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The Snake Plant, also known as Sansevieria, is a sturdy plant with long, stiff, and broad leaves. Thanks to its high adaptability and resilience, this plant is commonly chosen for indoor gardening. The broad leaves help absorb toxins and carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen to purify the air. Even though it is a tough plant, proper care is essential for its healthy growth. By selecting a strong plant, creating a favorable environment, and maintaining it well, your Snake Plant will thrive for many years.
Steps
Repot the Plant
Look for a plant with dark green leaves to ensure it is healthy. The dark green leaves of the Snake Plant indicate that it is strong and well-nourished. Yellowing leaves at the edges or soft, pale leaves might signal that the plant is struggling. It's best to wait until the plant has regained its strength before repotting, allowing it time to adjust to the new environment and recover from the transition stage.
- A pale Snake Plant is not necessarily dying. It might just need some water, and with a little care, you can help it bounce back!
Choose a pot made from breathable materials. Snake plants are prone to root rot, especially if exposed to standing water for too long. Opt for a pot with good drainage, such as clay pots or other breathable materials, to reduce the risk of root decay.
- Breathable materials include clay, terracotta, wood, paper pulp, and other natural substances that allow moisture to escape.
- If you prefer using a decorative pot with no drainage hole, plant your snake plant in a plastic nursery pot, and then place it inside the decorative pot.
Tip: If you plan to grow your Snake Plant outdoors, choose a dark-colored pot to absorb heat, especially if you live in a cooler climate.
Select a well-draining soil mix. Snake plants do not require much water, and their roots can be damaged if left in overly wet soil. To ensure good drainage and healthy roots, choose a soil that allows water to pass through easily, or even use a soil-less mix. Place the plant in the pot and fill with enough soil to keep it stable.
- Many potting soils available in garden stores are designed to regulate moisture and improve drainage. Check the packaging for information about the soil mix.
- You can also use soil-less growing mediums such as vermiculite, peat moss, and perlite.
Grab the base of the leaves and gently pull the plant from its old pot. When repotting, hold the plant by the base of the leaves where they meet the soil. Gently slide the plant out of its pot.
- Do not shake the soil off the roots.
- Do not pull or yank the plant out of the pot. Doing so may tear the leaves from the roots, which could harm the plant.
Place the plant into the new pot and fill with soil to cover the roots. Transfer the plant to its new pot and add soil or soil-less mix until the plant is stable. Add more soil if the plant leans to one side or tips over inside the pot.
- Keep the plant upright while adding soil to the pot.
- Press the soil down by gently tapping it with your hand to secure the plant in place.
Provide a suitable environment for the plant
Place the snake plant in indirect sunlight. The snake plant is a hardy plant, known for its high endurance and ability to withstand both full sunlight and very low light. However, it thrives best in indirect sunlight, which is why it is such a great indoor plant.
- An area with indirect sunlight can be near an east-facing window, in the center of a room, or in a corner without direct sunlight coming through the window.
- The snake plant prefers natural light, so avoid placing it in a room without windows.
Maintain the temperature between 13 - 29 degrees Celsius. The snake plant thrives in warm temperatures, but anything over 29°C could harm the plant and cause it to wilt. This plant is also sensitive to cold temperatures, and anything below 10°C can kill its roots.
- Temperature fluctuations generally do not affect the snake plant, as long as the temperature stays within the plant's preferred range.
Tip: Frost is particularly harmful to the snake plant. If you plan to grow it outdoors, be sure to bring the plant inside before the winter frost arrives!
Keep the snake plant out of reach of children and pets. While the snake plant has low toxicity, it can cause discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if ingested. Pets and children are at risk of eating the plant's leaves, so be sure to place it where they cannot reach it.
- A wall-mounted shelf or a high stool can keep the plant safely out of reach.
Maintenance of the Snake Plant
Water the plant when the top 2.5 cm of soil has dried out. The snake plant doesn't require much water, which is one of the reasons it's so easy to care for. In fact, overwatering is a common mistake that can lead to root rot. To be safe, only water the plant when the top layer of soil is completely dry. You can test the soil by sticking your finger in to check for moisture.
- Water enough to dampen the soil, but not so much that it collects in the bottom of the pot. Excess water should drain from the pot.
Tip: If you use a soil-free mix to grow your snake plant, water it once a week.
Fertilize every few weeks during spring and summer. Snake plants don't require a lot of fertilizer, but they'll grow better with some feeding during their growing season in spring and summer. Use a basic indoor plant fertilizer and apply it every couple of weeks or after every two waterings.
- Check the fertilizer packaging for proper dosage and method.
- Never fertilize when the plant is dormant, which usually happens in the winter months.
Rotate the plant pot weekly to ensure all the leaves get even sunlight. To ensure your snake plant grows evenly and all leaves receive enough sunlight, rotate the pot by ¼ turn each week. This also helps the plant grow upright instead of leaning to one side.
- A simple reminder is to rotate the pot every time you water the plant.
Avoid trimming snake plants. Unlike other houseplants, trimming doesn't encourage the snake plant to sprout new shoots. Snake plants grow slowly, and trimming them can actually harm the plant, slowing its growth as it recovers.
- If you wish to keep the snake plant at a certain height or size, only trim it lightly to ensure its health. Frequent trimming can damage the plant and may even lead to its death.
Pay attention to pests on the plant. Mealybugs and red spider mites are the main pests that thrive on snake plants. Every time you water your plant, make sure to inspect the leaves for any pests.
- You can get rid of mealybugs by applying a drop of rubbing alcohol on them.
- Wash the leaves with a cloth and warm water to remove red spider mites.
- Pests can be a sign that your plant is unhealthy. Restoring the plant's health usually prevents pest infestations.
