Realized I was overwatering my snake plant for 8 months straight

I noticed the leaves turning yellow and squishy, and a friend who works at a nursery pointed out the roots were basically soup. Now I only water it when the soil's bone dry, and it's finally perking up. Anyone else kill plants by being too nice to them?

3 comments

3 Comments

james_clark24d ago

Yeah the "roots were basically soup" line hit home. Did the same thing with my pothos last year - drowned it so bad the soil smelled like a swamp. Now I wait until the leaves start drooping before I even touch the watering can.

piper_green24d ago

My peace lily was the victim. I kept a strict schedule, every Saturday like clockwork. Turns out the plant didn't appreciate my dedication. Now I just poke my finger in the dirt and if it's still damp a knuckle deep I walk away. Works way better than my old system of loving things to death.

dylan_green5823d ago

That finger test really does work better than any schedule. I actually killed a rubber plant by sticking to a strict calendar myself. The thing about waiting until leaves droop is tricky too though, some plants can get set back if you let them dry out that far. Snake plants especially can handle a little neglect, but letting a pothos droop repeatedly can stress it out over time. Opposite problem but same result.