Black Spots On Snake Plant: What You Need To Know

Snake plants are very commonly known as home decor plants or indoor plants. They can make our home beautiful and presentable. Taking care of the snake plants is easy.

So, if you are looking for a solution or a treatment, you should keep reading the article. In this article, I have shared about identifying black dots on snake plant, the major causes, prevention, and more. Hope that this article will help you to deal with the black spots on your snake plants.

8 Major Causes for Black Spots on Snake Plant Leaves

Snake plants are generally known as decorative plants. They look beautiful, are easy to care for, and require very little water. Snake plans are very low maintenance but this does not mean to neglect them.

Because if you don’t take proper care of them, there can be problems. Black spots on the snake plants are also a common problem caused by lack of care. The major causes of back spots on snake plants are as follows:

This is the most common cause for snake plants to turn black. If you water the plant more than once in a week, then you are over-watering the plants. To avoid black spots on the snake plant, you should not over-water them. Both over-watering and under-watering can affect the plant and cause black spots on leaves. Wrong watering can also cause yellow leaves of snake plants.

Snake plants are prone to fungal diseases like southern blight and red leaf spot. These can further cause black spots on the snake plants. Also, fixing snake plant drooping can be a headache too.

Indirect sunlight is more convenient for snake plants to grow faster. When there is too much direct sunlight, it can cause black spots on snake plants. So, keep your snake plants away from too bright and direct sunlight. You need to be aware of what type of light you are giving to your snake plant.

Snake plants struggle in dry air conditions and can grow best in humid environments. To prevent dry air, you can use a spray bottle to mist the snake plant and keep humidity levels right.

Fertilizer is an important part of taking care of the snake plants, but excessive fertilizer can result in bad consequences. Excessive fertilizer can cause burning in the roots and can lead to black spots on the snake plants. 

Too much cold temperature can lead to damage to the leaves and the snake plants. This can create sars and patches on the sake plants and cause black spots.

Snake plants can get damaged in direct sunlight. Low light conditions are more convenient for snake plants to grow fast without interruption. Excess sun can cause black spots on the snake plants.

Snake plants can be sensitive to chemicals like chlorine or others. So, if your water contains these chemicals, it can cause problems like black spots on leaves. To maintain good water quality and prevent these issues, you can use distilled water or collected rainwater.

How to Identify Different Types of Black Spots on Snake Plants?

There are some easy ways to identify different types of black spots on snake plants:

• If you experience fuzzy spots or molds on the leaves, this can be a sign of black spots on your snake plants.
• Some pests can also cause black spots on the leaves, which is also a sign.
• Sometimes, you may experience the leaf edges turning black. This is a symptom of black spots on the leaves. 
• Fungal infections can also further cause black spots on the snake plants. So, this is also an indicator of black spots. 

Common Diseases and Pests That Cause Black Spots on Snake Plants

Here are 5 common snake plant diseases and pests that can cause black spots on the leaves:

This is a very common problem seen in many snake plants. Overwatering can cause this problem, especially in winter. When this happens, the plant roots can die from a lack of oxygen and overgrowth of oxygen.

The problem with root rot is that it is not that noticeable as it stays beneath the soil’s surface. This can cause different spots on the snake plant. In some cases, root rot can kill the snake plats within 8 to 10 days. So, you gotta be pretty clear about snake plant roots before planting.

This is a common pest on snake plants. This pest can leave holes and bite marks on the leaves. The spider mites make the leaves weak and cause yellow or discolored holes in them. The pest can also further cause black spots on leaves of snake plants. 

This is a common fungus found in snake plants caused by Sclerotium rolfsii. The common sign of southern blight is an infection on the surface of the plant leaves. Avoid using the pots and containers that carry the fungus.

Mealybugs are small and pink-colored insects that protect the snake plants from excess heat and moisture loss. The common signs of mealybug infection are deformed leaves or leaves with small white or black spots.

This is also a common disease caused by fungus. This disease is mostly seen in summer or warmer months. The common sign of red leaf spot is brownish-red dots on the leaves. With time, the spots on the leaves can expand in the area.

6 Ways to Treat and Get Rid of Black Spots on Snake Plant Leaves

To treat and get rid of the black spots on the snake plant leaves, you can follow the following ways:

• Watering:- Be very careful when watering the snake plants. Avoid over-watering the plants because too much water can increase the risk of the plant getting root rot. Too little water can also cause problems like black spots. So, be careful about watering the snake plants.
• Insecticidal Soap:- You can use insecticidal soap to treat the plants with black spots. Make sure that the leaves are coated with this soap. 
• Fungicide:- If you see signs of fungal problems with black spots on your snake plants, you should remove the infected part or the infected leaves immediately. After that, use a fungicide that is rich in copper and sulfur.
• Use Horticultural Oil:- If your snake plants have black spots on them, place horticultural oil directly on the plant. To make it effective, do not use this oil in cooler temperatures. This oil can be too much effective for the black spots on the snake plants.
• Pest Infestations:- Some pests can not only cause harm to the plants, but they can also kill them. So, when you do pest infestation on your snake plants, you will deal with the mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, thrips, and so on. This is how pest infestation can also help with the black spots on the snake plants.
• Fertilizer Burn:- Fertilizer is a great way to grow the snake plant. Excessive fertilizer can cause black spots or other problems in the plants. Use water to remove the excess fertilizer and then don’t use fertilizer for a few months.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

Conclusion

So, let’s sum it up. While you are wondering about the black spots on the snake plant, there can be different types of black spots on the snake plants. Overwatering, fungal disease, or too direct sunlight can damage the snake plants and cause black spots on leaves. However, you can prevent or treat the black spot problem from the snake plants.

You just need to be a bit careful and follow some simple tricks like watering properly or using fungicide or insecticidal soap and others. These simple ways can help you get rid of the black spots and enjoy the snake plants in your home.