The Fuss-Free Snake Plant
As a houseplant, Snake plant, also known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, can be grown with little care. It is tolerant of different environmental conditions, light intensity as well as soil types. The other requirements to make it strong and healthy are mostly environmental, so you don’t need to fulfill them to make it grow well.
Basic Snake Plant Facts
It is a succulent that is often kept for its beautiful leaves. Snake plant (botanical name Sansevieria trifasciata) is one of the most popular houseplants. These plants are famous for their upright leaves that appear stunning for much of the year. The leaves are generally green, though some varieties of snake plants are also yellow or white around the edges.
Originating from South Africa, it typically grows to about two feet in height (60 cm), although there are smaller varieties that only reach a few inches in height.
However, certain cultivars develop a small white flower at the base of their plant, even though it is not something you ought to expect. Typically, this happens when the snake plant is several years old. It does not occur every year and you can’t predict when your snake plant might bloom.
Snake plant is low-maintenance and is ideal for beginners who would like to cultivate something that will last for decades in your home if given good care.
What is the Best Way to Water Snake Plant?
Snake plant is a very easy plant to grow and you shouldn’t encounter many problems. The main exception is watering. Improper watering regime is the main cause of snake plant problems.
The leaves on your snake plant should not be soaked as this could cause the leaves to rot. You should not water the snake plant when the soil has fallen. This is true of most house plants but is especially important to remember with snake plants, as they have plenty of leaves.
A second thing to keep in mind is your snake plant’s watering regime: it needs sufficient water, but not too much. Watering too much can cause the leaves to turn yellow and soft at the base. This is a common sign that they have been overwatered. Water your plants less if you see this happening because it prevents further problems affecting your plants.
If you wish to make sure that you are watering your plants properly, ensure that the top inch of soil is dry before watering them again. During the growing season, this is the main rule to follow. Winter watering requires a different approach. You should never water your plants more than you have to during the winter, as this can cause them to rot. In addition to that, don’t water them more than the roots can take.
How Often do You Water?
Snake plants, known as “Sansevieria”, are some of the most common plants that you will find in homes. They are easy to care for and tend to survive for longer periods of time than many other house plants do. If you often forget to water your plants or take frequent trips out of town, snake plants may be perfect for you. Since their fleshy leaves certainly retain water, they are also easy to maintain. But what is the ideal watering frequency for snake plants?
Most snake plant varieties require watering only every 10 to 14 days, or when the soil becomes completely dry. During the summer, weekly watering will be sufficient. During the winter, you should water your snake plant every month or two weeks. Though your snake plant’s location within your home may affect the amount of water it requires.
Step 1
As soon as you water your plant, you will notice that the soil has become darker (either dark brown or blackish brown, depending on the type of topsoil you are using). After the watering, the soil will seem to shine a bit (for at least a few seconds).
If you press your finger on the soil you should see water squeezing out of it above your finger. This means that you provided more than enough water for the soil to soak up.
Step 2
After you have watered your snake plant, watch to see how the soil changes. This usually takes between 1-2 hours. Once this has happened, you will notice that the soil has stopped shining, but it still looks darker and drier than it did before the water had been added. Water should not rise above the surface of the soil if you press a finger on it.
Step 3
If you wait anywhere between 24 and 36 hours, you should see that some areas of the soil haven’t changed color, while other areas have become lighter. This is a good sign. If you touch the soil with your finger, you would feel moist to the touch, and there shouldn’t be any water sitting on the surface of the ground.
In case the top of the soil is dry, it indicates that you have not properly hydrated the plant and it may need more water.
What’s The Best Type Of Water For Snake Plants?
The best type of water to use with snake plants are rainwater or spring water. Most types of water used on indoor plants will also work well with snake plants.
In comparison to hard water, rain water and spring water do not contain harmful minerals that can stunt plant growth. Despite the fact that distilled water isn’t necessarily bad for snake plants, when watered with spring or rain water, they tend to grow faster.
Additional Snake Plant Care Tips
The following tips will help you maintain your snake plant:
The best way to grow it is in bright light. However, it can grow in almost any light. Even low light will not harm it.
Sansevierias prefer potting mixes made from cactus or soilless potting mixes.
Your snake plant needs regular watering to stay healthy. Keep the soil lightly moist (not damp!) during the growing season. Winter is the time to water less, just to prevent the soil from drying out. Make sure never to overwater the leaves with water, especially not the centers.
Your snake plant will grow best in average levels of humidity. Although it tolerates dry air well, you still need to keep your snake plant away from drafts and air vents.
Ideal temperatures for snake plants are between 60 and 75 degrees F (16 to 24 degrees C). The snake plant is tolerant of fluctuating temperatures. Nevertheless, it will not tolerate extreme cold temperatures, so never leave it in a very cold room.
You need to fertilize your snake plant once a month from spring through fall to help it thrive. Use a fertilizer designed especially for succulents.
Repotting your Sansevieria snake plant should only happen in spring before it becomes too crowded or if it needs dividing; it may not happen every year. When repotting, it’s important to keep the rosette of leaves at soil level. Use a wide, heavy container to prevent the snake plant from toppling. Remember that snake plants can be top-heavy, so they need a strong container to support them.
You can propagate Sansevieria snake plants from cuttings or divisions. This plant is easy to divide because it has shallow roots. To divide the plant, remove the entire plant from the pot. Use a knife to cut through the thick roots, then plant the individual clumps in separate pots.
Cut the leaves into two inch (5 cm) pieces if you chose to propagate with leaf cuttings. Put those in moist perlite or cactus potting mix to form new plants. When burying the cuttings in the growing medium, make sure they are buried right side up (as they were growing).