How to tell if your snake plant is healthy? A snake plant with healthy leaves has fleshy, deep green leaves that stand upright. If the leaves are pale and wilted, the plant may be diseased or maltreated and will need more care to recover. In order to make sure that your snake plants are growing happily and healthily, always pay attention to their needs.
Snake Plant Lighting Needs
How to tell if your snake plant is healthy? Generally, snake plants do best when exposed to bright, indirect light. “One misconception is that snake plants are low-light varieties. That’s how they’re usually marketed,” Sabharwal tells. Droopy and sad-looking leaves indicate that your snake plant isn’t getting enough sunlight.
It is important not to transplant your snake plant from a dark corner to a high-light location suddenly, however you can train it to grow well near a window that receives brighter light. Santiago recommends gradually moving it toward the light source while maintaining high humidity levels Once it’s close to your window, keep an eye out for “sunburn.” According to Santiago, “a thinning leaf is a sign of plant sunburn.” The light condition in your house will also affect the snake plant watering schedule.
Snake Plant Soil Needs
Because snake plants are slow growers, they usually do not require fertilizer, but you will want to replace the soil every eight to 12 months to protect against root rot. As you give your snake plant a fresh supply of soil, make sure that its roots reach the pot all the way. If they are, you’ll need to move it to a new container that’s 1 to 2 inches wider. However, Santiago says this should only need to be done once every two to three years. (Snake plants are slow growers!) Some other signs that your snake plant might need a change are wilted leaves or older leaves that suddenly begin to die, even if your care practices remain the same.
Snake Plants Watering Needs
A Snake Plant requires watering, and this is essential. It’s important not to overdo it because your plant will rot. Before thoroughly watering again, make sure the soil is almost completely dry. You should water your Snake Plants every 2-8 weeks. A soil mix, pot size, and the type of environment in your home will determine your watering schedule. Why so long? In the winter months, I water my Snake Plants less often (every 8 weeks for those in large pots) when the temperature is cooler and the sun is less intense. It’s almost the end of the year, which means your houseplants are resting.
It is actually a succulent, which means its leaves, stems, and roots store extra water and can survive in arid conditions. Snake plants, without a doubt, are succulents. “If you pull out snake plants, you’ll notice these giant root structures,” Sabharwal says. “The roots contain a lot of water, and the fleshy leaves also contain a lot of water.” Therefore, this is one type of plant that can survive with some breaks between waterings. Before watering snake plants, make sure their soil is completely dry to the touch. When snake plants are overwatered, the stems attached to the root system start getting soggy, says Sabharwal. He explains, “That means there is something wrong. They are very abuse-tolerant.”
How to tell if your snake plant is healthy? Keep water from building up in the center of the leaves (where they form a cup), because this can lead to a mushy plant and eventually rot. Frankly speaking, Snake Plant is the perfect plant for people who travel frequently or ignore plants in general.