Brown Tips on Snake Plant (Sansevieria)? Here’s Why

Sansevieria, commonly called the “snake plant” or “mother-in-laws tongue” is a popular houseplant that is known for its low-maintenance nature and tolerance of neglect. This plant is a wonderful addition even to dark rooms and doesn’t mind a missed watering, making it great for busy plant owners.

While snake plants can survive a wide range of conditions, brown leaf tips are a commonly encountered problem that affect the appearance of the plant. Read more to find out causes for brown tips on snake plants and how to fix them.

Check out this Snake Plant Care Guide for more information about general Sansevieria care.

Brown tips on a snake plant are almost always a sign of one common stressor: underwatering, mineral buildup from tap water, over-fertilizing, low humidity, temperature extremes, too much direct sun, or pests. The browned tissue itself won't turn green again, but fixing the underlying cause keeps new growth healthy. Here's how to tell which one applies to your plant.

Brown tips on snake plant due to under watering

Although snake plants tolerate long periods of drought, they still need to be watered at some point to avoid drying out. Leaf tips are one of the first places you will see signs of dehydration.

If it has been a while since you last watered your snake plant, give it a good drink. Dump out the excess water that collects in the saucer so the plant does not stay wet for too long.

Water with room-temperature water. Cold water shocks the roots, leading to an unhappy plant.

Snake plants that are in bright rooms with low humidity require more frequent watering than those in low light rooms with high humidity. It is important to adjust the watering frequency based on each plant’s specific conditions.

How to bottom water a snake plant

If your snake plant’s soil is extremely dry, bottom soak the plant to increase moisture.

• Place the pot in a tub filled with room-temperature water. Let the pot sit until the top of the soil feels moist, checking every 15 minutes or so rather than watching the clock — a severely dried-out root ball can take a while to fully rewet.
• Poke a finger in the soil to see if the water has reached the top layer. If it still feels dry, water the soil from the top.
• Once the soil is saturated, drain the tub and allow the pot to drain the water thoroughly.
• Once the excess water has been drained, place the pot back in its original location.

How to water snake plants

It is important to keep a balance between under and over watering because dry soil causes brown leaf tips, while soaking wet soil causes root rot.

Before watering, check the moisture 1 to 2 inches down, not just the surface — snake plants want the soil dry at that depth, not just dry on top. If it's still damp down there, wait a few more days and check again. I usually water mine about every two to three weeks in summer, but I don't stick to that as a strict schedule — checking how dry the pot actually is comes first.

When it is time to water, water thoroughly until it runs from the drainage hole, then let the pot finish draining — a light sprinkle that only wets the surface won't reach the roots.

Plant the Sansevieria in a well-draining soil with several handfuls of perlite mixed in to increase drainage. A terracotta pot with a drainage hole also helps to remove extra water and allows the roots to breathe.

Brown tips on snake plant due to water quality

Even if your watering schedule is appropriate, the quality of the water used could be causing brown leaf tips. Tap water that is high in salts and minerals (like chlorine or fluoride) builds up in the soil, damaging the leaves. To avoid this problem, use a water filtration system. You can also water with collected rain water, or leave tap water out uncovered overnight, which lets free chlorine evaporate — though it won't help if your municipal water uses chloramine instead, since chloramine doesn't dissipate the same way. If brown tips persist despite this, filtered, distilled, or rain water is the more reliable fix.

See also: 12 Best Plants for Low Light Bathrooms

Brown tips on snake plant due to excess fertilizer

In their native habitat, snake plants are used to growing in nutrient deficient soils. As a result, they do not require frequent fertilizer. In fact, fertilizing too often damages the roots and leaves, causing brown tips.

If you would like to fertilize your snake plant to increase growth, a dilute, water-soluble fertilizer applied once a month during the growing season (spring through summer) is plenty — some growers feed even less, since Sansevieria is adapted to nutrient-poor soil in the wild and over-fertilizing is one of the more common causes of the brown tips this guide is about.

If you fertilized frequently and notice salt buildup, flush out the soil with water to remove the excess salts. If there is severe buildup, repot the plant in fresh new soil. Avoid fertilizing the snake plant for several months afterwards.

Related article: Monstera Care Guide

Brown tips on snake plant due to low humidity

Very low humidity also causes brown leaf tips. Some indoor spaces are excessively dry- avoid placing the snake plant next to any vents or heaters.

While snake plants do not need very high humidity, try to aim for a humidity level somewhere in the 35% to 50% range, which is typical for most homes.

Brown tips on snake plant due to temperature extremes

Snake plants prefer temperatures from 55 to 85 °F (13 to 29 °C). This is unlikely to be a problem if your snake plant is kept indoors year-round.

Cold temperatures below 50 °F (10 °C) stress the plant, leading to brown tips. If your snake plant is kept outside, bring it indoors when temperatures drop to avoid damage.

Snake plants also tolerate more heat than the 55–85°F comfort range implies — a brief spike well above 85°F usually isn't damaging on its own — but prolonged heat combined with intense sun and drying soil can still stress the plant outdoors in summer.

Brown tips on snake plant due to bright sunlight

Snake plants thrive in medium to bright indirect light. Extended exposure to direct sunlight causes leaf burn, especially if the plant is not used to such bright light. This is especially likely if your snake plant is right next to a south facing window.

Make sure the snake plant is not directly touching the window- the hot glass may burn the leaves. If your snake plant is receiving direct light, move it farther away from its light source or draw a sheer curtain so that it receives indirect light.

Direct sun itself isn't automatically harmful — NC State Extension notes that Dracaena trifasciata tolerates 2 to 6 hours of direct sun a day — but abrupt, intense sun through unfiltered glass is the more likely culprit for scorch. If you suspect sunburn, ease your plant into brighter light gradually over a couple of weeks rather than avoiding direct sun altogether.

Brown tips on snake plant due to pests

Brown leaf tips may be from insects such as spider mites or mealy bugs sucking on the sap of the plant. These insects damage the leaf structure, leading to distorted growth and discolored leaves.

Additional signs of pests:

• Cotton-white, waxy tufts (mealybugs) or fine webbing (spider mites)
• Black, sooty mold growing on sticky honeydew left behind by mealybugs or scale
• Silvery streaks, speckling, or scarring on young leaves — often thrips, which UF/IFAS lists as a common Sansevieria pest

Inspect the snake plant for any signs of insects. If there are pests, quarantine your plant and check any neighboring plants as well because they spread quickly.

Wash the plant in the sink under a strong stream of water, then treat with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil according to the product label. For individual pests, dab them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol — but test it on a small, hidden leaf area a day or two beforehand, since alcohol can burn sensitive leaves at full strength.

Many pests have a long life cycle, so plan on repeating treatment as directed on the product label until all signs of the infestation are gone — the whole process often takes several weeks.

To avoid infestation problems, check your houseplants regularly, especially when bringing home new plants from the nursery, or bringing in plants from outdoors.

Can I cut the brown tips off my snake plant?

Once the leaf tip has turned brown, it does not return to its green color. If the damage is minimal, snip it off, cutting in a way that follows the leaf's natural taper so it doesn't look oddly shaped.

If the damage is severe, cut off the whole leaf at the base of the soil — the plant will send up new leaves from its rhizome over time, rather than regrowing that same leaf.

Snake plant care summary

The following conditions help prevent brown tips on snake plants:

In summary for brown tips on snake plant…

While snake plants are known for their low-maintenance nature, brown tips are a common problem people face. Brown tips on snake plants may be due to any of the following:

1. Under watering: While snake plants tolerate periods of drought, they do need some water. If it has been a while since you last watered your snake plant, give it a good drink (you may need to bottom water if the soil is extremely dry). Water the snake plant when the top layer of soil is dry to touch. The best time depends on your plant’s specific conditions.
2. Water quality: Tap water that is high in salts and chemicals may hurt the snake plant, leading to brown tips. In this case, water with filtered water, collected rainwater, or water that has sat out overnight.
3. Excess fertilizer: Snake plants are not picky about fertilization. At most, fertilize once a month from spring to summer. If there is severe salt buildup, flush the pot with water.
4. Low humidity: While snake plants are not picky about humidity, very arid areas dry out the leaf tips. Avoid keeping the snake plant next to vents or heaters since their surrounding air is especially dry.
5. Temperature extremes: Very hot or very cold temperatures cause brown tips. Keep the snake plant in temperatures from 55 to 85 °F (13 to 29 °C). Bring the snake plant indoors during very hot or very cold periods.
6. Bright sunlight: Very bright light burns the leaves. Provide the snake plant with bright, indirect light. Avoid extended periods of direct light, and make sure the leaf tip is not directly touching the window.
7. Infestation by pests: Inspect the plant closely for insects and quarantine it if they are present. Follow the steps described to remove them.

To fix brown tips, identify and fix the underlying problems. Provide your snake plant with its ideal conditions to ensure the new growth is healthy. While you can not turn the brown tips back green, you can snip them off if the damage is minimal. If the majority of the leaf is affected, cut the leaf at the base of the soil.

Provide your snake plant with indirect light, room temperature, medium humidity, and water when the soil is dry for it to thrive.

See other plant specific care guides here

Have any more questions about brown tips on snake plants that I did not answer? Let me know down below!

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Snake plant brown tips: frequently asked questions

How often should I water a snake plant?

Water thoroughly, then let the soil dry out completely before watering again — usually every 2 to 4 weeks during the growing season and every 4 to 8 weeks or longer in winter. Snake plants can go for weeks without water, so when in doubt, wait a few more days; overwatering, not underwatering, is by far the more common way to lose one.

Can I use tap water on my snake plant?

You can, but if your tap water is high in chlorine, fluoride, or dissolved salts, it can build up in the soil over time and contribute to brown tips. Letting tap water sit out uncovered overnight lets free chlorine evaporate, but it won't help if your municipality uses chloramine instead, which doesn't dissipate the same way. Filtered, distilled, or collected rainwater is the more reliable fix if brown tips persist.

Will my snake plant's brown tips turn green again?

Once the leaf tip has turned brown, it does not return to its green color. If the damage is minimal, snip it off, cutting in a way that follows the leaf's natural taper. If the damage is severe, cut the whole leaf off at the base of the soil — the plant will send up new leaves from its rhizome over time, rather than regrowing that same leaf.

Is Sansevieria the same plant as Dracaena trifasciata?

Yes. Botanists have reclassified the genus Sansevieria into Dracaena, so the snake plant most commonly sold as Sansevieria trifasciata is now correctly called Dracaena trifasciata. Both names are still used interchangeably by nurseries and extension services, and the care advice is identical either way.

How much humidity does a snake plant need?

Not much — snake plants are comfortable in typical indoor humidity, generally in the 35% to 50% range. There's no need for a humidifier or pebble tray; just keep the plant away from cold drafts and heating or AC vents, which dry out the air right around the leaves.

Can something other than a care problem cause brown tips?

Yes — snake plant leaves are stiff and easy to bump, crease, or crush against furniture or a wall, and that kind of physical damage can turn brown just like an environmental stress would. If only one or two tips are affected in an odd spot while the rest of the plant looks healthy, rule out physical damage before you start adjusting your watering, light, or fertilizer routine.

Written from a very crowded windowsill

Every guide here comes from things I've actually tried on my own plants. Got a plant doing something weird? Send me a photo — I answer every one.

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