Guide to Propagating Snake Plants

Snake plants, also known as “Mother-in-Law’s Tongue” and Sansevieria, are easy to care for. Renowned for its rigid, blade-like foliage, it is a durable and favored indoor plant. Various varieties are available with yellow or cream borders and green-banded or striped leaves.

Their ability to survive low light levels and drought, as well as a few insect problems, makes them an excellent choice. NASA research has shown that snake plants can purify the air in your home. They do this by removing harmful toxins like formaldehyde and benzene. Great for gardening indoors.

Snake plants: Facts and Figures

• Botanical name: Dracaena trifasciata, Sansevieria
• Height: —> 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 m)
• Spread: —> 1 to 2 feet (0.3to 0.6 m)
• Sun exposure: —> partial shade
• Soil requirements: well-drained potting mix
• Hardiness zones: —> 10 to 12
• When to plant: —> year-round indoors
• Toxicity: —> Toxic to cats and dogs

How to care for snake plants

Snake plants are a good choice for beginners because they tolerate a wide range of growing conditions. Indoors, this low-maintenance container plant adds decorative interest. It requires little water and tolerates low light levels. Also, it grows quickly, so it’s perfect for adding a touch of greenery to any room.

Growing conditions

Snake plants as houseplants rarely bloom, but providing sufficient sunlight and letting them become rootbound can promote indoor flowering.

In ideal growing conditions, they can produce delicate, creamy-white, tubular flowers. A night-blooming flower is fragrant and similar to a lily in appearance.

Ensure you select a snake plant variety that blooms, since not all varieties bloom.

Light Requirement

Snake plants grow best with eight to ten hours of indirect sunlight or a few hours of direct sunlight in the morning. Getting too much direct sun can cause the plant’s leaves to burn and become damaged. The plants tolerate some shade, but lack of light stunts growth and dilutes their color.

Soil Requirements for Snake Plants

Choosing a well-drained potting soil mix is essential for snake plants as houseplants. Universal cactus potting soil is a suitable option for them as they thrive in more sandy soil. Check your soil mix for excessive peat, which can cause water retention.

Snake Plant Watering Schedule

Water your snake plant deeply when the soil has completely dried out. During winter, check the soil mix every two weeks or so; the plant might only need watering once a month. You should water the leaves of your plant immediately if they appear brittle and dry.

Spring and summer are the best times to water the plant since it is in active growth. It is important to keep in mind that overwatering is the quickest way to kill a snake plantIf you water plants too much or leave them in water for too long, they will rot. Yellowing leaves are an early indication of overwatering.

Humidity and temperature

Temperatures between 70°F and 90°F are ideal for snake plants. Keep plants away from cold drafts.

The plant cannot tolerate frost, and prolonged exposure to temperatures below 50°F will kill it. Ideally, they need between 30 and 50 percent humidity in the house to survive.

Fertilizer

The best time to fertilize your snake plant is once in spring and once in mid-summer. Dilute the slow-release fertilizer 10-10-10 to half strength before you apply it to your snake plant. I do not recommend fertilizing during the winter months.

Problems with Snake Plants

Snake plants grown indoors as houseplants have minimal issues. The most common problem that snake plants face is root rot, which leads to droopy leaves on the plant. It is possible to avoid this by ensuring that there is good drainage and not overwatering the plants.

The wintering period

Snake plants cannot tolerate temperatures below 50°F. You should bring plants grown outdoors indoors and keep them in a warm place to protect them from cold drafts. Reduce watering as the plant enters winter dormancy and allow soil to completely dry out before rewatering.

Narrow and Stretched Leaves

The leaves can droop if they receive too much sun, but they can also droop if they receive too little sun.

Photosynthesis is essential for plants to survive. Whatever they can do to get enough of it, they will. Particularly with succulent-like plants that require more sunlight than thin-leaved plants, this is true.

Snake plants will grow and stretch toward the nearest light source when they don’t get enough light. Etiolation causes extra-long, narrow, and thin leaves that are not particularly attractive, nor are they healthy for the plant.

Give your plant more light – that’s the solution. Indirect light near a window should be sufficient, but these plants prefer some direct sunlight.

Mushy Leaves

There are several reasons why leaves become mushy:

• Have you exposed your plant to cold temperatures? The plant may have been left outside when it was cold, or it may have been shipped to you during cold winter months. Snake plants can easily turn to mush if temperatures are too cold.
• Is your potting mix too wet? Does your plant sit in water, perhaps in the saucer underneath or in its decorative cache pot?

Curling leaves

Curled snake plant leaves are commonly caused by thrips. Dehydration is the most common cause of curled snake plant leaves. Your plant is likely thirsty if you see curled, wrinkled foliage with brown edges. Check the soil moisture by sticking your finger one to two inches into the topsoil. Water your plant if it feels dry. Cut away severely affected leaves and spray the plant with neem oil to keep them at bay.

Drooping or falling leaves

Overwatering can cause snake plant leaves to fall over. The leaves, roots, and rhizomes (the underground horizontal stems that spread them) all store water. Leaves will begin to mush out at the base, crease, and then fall over. Move plants to brighter spots, waterless, and change the soil to improve drainage.

Varieties of snake plants

Many varieties of snake plants are available but some common of them are given below:

“Laurentii” 

The leaves of this cultivar have attractive yellow bands along the edges.

“Moonglow” 

This Sansevieria has a silvery green color and does not have stripes.

 ‘Golden Hahnii’ 

This species has short leaves and yellow borders. A cylindrical snake plant (Sansevieria cylindrical) has round, dark green, striped leaves and can grow from 2 to 3 feet tall.

“Twist” Sansevieria trifasciata

The name suggests that these leaves twist. Besides being horizontally striped, it has yellow variegated edges and grows to about 14 inches (35.5 cm).

“Rhino Grass (Sansevieria desertii)” 

This one grows to about 12 inches (30 cm+) tall and has succulent red leaves.

Sansevieria trifasciata “Bantel’s Sensation” 

This cultivar grows up to 3 feet (91 cm.) tall and has narrow leaves with white vertical stripes.

Here are some FAQs

What’s the origin of the snake plant’s name?

Snake plant’s long, thin leaves bearing distinct stripes and other markings are similar to snakes in appearance.

Do Snake Plants have a specific blooming season?

A small chance exists that snake plants will flower indoors. Not a single flower has ever been produced by Cassie’s plants.

Can snake plants be toxic to humans and animals?

Neither humans nor pets should consume snake plants because they contain saponin toxins.