Snake Plant Problems: Pests, Diseases & Leaf Symptoms
Symptoms at a glance
| Problem | Kind |
|---|---|
| Banded greenhouse thrips | Pest |
| Fern scale insect | Pest |
| Longtailed mealybug | Pest |
| Spider mites | Pest |
| Opogona sacchari | Pest |
| Rotylenchus buxophilus | Pest |
| Scyphophorus acupunctatus | Pest |
| Fern scale | Pest |
| Banana rust thrips | Pest |
| Banana moth | Pest |
| White peach scale | Pest |
| Mealybugs | Pest |
| Spiral nematode | Pest |
| Agave weevil | Pest |
| Thrips | Pest |
| Scale insects | Pest |
| Root rot | Disease |
| Anthracnose | Disease |
Longtailed mealybug
Longtailed mealybug is another pest documented for this plant. It appears on the same pest list as spider mites, fern scale, banded greenhouse thrips, and several others recorded for this species. With this many pests documented, it helps to check the plant on a regular schedule instead of only when it looks unwell. A close look at the stems and leaves is worth adding to your regular routine, given how many pests are documented for this species. Since several different pests can affect this plant, confirm what you're seeing before choosing how to respond. If you confirm an infestation, treat the plant promptly and follow the instructions on a product label made for houseplant pests. Check nearby houseplants too, since this species carries enough documented pests that an infestation can start unnoticed.
Root rot
Root rot is the disease most often reported for this plant. It develops when the soil stays wet for longer than this plant tolerates. This plant prefers to dry out between waterings rather than stay constantly moist. A well-drained soil mix helps prevent root rot, since it lets extra water pass through instead of pooling around the roots. Water only once the soil has dried, keeping within the dry range this plant prefers. A pot that stays wet for a long stretch raises the risk of root rot developing. Repotting into fresh, well-drained soil after a period of overwatering gives the roots a better chance to recover.
Spider mites
Spider mites are one of the pests documented for this plant. They share that pest list with longtailed mealybug, banded greenhouse thrips, fern scale, and several other species. Because so many pests are documented for this species, regular checks of the leaves and stems catch problems earlier than waiting for obvious damage. A quick look every so often is enough to catch most of the pests on this plant's documented list. Since more than one pest can affect this plant, don't assume every mark or speck has the same cause. If you find signs of a pest, treat the plant promptly and follow the instructions on a product label made for houseplant pests. Recheck the plant afterward, since this species has enough documented pests that a second look is worth the time.
Care mistakes behind these problems
Overwatering is one of the easiest mistakes to make with this plant. It only needs water once the soil has dried out, somewhere between fully dry and just past that point. Planting it in soil that doesn't drain well makes this worse, since water has nowhere to go but stay around the roots. Indoors, this plant tolerates low light but does best in bright, indirect light, so keeping it too dim for too long can slow its growth. Outdoors, full sun isn't the right fit either, since this species prefers part shade. Feeding it outside the growing season, or skipping the monthly feeding from spring through late summer, throws off the schedule this plant responds to.
Prevention
Good drainage prevents most of the problems that start with wet soil. Use a well-drained mix, and let the soil dry out before watering again, staying within the dry range this plant prefers. Give it bright, indirect light indoors, or part shade outdoors, since low light indoors is tolerated but isn't the plant's best setting. Trim off dead leaves as you spot them, rather than leaving them on the plant. Checking the plant regularly makes it easier to catch signs of the pests and disease documented for this species before they spread.
Back to the Snake Plant care guide
Sources
- ASPCA. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/snake-plant. Accessed 23 September 2026.
- Pet Poison Helpline. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/sansevieria/. Accessed 23 September 2026.
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dracaena-trifasciata/. Accessed 23 September 2026.
- Pet Poison Helpline. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/mother-in-laws-tongue/. Accessed 23 September 2026.
How this page was made
- Written with AI assistance from the sources listed on this page. AI is never the source of a fact.