Name: Anita
West Fulton, NY (Zone 5a)
"Let food be thy medicine...."
A comment from LiobaJanuary 19, 2018
| I have planted it in a regular ceramic pot then set in a triangular bowl with a wide mouth. I found it at the dollar store. I was using them for serving bowls, chips but this is working out great. I'd like to post a photo. |
Name: Will Creed
NYC
Prof. plant consultant & educator
Answer from WillCJanuary 13, 2018
I agree with jessybean, that a wider pot would be counterproductive, causing the leaves to lean even further. The situation described above resulted from the plant being in low light for a long time causing the roots to weaken and die back. At this point, it may be too late for recovery.
Remove the root ball from the pot. If there are healthy remaining roots, then squeeze the rootball into the bottom of a tall, narrow pot with a small amount of porous potting mix added underneath the rootball. It should sit very low in the pot so that the leaves are supported by the sides of the pot. Move it to a sunny location and it may gradually recover. |
Name: Sandra Pruden
Dearborn Hts, MI (Zone 6b)
| This solution sounds good, I am having the same problem with my old plant. |
Name: Kay
Lincoln, Nebraska
| I have a couple old snake plants that were like you describe. I repotted one because it had been in the same pot/soil for years. I gave it a good watering, but haven't watered much more. I also read that they do not like being misted so I stopped doing that. I am seeing some new growth now. It seems they prefer neglect! |
Name: Jessybean
Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Zone 5b)
| I'm not sure that putting it in a bigger pot would help. I did this with mine and they all fell over. Now I'm in the same boat. Snake plants like to be tight and compact at the roots which helps them stabilize. |
Name: Jeffrey Fitch
Wayne, PA (Zone 7a)
Answer from JsfitchJanuary 13, 2018
I use stretch wrap and a stake them, They look like mummies and the clear stretch wrap allows light to the leaves, I always thin them out every year at end of summer, I usually get flowering in the summer, of course we move them in and out of the house every spring and fall.
Better living with Plastics.... |
Name: Donna King
Selmer, TN (Southern West TN) (Zone 7b)
| I have never grown a snake plant. I personally never liked them. We always called them Mother In Law's Tongue plants. My Grandmother had a large one as long as I can remember, it was long and did resemble a snake I guess. Probably the reason I never cared for the plants as I am terrified of snakes. But I cannot help but wonder if just giving the entire plant a good haircut wouldn't solve the problem and let it put up new healthy upright growth? |
Name: Susan
Silver Lake NY 14549 and Hilto
| Just happened to see this Snake plant question...I received my plant in a lovely arrangement when my son was born 36 years ago....I hated to remove any of the leaves even though they were leaning over and made it difficult to place the plant anywhere without a wall to support it. Two days ago I finally decided to face the difficult task of trimming this plant. I realized that if anything happened to me, my son would would probably wonder why I was keeping this crazy looking plant and he would most likely toss it.....keeping that in mind I carefully removed the plant and cut off the leaning leaves at soil level.(they were about 3 feet tall ) All the remaining roots looked healthy..so I repotted my old friend in the same pot with new soil....I am amazed how terrific this plant now looks...no leaning over or propping up needed.. I am sorry I didn't do it sooner....consider it a surgical rejuvenation...I am sure my plant is much happier, in fact I think I heard a sigh of relief 😁 |
Name: Susan
Silver Lake NY 14549 and Hilto
| Just happened to see this Snake plant question...I received my plant in a lovely arrangement when my son was born 36 years ago....I hated to remove any of the leaves even though they were leaning over and made it difficult to place the plant anywhere without a wall to support it. Two days ago I finally decided to face the difficult task of trimming this plant. I realized that if anything happened to me, my son would would probably wonder why I was keeping this crazy looking plant and he would most likely toss it.....keeping that in mind I carefully removed the plant and cut off the leaning leaves at soil level.(they were about 3 feet tall ) All the remaining roots looked healthy..so I repotted my old friend in the same pot with new soil....I am amazed how terrific this plant now looks...no leaning over or propping up needed.. I am sorry I didn't do it sooner....consider it a surgical rejuvenation...I am sure my plant is much happier |
