How To Fix A Snake Plant With Drooping Leaves

The snake plant is also called Sansevieria and "mother-in-law's tongue," for its sharp, upright leaves, which are mottled green and yellow and resemble a snake. Up to 140 species and varieties of this plant exist, but only 15 of them are available as potted plants at nurseries. Related to cactus, these succulent plants require little care and only occasional water. If you give your snake plant the conditions it needs, it will remain healthy and the leaves won't droop. However, if the leaves begin to lose their upright form and droop, it's time to take action to save your plant.

Step 1

Plant your snake plant in garden soil that contains organic compost and drains quickly if you are growing it outdoors; plant it in fast-draining potting soil if you are growing it as a houseplant. Also, grow it in an area where it receives dappled sun.

Step 2

Maintain a temperature above about 50 degrees Fahrenheit in your snake plant's environment. If this plant becomes too chilled, the leaves will droop.

Step 3

Repot or move a plant when its leaves droop — this condition often results when the plant receives excessive water. Dig it up or remove it from its pot, rinse off all old soil and replant it in fresh potting soil or an outdoor area where drainage is better.

Step 4

Cut back all drooping leaves: they will not revive after you repot it, but new growth will be upright.