How to Grow Snake Plant

Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata, previously Sansevieria) is a great houseplant to start with if you're new to having indoor plants. It is a striking plant that visually adds beauty in a home. It has many features that we will talk about today. We will also share why they are easy-to-grow and share ideas of where to place them in your home.

Characteristics of Snake Plants

• Variegated leaves: Snake plants have gorgeous, variegated leaves, that varies some, depending on the variety.

  
  

• Many varieties: There are many varieties of Snake Plant, which, as we said above, vary in color, size, and variegation.

  
  

• Upright nature/ space saver: Because of their upright nature, they do not weep, cascade, and sprawl like many houseplants do. They can compactly fit in many spaces. Although they can fit in smaller spaces, they also work well in larger rooms. Their striking, visual appeal looks beautiful in spacious rooms.

  
  

• Larger and smaller sizes: Snake Plants are available in small sizes, perfect for a nightstand or desk, as well as larger sizes that can sit on the floor.

  
  

• Can tolerate low-light rooms: We will explain more below, but Snake Plants can tolerate spaces that other houseplants cannot.

  
  

• Perfect for an office space: If your office doesn't have a lot of natural light or you're in a cubicle, Snake Plant can be an excellent choice for a plant, due to their ability to take less light and how it needs minimal care (including minimal water).

  
  

• Adds texture to a space: Our eyes read a room and read texture without actually touching an item. Snake Plants add visual texure to a room through their variegation and spiky appearance.

  
  

• Not 100% pet-friendly: Please note that if you have pets, if ingested, they can cause mild stomach upset and possibly vomiting. If your animals never bother houseplants, they should be fine.

  
  

• Minimal fertilizer and water: We will share more below, but these plants do not need a lot of fertilizing and water.

Health Benefits of Snake Plants

• All houseplants are beneficial to health, but Snake Plants are especially good for homes.

  
  

• A NASA Clean Air Study found that Snake Plants can remove formadehyde, benzene, and other impurities from the air. They were top performers in this study.

  
  

• They produce oxygen at night, making it desirable to have one in every bedroom. All houseplants produce oxygen during the day, but Snake Plants are one of the only ones that have been proven to also release it once the sun goes down.

  
  

• Snake Plants may help reduce allergy symptoms as they filter the air inside your home.

  
  

• Having houseplants help our mental health. They help bring rest and calm, and are said to help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

Ideas of Where to Place One in Your Home

• Living room or bedroom

• In an office

• A guest room

• Kitchen or dining room

Remember, Snake Plants are unique in that they can tolerate both low-light rooms and bright light indoors. Although they are very tolerant of low light, we wouldn't recommend placing one in a room that rarely receives any light (whether artificial or natural sunlight), such as a guest bathroom that doesn't have a window.

Care Tips

• Wipe their leaves periodically (about once every month or two) to remove dust. This quick, simple act keeps them healthier and keeps them clean. Over time, dust on the leaves prevents sunlight absorption and reduces growth and how well they thrive. Wipe their leaves with a clean, damp cloth. If there is a lot of dust or you can't get the foliage clean with a damp cloth, add a couple of small drops of Dawn dish soap to the damp cloth and wipe the leaves. Then, wipe off the soap with another clean, damp cloth.

• Snake Plants can be planted in succulent/ cactus soil. It is well-draining, which will help keep the roots from staying too wet. We also recommend planting this houseplant in a pot with drainage holes.

  
  

• Water them when the soil is completely dry. Stick your finger about an inch into the soil- if it is dry, it is time to water once well. Then let it dry out again before watering again. Snake Plants do not tolerate consistently wet soil. You may end up watering approximately every 2-3 weeks, but you'll need to check the soil as every home's humidity and conditions differ. During the spring and summer (especially if you take your houseplants outside in a covered area during the warmest months), know that you may need to water your Snake Plant a little more often. Try not to get water on the leaves.

• Snake Plants are usually not bothered by pests, but occasionally, they can have pests such as aphids, gnats, or spider mites. Call us if you suspect a pest, and we will instruct you based on what it is.

  
  

• You can prune the leaves if needed. You can also divide a Snake Plant if it has gotten too big- this will give you two or three plants! You can also propagate your Snake Plant to make new plants by cutting a healthy leaf at the base of the plant. Then cut it at a slight angle at the bottom. You can root it in water or in fresh succulent soil.

  
  

• Snake Plants honestly don't require much fertilizing. If you choose to, you can fertilize your Snake Plant with a balanced (10-10-10, for example) houseplant fertilizer in early spring and once again in summer. If your plant has been in the same pot for a few years, we would suggest fertilizing it if you aren't planning to repot with fresh soil, as nutrients can deplete over time.