Despite being extremely hardy, snake plants still require light to spur growth and produce more healthy leaves. But how much exactly the exact amount of light snake plant need?
Photosynthesis requires sunlight, which is more important than all the other factors. During this process, oxygen, water, and light are converted into energy in the form of carbohydrates. This is why you need to know the exact amount of light snake plant need.
Although snake plants can tolerate low light indoors, they will become floppy, leggy, and sickly. They may become wilted and die off in some prolonged cases.
It’s important to note that grow lights can be used to grow snake plants instead of or in addition to sunlight.
Exact Amount of Light Snake Plant Need; Sun Checking
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To know if our snake plant get the exact amount of light snake plant we need to check the sun checking firs. This is how:
The Hand Shadow Test
Hand shadow tests are an easy, cost-free way to determine how much light a spider plant is receiving. As an alternative to your hand, you can use any object like a stick.
Prepare the area where your plant is parked by laying down a large white piece of paper
Directly over the spot where the plant will grow, hold your hand roughly 12 inches (30 cm) above the ground. Tests should be performed before noon to ensure accurate results.
Spread your fingers wide and evenly
By holding your hand over the paper, check the shadow it casts. How does it look?
The more clearly your hand casts a shadow, the brighter (or more intense) the light hitting the spot will be. A hand shadow test can be read as follows:
When you see either hardly recognizable shadows or no shadow at all, the area receives low light. This dim area is not the best place for your snake plant.
An area that receives medium light produces a blurry, hazy, or fuzzy hand shadow. And yet it’s still recognizable.
Light that is bright casts a clear, well-defined shadow. The digits on your hands are easily visible. Your snake plant will thrive here if the light is filtered or indirect.
South-facing windows let in the brightest light, followed by west and east-facing windows in that order.
Those exposed to the north usually have the darkest exposure. Walking away from a window or light source reduces light brightness or intensity drastically.
Using a Lux Meter
A snake plant’s light requirements are determined by two variables. Light intensity and amount are two different things.
An illuminated object is measured using a lux meter, which measures the intensity of light. Lumens per square meter are measured in Lux.
Snake plants thrive in brightly lit areas, which is why a meter reading between Lux 10,000 and 20,000 is ideal. They can handle medium-light, ranging from Lux 2,500 to 10,000, pretty well.
You might consider investing in a mid-range Lux meter if you have lots of houseplants. In spite of this, you should consider buying a multifunction model that can also read temperature and relative humidity.
Exact Amount of Light Snake Plant Need; Hours
It seems that mother-in-law plants love to forgive because they are quite forgiving. Part-sun, part-shade, and low light conditions are all acceptable.
The recommended number of exposure hours will vary, however, depending on the intensity of the light. Snake plants require at least eight to ten hours of bright indirect sunlight a day (source:
If the sun is too hot, however, snake plants may wilt along with brown tips and edges and suffer scorching. Snake plants can tolerate up to six hours of direct sunlight.
Your snake plant’s growth will be influenced by how much light it receives. Too much light will cause your snake plant to sunburn, wilt, and wash out.
A lack of light will result in floppy, leggy growth as well as yellow leaves, wilting leaves, and dying leaves.
The best way to care for your snake plant is to provide bright, indirect, or filtered light 8-10 hours a day. You can also use growth lights for 12-14 hours a day, so you don’t have to worry about the location.
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