Question
Had the snake plant since Nov 2010. It has become ugly with almost chewed on or abrasion like marks. the green matter is disappearing. plant looking thready and in those areas that have become fibre like are also fibre like color, perhaps like jute or tanish colored burlap. A friend got theirs at the same time from same place and that one is doing very well, nice health green with  new shoots too and already looking ready for larger pot even. what could be the cause of mine going bad and what remedy might be recommended. Appreciate your efforts with any feedback. Thank you, Pat  

Answer
Dear Pat, Generally, there are only two real things that can go wrong with the snake plant or sansievera.  The one insect pest it is susceptible to would be scale, which would appear as small unmoving bumps along the plant.  If that were the case, you would need to spray it with a horticultural oil (SunSpray is the best), several times at 7 to 10 days apart to treat this condition.  Now the most likely cause of problems with snake plant is overwatering.  Usually I only water this one once a week, water thoroughly, and most important, if it is in a tray or saucer, discard the water from the saucer.  It is a plant that is very susceptible to rot. Cut off and remove all the dead or rotten looking areas, allow it to dry out if needed, and spray if it shows signs of scale.  Also, if it has gotten too wet, you might want to spray with a fungicide to keep the rot under control.  Triple Action Plus is one suggestion as it kills mites, insects, and fungus.  Good luck, and let me know if you need more assistance.  Oh and if you have a cat, the cat is probably having a snack.  I can't keep house plants because my cat eats them all.  Melissa