Snake plants are beautiful, unique houseplants that are easy to care for. However, they can sometimes develop problems, such as broken leaves. If you find yourself with a fractured snake plant leaf, don’t worry! There are several things you can do to fix it. Read on to learn more about this issue and how to solve it.
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How to Fix a Broken Snake Plant Leaf?
The best way to fix a broken snake plant leaf is by cutting the injured parts of the plant and giving it dedicated care until the plant heals itself over time.
It would help if you used a sharp knife to cut the broken and damaged parts of your snake plant. During the cut, ensure that you cut at an angle so that the knife does not damage the healthy parts of the leaves.
A sharp knife is necessary when cutting damaged parts from the leaves of your snake plant because it will create a clean cut and prevent the plant from further damaging. If a dull knife is used, it can crush the leaves and cause more damage to the plant.
After cutting the broken leaf of your snake plant, you should water it immediately. Watering at this time is crucial because it helps the plant heal and prevents further damage. But make sure not to overwater the plant. Give it just enough water to make the leaves fully dry.
Also, remember to keep the injured parts of the leaves cool so that they do not wilt and turn yellowish.
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How to Fix a Snake Plant that Is Not Entirely Broken?
When the leaf is not entirely broken, you can use support to help your snake plant heal. In this case, place the support in the pot so the plant can lean against it. You may need to stake the support into the ground if the plant is too heavy.
If the plant is leaning downward and the soil is loose, we use stakes to support the plant. If the plant is bending downward and the soil is tight, we use threads to support the plant.
Ensure the stem is placed on the support and does not touch the soil.
How to Fix a Snake Plant Leaf that Is Torn Into Two Pieces?
If the leaf of the snake plant is wholly torn into two pieces, then you should remove the whole leaf from the plant.
If a leaf is damaged, the plant will try to repair it. However, the leaf will eventually die if the damage is too significant.
In this case, If the leaf is not removed, it will become a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, which can spread to other parts of the plant.
Cutting the broken leaves early allows them to propagate, which can help you get a new snake plant later.
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What Causes Snake Plant Leaves to Break?
Snake plant leaves may break for a variety of reasons. But high temperatures and pests are the main reasons for this phenomenon. In fact, when the temperature reaches high levels, the leaves of snake plants become incredibly wet, which makes them break easily. Also, when a snake plant is infested with pests, the leaves start to break as the pests keep eating the plant.
But we will list other uncommon causes of broken snake plant leave in the following paragraphs.
High Temperature
When the temperature gets too high, the leaves of the snake plant break. This is because the cell walls of the leaves are made of cellulose, a type of sugar. The cellulose breaks down when the temperature gets too high, and the leaves fall off.
During the summer, plant leaves break easily because they are exposed to more sunlight and heat. This causes the leaves to become dry and brittle, which makes them more susceptible to breaking.
Age of The Plant
Another reason snake plant leaves break easily is the age of the plant. In fact, when the plant becomes older, it is no longer able to produce as much chlorophyll, which makes the leaves weak.
Chlorophyll gives leaves green color and helps the plant convert sunlight into energy. As the plant age, it produces less chlorophyll, and its leaves become more susceptible to breaking.
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Frost
Frost causes snake plant leaves to break because the water in the leaves freezes and expands under shallow temperatures.
Ultracold temperatures cause also ruptures inside cell walls which lead to broken leaves. This is more likely to happen on cold, clear nights when the air is dry.
Pests
Pests cause snake plant leaves to break for a variety of reasons. Some pests, such as caterpillars, eat the leaves directly. Others, such as aphids, suck the sap from the leaves, causing them to wilt and eventually die.
Still, other pests, such as mealybugs, secrete a sticky substance that coats the leaves and prevents them from photosynthesizing properly.
In all cases, the result is the same: snake plants’ leaves are damaged and do not produce as much food for the plant.
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How to Prevent Snake Plant Leaves from Breaking?
It would be best if you took many actions to keep your snake plant leaves from breaking. The first thing is to keep the temperature around your snake plant between 65 and 75 Fahrenheit. Then you should keep pests away from your plant and avoid overwatering.
Here is a detailed guide to help you implement these actions correctly.
Keep the Temperature at An Optimum Level
To keep the temperature at an optimum level for snake plants, ensure the room is well-ventilated and the plant is not exposed to direct sunlight. The ideal temperature range for snake plants is 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Colder temperatures can cause the plant to go dormant and suffer from cold damage.
To increase the temperature of snake plants, place them near a window or use an incandescent light bulb during the day, if possible. This will help the snake plant stay warm and get enough light for photosynthesis.
Keep Pests Away from Your Plant
To keep pests away from snake plants, they must be kept clean and free of debris. Inspect the plant regularly for signs of pests and treat it accordingly.
Providing proper drainage and reducing humidity is another factor that keeps pests away from your snake plant. The ideal humidity for this plant is around 40%. To reach this humidity level, you can use a humidifier.
Also, check the plant regularly to avoid pest problems. The first sign of pests is leaf yellowing and wilting caused by insects like spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids.
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