As I’ve mentioned once or twice before on this site, snake plants are supposed to be one of the easiest houseplants to keep alive. I mean, they’re basically the cockroaches of the plant world (in a good way!). They can survive neglect, poor lighting and pretty much everything except overwatering.
So when your snake plant starts drooping it can feel like a bigger failure than when it happens to other plants.
But a snake plant drooping is usually fixable once you figure out what’s causing it. And that’s exactly what we’re going to talk about here.
I’ll show you why your snake plant might be struggling and what you can do about it.
Why is My Snake Plant Drooping?
These are the 9 most common reasons your snake plant is giving up and dropping:
1. Overwatering
Most drooping snake plants are down to too much water. They would naturally grow in Africa, where it gets very dry, and so are able to to survive droughts.
When you overwater a snake plant its roots start to rot because they’re sitting in soil that’s full of water. The root rot stops the plant from taking up water and nutrients properly and the result is droopy leaves.
How to fix it:
- Stop watering straightaway
- Check the roots – if they’re black or and mushy then that means rot
- Take the plant out of its pot and cut away any rotted roots
- Let the plant dry out completely for a few days
- Repot it in fresh soil
- Water only when the soil is completely dry (about every 2 to 3 weeks)
2. Underwatering
While overwatering is more common, snake plants can also droop from being underwatered. Especially if they’ve been neglected for some months. Although they’re good at dealing with a lack of water they’re not actually cacti.
Underwatered snake plants will show droopy, wrinkled leaves that might feel thin and fragile at the tips.
How to fix it:
- Soak the pot in water for about 15 minutes
- Allow all the excess water to drain completely from the pot
- Get yourself into the habit of watering on a schedule (but still let the soil dry out between waterings)
3. Poor Drainage
Sometimes the problem isn’t how often you water but that the water has nowhere to go. If your pot doesn’t have any drainage holes or you’re using heavy soil that holds on to too much water then even watering the right amount can lead to problems.
How to fix it:
- Always use pots with drainage holes
- Add perlite, sand or pumice to your potting mix to get better drainage
- You might want to switch to a terracotta pot as it lets water evaporate through its sides and exterior
I had a beautiful pot with no drainage holes that I absolutely loved. But because of the lack of drainage holes it want right for a snake plant.
Instead I tried using it with a plastic nursery pot inside, but I eventually got lazy and planted the snake plant directly in it. Which was a mistake! The soil never dried out properly and within a few weeks the plant was drooping.
4. Wrong Light Conditions
Another reason your snake plant might be drooping is the wrong light. Snake plants can deal with low light but they won’t grow at their best in it.
Too little light causes them to grow poorly and can lead to drooping. But too much direct sunlight can burn the leaves, also causing them to droop from stress. So you have to get the balance just right.
How to fix it:
- Put your snake plant in bright, indirect light
- If it’s been in a dark spot then move it somewhere brighter but do it gradually so it to doesn’t get shocked by the sudden change
- If it’s been in direct sun then move it a few feet away from the window or use a sheer curtain to filter the light
Snake plants do like some light, even though they’re known for being low light plants. Mine did much better when I moved it from a dark spot in my logo room to a brighter room with filtered sunlight.
5. Temperature Stress
Snake plants don’t like cold drafts or sudden temperature changes. They prefer temperatures between 65 to 85°F (18 to 29°C). When they’re in cold drafts from doors, windows or air conditioning it can cause drooping leaves.
How to fix it:
- Keep your snake plant away from drafts
- Move it away from air conditioning or heating vents
- Make sure it’s not touching a cold window in the winter
- Keep the temperature in your home consistent
Last winter I noticed my snake plant starting to droop and I couldn’t figure out why. That was until I realized it was right next to a window with a slight draft. Moving it just 3 feet away made a big difference.
6. Pot Size Issues
Snake plants actually like to be a little root bound and don’t to be repotted often. If your pot is too large it can hold too much soil and therefore too much water.
But if your plant has completely outgrown its pot it might droop because it’s not getting enough nutrients.
How to fix it:
- Only repot the plant when it’s roots are growing in circles in the pot or coming out of the drainage holes
- Choose a pot only 1 to 2 inches bigger than the previous one
- If you’ve recently repotted into a much larger container then you might have to move it back to a smaller one
7. Pest Infestations
Although snake plants don’t have big problems with pests they can sometimes get hit by the most common ones like mealybugs, spider mites or scale insects. They suck sap from the leaves which can cause the leaves to droop.
How to fix it:
- Look at your plant carefully especially in the parts where the leaves meet
- For smaller infestations wipe the leaves with water and mild soap
- For more serious cases use neem oil or insecticidal soap
- Isolate the infected plant to stop the pests spreading to other houseplants
Always take a close look at new plants before bringing them home! I brought a new snake plant home that looked perfectly healthy and then about a week later found it had mealybugs. Unfortunately by that point they had already spread to my other plants and I had a big job of saving them all.
8. Fertilizer Issues
Snake plants don’t need too much fertilizer but that doesn’t mean none. Too little of it can cause slow growth and eventual drooping. But too much can burn the roots and cause the same drooping.
How to fix it:
- Fertilize a little during the spring and summer with a balanced houseplant fertilizer (make sure to diluted it to half strength)
- Don’t fertilize in the fall and winter as they slow down how much they’re growing
- If you’re concerned about fertilizer burn then flush the soil with water and don’t fertilize again for a few months
9. Age and Gravity
Sometimes the reason for drooping leaves is just age. As snake plant leaves grow taller and older they can naturally begin to droop under their own weight. This happens more in varieties that grow very tall leaves.
How to fix it:
- This isn’t a problem as it’s natural
- If you don’t like how it looks then you can propagate younger plants from the older one
- Give your plant good light to keep new growth strong
My oldest snake plant is about 7 years old now and some of the leaves do tend to lean a little. I don’t mind and see this as part of its character rather than a problem to fix.
How to Restore a Drooping Snake Plant
Once you’ve worked out the cause of your snake plant’s drooping you can take steps to help it get back to full health. But remember, plants don’t recover overnight. Be patient and stick the right care.
1. Assess the damage: Are the leaves just drooping, or are they also yellow, brown or soft? Brown and mushy leaves are signs of severe problems and may need to be removed.
2. Check the roots: Take the plant out of its pot and look at the roots. Healthy ones will be firm and white. Brown, black or spongy feeling roots should be removed.
3. Adjust care based on the cause: Follow the recommendations above based on what you found was causing the drooping.
4. Be patient: Some leaves may never stand up again once they’ve drooped. But you have to be patient to see.
5. Consider propagation: If your plant is badly damaged taking healthy cuttings from leaves to propagate new plants might be your best bet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my snake plant drooping after repotting?
Repotting can be stressful for snake plants. Drooping after repotting is usually a sign of transplant shock. Make sure you didn’t damage too many roots and that you’re not overwatering the newly potted plant. Give it time to adjust to its new pot and keep it in the same light conditions as before.
Should I cut off drooping snake plant leaves?
It depends on the cause and how bad it is. If the leaves are just slightly drooping but otherwise healthy they can recover with the right care. If the leaves are badly damaged, yellow etc. it’s best to remove them by cutting them.
How often should I water my snake plant?
Less than you think. In homes watering once every 2 to 4 weeks is good enough. Always check that the soil is completely dry before watering again. In the winter you might only need to water once a month. If you’re not sure then it’s better to underwater than overwater a snake plant.
Can a severely drooping snake plant recover?
Yes, snake plants are tough. As long as there are some healthy roots and the problem is sorted out your plant has a good chance of recovery. The damaged leaves might not stand up again but the new growth should be healthy. In bad cases you might need to propagate from the healthiest parts of the plant.
Why are my snake plant leaves falling over but not soft?
If your leaves are falling over but still firm, it’s probably down to it enough light, bad watering (either too much or too little), or simply tall leaves becoming too heavy to hold up. Try moving your plant to a brighter spot and changing how often and much you water. You can also support very tall leaves with stakes.
Should I mist my drooping snake plant?
No! Snake plants don’t like humidity on their leaves and misting cause fungal issues. They’re adapted to dry conditions, so focus on proper soil moisture instead of aerial humidity. If your home is extremely dry then you can use a humidifier but don’t mist the plant directly.
Final Thoughts
Snake plants are tough and hard to kill which is why it’s upsetting when they start to droop. But you have to keep in mind that they have limits to what they can take.
In most cases the cause of a snake plant drooping is overwatering followed by poor light conditions. Fix these issues and you’ll likely see improvements.
Thankfully snake plants are very forgiving. I’ve seen them bounce back from states that would kill most other houseplants.