This winter, thousands of plant parents are shocked as snake plant leaves suddenly turn mushy, soft, and yellow. A rare 2025 humidity shift is causing unexpected rot—here’s the exact reason and how to fix it fast.
✨ AI Overview
Winter Woes: Snake Plant Leaves Turning Soft
Summary generated by AI · Reviewed by Indoor Plantify Team
Planters across India are reporting snake plant leaves turning soft like boiled potatoes this winter.
The problem is linked to changing winter humidity (warmer days, colder nights) and continuous heater use, causing root rot.
Snake plants are highly sensitive to cold temperatures below 15°C and overly wet conditions.
Every year winter brings with it small surprises but this year something strange is happening. Planters all over India have started posting pictures of their snake plants on their social media accounts in which it is clearly visible that the leaves of their plants have become soft like boiled potatoes and to tell the truth, after seeing them I too am getting very worried about my plants. Why is this problem occurring, what is its reason, let us know everything about it in detail.
But in the winter of 2025, there is a different change in humidity like the days are getting warmer and the nights are getting colder, at the same time people keep on running heaters continuously in their rooms due to which the roots of the snake plant start rotting, what is the right solution for this, know everything through this article.
Why do snake plant leaves start to wilt in winter?
The snake plant dislikes these two things :
• Cold temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius
• Wet soil that stays wet for too long Photo : An infographic showing the main winter rot triggers for snake plants — cold drafts, wet soil, low sunlight, and high humidity — the key causes behind the 2025 mushy leaf problem.
This winter, both of these conditions are occurring simultaneously, suffocating the roots of your plants and breaking down the cells of the new leaves, causing the leaves to wilt and then fall off.
The main reason for this is that
1. Too much water + cold weather = quick rot
In winter, the soil in your plant pots often dries up to 70% and that is why you should water it only once a week and that too when your soil has dried up to about 70 to 80 percent. If you do not do this, then this can also happen due to it like.
• The leaves of your plants may turn black and possibly even rot.
• The soil where your plant is kept may also begin to rot.
• The soil may also begin to smell.
2. Less sunlight in winter 2025
Winter brings shorter days and dew all day and night, which keeps the weather moist and prevents your plant's soil from drying out completely. If your plant's soil doesn't dry out properly, it will start to smell.
• Low light = gradual evaporation = rotting.
3. Cold air coming in from windows or floors
When you leave your windows open, cold air directly hits the potted plants, causing the roots to die and their cells to burst. This results in the plant's leaves appearing like this:
• Soft
• Yellow and wet
• Soft and shriveled
4. Wrong potting soil (too moisture-absorbent)
Snake plants require soil that drains quickly. If you use garden soil or a cocopeat mix to plant snake plants, it will retain too much moisture, which can often cause snake plants to rot in winter.
Does Mushy Snake Plant Have Fungus or Bacterial Rot?
• The following are the diagnoses for Mushy Snake Plant cases at Plant Farm 2025:
• Soft rot (bacterial) → Leaves appear watery and have a sour odor.
• Root rot (fungal) → Leaves turn yellow and then soften at the base.
• Both are caused by overly wet soil in low temperatures.
Photo : Snake plant leaf cuttings drying for 24 hours before propagation — an essential step to prevent rot and ensure healthy new growth.
How to Treat a Snake Plant When It's Rotting
Step 1 — Remove any rotting leaves immediately
Cut off any soft, brown, rotting leaves at the root. These leaves won't recover, but they can slow down the growth of new leaves.
Step 2 — Remove the plant from the pot
Check the roots.
• If your roots are healthy, they will be white and strong.
• If your roots are rotten, they will appear brown, black, rotting, and smelly.
• Immediately cut off any rotting roots.
Step 3 — Allow the roots to air dry for 24 hours.
• This step is crucial in winter.
• Dry roots heal faster and kill bacteria.
Step 4 — Repot in fresh, dry soil
Use a soil mix of the following for winter:
• 50% cactus soil
• 30% perlite
• 20% orchid bark
Or
You can use any fast-draining soil mix instead.
Step 5 — Do not water the plant after repotting it.
• Wait 7–10 days.
• Watering the plant immediately may cause the plant to rot again.
Step 6 — Move the plant to a warm, bright location
Your snake plant also needs:
• Bright light
• No cold drafts
• Temperatures above 18°C
Photo : A healthy snake plant placed in a warm, bright spot with dry soil — the ideal winter setup to prevent leaves from turning soft or mushy.
How to prevent leaves from turning soft in winter?
1. Water every 20–30 days.
• In winter, humidity is already high, and snake plants prefer to stay dry.
2. Don't place it on the floor.
• Your floor is cold in winter, which can cause the soil to remain wet and lead to rot.
3. Use clay pots instead of plastic ones.
• Always use clay pots because clay pots dry out quickly, reducing the chance of rot.
4. Provide plenty of sunlight in winter.
Place your plants near the following locations:
• East window
• South balcony
• Indoor plants are not meant to be kept in corners.
5. Use a heat mat during extreme winters.
Heat mats help keep the roots warm and prevent plant cell damage.
Why is this problem more common in 2025?
The reason for this is that the winter of 2025:
• It will be colder than in previous years.
• There will be more humidity at night.
• There will be less sunlight in the early mornings.
• This unusual weather pattern is causing excessive water to accumulate in pots, creating perfect conditions for snake plant rot.
When the snake plant dries out too much.
If all the leaves become soft, save the plant by:
• Cut off pieces of healthy leaves.
• Let them dry for 1–2 days.
• Grow in dry soil or perlite.
Snake plants root easily and can regrow even if the main root system dies.
I’m Ankit Jha, leading editorial direction, SEO strategy and overall technical operations at IndoorPlantify. My core focus is on creating a fast, mobile-first reading experience with clear content structure and optimised structured data to ensure that readers get accurate home gardening information quickly and in the most practical manner.