Do you know Why Your Snake Plant Leans toward One Side and How to Fix It? It’s pretty easy if you know the reason!
Does your snake plant appear to be toppling over or bending towards one side? Consider this a bad omen stemming right from the roots! We explore why and how to fix a lopsided Sansevieria trifasciata, or now called Dracaena to stabilize your plant and revive it back to health.
Why Your Snake Plant Leans to One Side
1. Overwatering
The foremost reason why your snake plant begins to droop to one side is overwatering. This evergreen succulent enjoys hydration in moderation, so be careful how you water it, as too much water will lead to rot slowly at the base of the leaves and roots, causing it to tip over in the beginning.
During spring and fall, allow the soil to dry out between waterings, and in winter, water once every 30-60 days, and that’s it!
An air-cleaning treasure for your home, this houseplant tolerates low humidity and partial shade as long as the soil is well-draining.
2. Repotting it Wrong
The best time to repot your Dracaena is when the weather is warm, during spring or summer.
When the Mother In Law’s Tongue is actively growing, at that time it can recover quickly from transplant shock—doing it when it is dormant or flowering will weaken and cause it to topple.
And the depth at which your replant it also makes a difference! A lean or tilt is common if you recently repotted your snake plant at the wrong depth. Planting it too shallow into a growing medium can cause it to fall over as the roots are not strong or stable enough.
Another repotting error is using the wrong soil type. This plant cannot tolerate damp, compacted soil. It prefers loam to sandy soil with excellent drainage.
The Fix: Plant the root ball 1-2 inches deep in the soil and follow the same depth it was planted in. Also, remember to use a succulent potting mix with a coarse sand or perlite-like texture.
3. Uneven Light Exposure
Another reason your snake plant leans to one side is uneven exposure to light. With a name like a mother-in-law’s tongue, each edgy, upright, sword-like leaf demands equal sunshine and resources.
If you consistently expose only a single side of the plant to light, it bends or stretches toward that side as it seeks all the sunny goodness from that direction.
The Fix: Gradually rotate your snake plant pot to ensure all parts of the plant get sunshine bit by bit. Do it once every 10-15 days, or find a spot where the plant can get full, even filtered sunshine.
4. Your Plant is Top Heavy
If the foliage of your snake plant becomes too large or heavy, it may look lopsided. The plant caves in or falls over to one side under the weight of its own long, thick leaves.
This occurs especially in poor light situations, and the stems weaken—common as snake plants mature.
The Fix: Prune the plant as the way suggested in our article with shears to reduce stress from its base, thus preventing leaves from leaning over.
For tall snake plants, you can use a decorative plant stake to support the leaves and prevent them from bending too much.
5. Not Enough Space
As your snake plant matures and grows tall, the roots spread vigorously. A pot that is too small can cause the plant to become root-bound. On the other hand, a large pot makes the plant more susceptible to toppling since these plants have shallow roots.
The Fix: The right pot size depends on the plant size; pick a pot two inches wider than the size of the plant’s root ball. If the root ball is about 6 inches wide, go with an 8-inch pot.
6. Pest Issues
While snake plants are typically hardy and resilient, even these fuss-free houseplants can become victims of infestations. Especially if there is rot due to watering and humidity, mealybugs and spider mites could attack the plant in its vulnerable state.
Pest damage destroys the plant’s structural integrity, causing it to bend or droop. To remedy this, you’ll need to get rid of the bugs swiftly.
7. External Foliage Damage
This popular houseplant is often subject to being placed in an overcrowded, high-traffic spot, which causes its leaves to get trampled upon, disturbed, and damaged. If so, shelter and move your snake plant from busy corridors and pathways.
In such cases, you’ll have to nurse it back to health or eliminate the “damaged” leaves.
