intend to use to water your plant to the sun for at least a day before using it.

High Levels of Heat and Direct Sunlight Can Result in the Browning of Your Snake Plant Tips

Although snake plants are known for their resilience, there is a limitation on how much direct sunlight and high temperature they can withstand.

In the same way that too much heat or sun can make you feel, it is more vital than you may realize for your Snake Plant to receive the appropriate amount of sunshine.

They have earned the reputation of being able to handle any situation, from places in direct sunshine to those in the shade.

On the other hand, if your plant is subjected to an excessive amount of direct sunlight, this may cause the leaf tips to turn brown.

Uncomfortable or stressed, too much heat or sun can affect your plant. Your plant’s browning tips may be located near a window or in another location that receives a lot of direct sunlight.

If it is the scenario, you can transfer your plants to a different location in your home where they will receive slightly less sunlight directly on their leaves.

You can keep an eye on it throughout time to ensure that it continues to be healthy and successful!

Check out: Are Dieffenbachia Toxic To Dogs?

Icy Pressure Can Cause the Tips of a Snake Plant to Brown

Most snake plants will perish if subjected to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).

If it drops below that, the plant may become stressed, and you may notice the tips of your snake plant turning brown.

If you’re maintaining snake plants indoors, you shouldn’t have trouble keeping them above freezing. Still, if you’re keeping them outside throughout the summer, you’ll want to bring them inside before the temperatures drop in the fall and winter.

Fertilizer Overuse is Another Reason for Browning of the Tips of the Snake Plant

However, while fertilizer benefits plant growth, too much of it can kill the plant. It is possible to harm the leaves and roots of your snake plant by fertilizing it too frequently or with too much strength.

As a result, your plant’s appearance may suffer, and the tips of its leaves may become brown. If you fertilize your plant too often or with too much nitrogen, you risk burning it.

It is preferable to give your snake plant half of the amount of fertilizer that is recommended at first and watch how it reacts.

If you see any browning, you can cleanse the fodder out with more water and try a second time you water with a quarter of the initial concentration.

Scarring Causes Browning of the Tips of the Snake Plant

Scarring is likely the cause of your snake plant’s rough appearance around the leaf edges and any brown damage marks that appear on the ends of the spectrum of the leaves. Scarring can also cause discoloration of the leaves.

If your plant is in a high-traffic area of your home, this could be the reason why it has scarring. Snake plants are easily scarred when they are moved or knocked over.

Be sure to move yours out of areas where children or pets can get to it, as that could be dangerous.

Click to know: Are Dieffenbachia Toxic To Cats?

Lack of Moisture in the Air Results in the Browning of the Tips of the Snake Plant

Snake plants are healthiest in rather humid conditions and may wither and die if kept in a dry home. We turn on the heater for long periods when it’s cold outside. Thus, this can be very problematic.

Browning of leaf tips, which may spread to the rest of the leaf, is an early symptom of low relative humidity.

Make sure to shower your snake plant with a spray bottle once a week or if you can’t move the plant, consider investing in a little humidifier to keep there. The atmosphere will become more humid because of this.

Infestation by Pests Can Cause the Snake Plant’s Tips to Brown

A lot of pests tend to avoid snake plants. Mealybugs and spider mites pose the greatest risk. The tiniest black bugs, called thrips, are the most frequent snake plant pest.

Simply removing them requires shaking the plant and washing the leaves in a solution of water and mild dish soap.

They are known as sap suckers, and their presence can lead to gradual dehydration and nutrient theft, leading to your plant turning brown.

Look for insect damage or droppings on the foliage or in the soil of your Snake plant. They can be subtle, so keeping a sharp eye out is important.

To prevent the infection from spreading to other plants in your home, it is recommended to isolate the plant from its neighbors before treatment begins and leave it there until it recovers.

Our Final Thoughts

Now that you know what could be wrong with your snake plant, you can fix it, so it once again looks lovely. Remove any diseased or dead branches with a pair of pruning shears.

Your plant’s healthy leaves will receive all the necessary nutrients and flourish. There has been some stress on your snake plant, as seen by the browning of the plant’s tips.

Trimming off the brown spots won’t affect the plant because they are dead tissue. Be mindful of the plant’s overall shape as you prune it.

The brown part of the leaf can be removed by trimming only to the edge of the leaf, either at the side or the tip. By doing so, you can avoid harming the plant itself.