How to Fix Your Mother-in-Law Plant With Yellow Leaves

Mother-in-law plant, mother-in-law's tongue, Hahnii and snake plant are all names for Sansevieria trifasciata, a tough indoor and outdoor plant that can survive through a variety of conditions. As horticulturist Jennifer Schultz Nelson of the University of Illinois says, "Surviving is not the same as thriving." While mother-in-law plants are commonly referred to as indestructible houseplants, they can experience problems, such as yellowing leaves, if left in poor conditions for too long. Improving the plant's conditions will likely bring its color back over time.

Larger pot
Balanced houseplant fertilizer
Rooting hormone (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings, as the mother-in-law plant doesn't do well in moist, soggy soils.
- 2
  Move the plant closer to a sunny window -- lack of light can lead to yellow, sickly looking plants. Move the plant to its new location gradually over time, so it can slowly adjust to its new lighting conditions.
- 3
  Move the plant out of hot, direct sun if the yellowing is accompanied by burned-looking patches. Mother-in-law plants can tolerate full sun, but if they're used to shadier conditions, they may burn and yellow. Reintroduce the plant to the sunnier location slowly, giving it time to adjust.
- 4
  Transfer the plant to a bigger pot if the leaves look crowded in addition to being yellow. Mother-in-law plant has strong, fast-growing roots; while they can tolerate begin overcrowded, this may involve losing some color.
- 5
  Apply a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer during your next watering if the plant has been in a container for a long time. Mother-in-law plant can live for years, even decades, and might use up all the nutrients in its container.

Bluebonnet Properties

Butterfly Garden in Dallas

Flower Basics