蜜桃恋人

How to Care for Snake Plants

Photo Credit
Myroslava Bozhko/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Dracaena spp. (formerly: Sansevieria spp.)
Plant Type
Houseplant
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Part Sun
Shade
Soil pH
Neutral
Flower Color
White

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Growing Snake Plants: Watering, Lighting, Propagation, and Pests

Catherine Boeckmann

We love snake plants! Also known as 鈥淢other-in-Law’s Tongue鈥 and Sansevieria, these are one of the easiest houseplants to care for. This striking succulent plant is very forgiving and perfect for beginners, but they are beloved by experienced plant parents, too. Here’s how to care for a snake plant in your home! 

About Snake Plants

, snake plants are well adapted to conditions similar to those in southern regions of the United States. Because of this, they may be grown outdoors almost all year in USDA Zone 8 and warmer. However, they spread by sending out underground runners and may become invasive, so treat snake plants like you would bamboo; plant it only in contained areas or pots.

Too much water and freezing temperatures are two of the very few things that can affect this plant in a significant way. Soggy soil will cause root rot, and extended exposure to cold temperatures can damage the foliage.

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Planting

How to Plant Snake Plants

  • Choose a pot with a drainage hole in the bottom. Terracotta pots work well for snake plants since they allow the soil to dry out more quickly than plastic pots.
  • Use a well-draining potting mix. A potting mix designed for cacti and succulents is ideal, as it will be more resistant to becoming oversaturated with water.
  • When repotting snake plants, don鈥檛 bury them too deep. The plant should be planted as deep as it had been in its prior container.

Choosing a Location in the Home

  • Snake plants prefer bright, indirect light and can even tolerate some direct sunlight. However, they also grow well (albeit more slowly) in shady corners and other low-light areas of the home.
    • Tip: Avoid moving your plant from a low-light area to direct sunlight too quickly, as this can shock the plant. Whenever you move plants from a darker to a lighter spot, gradually expose them to brighter and brighter light over a week or so. Also, be sure to adjust watering habits accordingly; plants will use more water in warmer, brighter areas.
  • Keep the plant in a warm spot with temperatures above 50掳F (10掳C). In the winter, protect it from drafty windows.
Potted Snake plant in the nursery. Photo by Mokkie/Wikimedia Commons.
Photo by Mokkie/Wikimedia Commons

Growing

How to Water Snake Plants

One of the most common problems encountered with snake plants (and other succulents) is overwatering. These plants do not tolerate soggy soil; they tend to develop root rot. To avoid this, follow these watering practices:

  • Do not water too frequently. Let the soil mostly dry out between waterings.
    • Tip: To know when it’s time to water, don’t just rely on how the surface of the soil looks. Instead, carefully stick your finger or a wooden chopstick a couple of inches into the soil. Hold off watering if you feel any moisture or see soil sticking to the chopstick. 
  • Water from the bottom of the pot, if possible. This encourages the roots to grow downward and deep, helping to stabilize the thick, tall leaves. 
  • During the winter, while the plant isn’t actively growing, water less often than you would in spring and summer.

Caring for Snake Plants

  • The large, flat leaves tend to collect dust; wipe them down with a damp cloth as needed.
  • Snake plants are rapid growers in good conditions and may need to be divided annually.
  • Divide and repot in the spring. Cut out a section containing leaves and roots and place it in a pot with a well-draining potting mix.
  • If a snake plant is pot-bound, it may flower occasionally. Fragrant, greenish-white flower clusters appear on tall spikes.

Types

  • Dracaena trifasciata (a.k.a. Sansevieria trifasciata) is the most common species of snake plant. It has tall, dark-green leaves with light grayish-green horizontal stripes.
    • 鈥楤antel鈥檚 Sensation’ 鈥 Narrow leaves have white vertical stripes and grow to about 3 feet long. This variety can be hard to find.
  • D. hahnii:
    • 鈥楤ird’s Nest’ 鈥 Short, wide leaves of dark and light green form a tight nest shape like a bromeliad. Leaves only grow 6 to 8 inches long. This variety does need much light to grow well.
    • 鈥楪olden Hahnii鈥 鈥 Like the standard 鈥楤ird’s Nest鈥 but with leaves variegated along the edge in yellow.
  • D. cylindrica:
    • 鈥楥ylindrical Snake Plant’ 鈥 As its name suggests, this species of snake plant has cylindrical leaves that end in a fierce point. 
    • 鈥楽tarfish Snake Plant鈥 鈥 The starfish snake plant has cylindrical leaves that fan out from its base, giving it a starfish-like shape.
  • D. masoniana: 
    • 鈥榃hale Fin’ 鈥 These interesting snake plants have large, wide leaves that resemble the fin of a whale breaching the water’s surface.
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Wit and Wisdom

  • According to , snake plants, spider plants, and peace lilies are reportedly very effective at cleaning the air, removing toxins such as formaldehyde. However, further studies are needed to determine the true extent of these plants鈥 air-purifying capabilities!
  • , a type of snake plant native to tropical Africa, yields a strong plant fiber and was once used to make bow strings for hunting. For this reason, it also goes by the name Bowstring Hemp. 

Pests/Diseases

  • Root rot due to overwatering is the most common issue.
    • If this occurs, remove any dying leaves and allow the plant to dry out more than usual. Snake plants are resilient and typically recover. However, if the plant continues to die, remove it from its pot, discard any rotted roots and leaves, and repot in fresh soil.
  • Scale insects
Houseplant Guides
About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it鈥檚 not surprising that she and The Old Farmer鈥檚 蜜桃恋人 found each other. She leads digital content for the 蜜桃恋人 website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

PlantsCraze (not verified)

2 years 12 months ago

loved reading your article. it was really informational for me. wish to see more in the coming days.

sue (not verified)

3 years ago

I'm not sure that you should have zone 8 listed for snake plants. Here in Oregon zone 8, we get freezing weather every year.

Deb Clark (not verified)

3 years ago

Please add this information to your articles on snake plants.

Snake Plants

They've even been used as herbal remedies in some parts of the world. But the plants are also poisonous if ingested. Large doses can cause nausea and vomiting, and the poison found in the plant has a numbing effect that can cause the tongue and throat to swell.Jul 31, 2017

Anne (not verified)

3 years ago

My snake plant is drooping but the leaves aren't curling up on themselves. I suspect I accidentally overwatered. Should I give up on it or how can I resuscitate it?

Thans.

I bought a snake plant that had been over watered. I put flannel fabric under the pot. That wicked some of the water out. Paper towels or newspaper might work, too.

Give it some time to recover on its own. Refrain from watering for a bit and prune off leaves that turn yellow. Consider moving it into brighter light (but not direct sunlight) as well, since drooping leaves can be a sign of weakness due to lack of light. 

Karen Morton (not verified)

3 years ago

From this paragraph

Water from the bottom of the pot, if possible. This encourage the roots

Please correct to read
encourages the roots

Thank you so much!

Elizabeth Parks (not verified)

4 years 3 months ago

Why are the leaves of my snake plant curling?

Some snake plants鈥 leaves have a natural curl or ripple to them, so make sure that that’s not the case with yours before making any changes to your care habits. Severely curling leaves can indicate that the plant is not getting enough water鈥攖his is the snake plant’s version of shriveling up from dehydration. It can also be caused by lighting issues; with too little light, the plant doesn’t have the strength to hold up its firm leaves. 

SRIDHAR (not verified)

4 years 7 months ago

I tried propagating Snake Plant cuttings through the water method. The cuttings, each 2 inches long, were allowed to callus for a day & then the cut ends were placed in water. It is over 40 days and I see no root formation. But the cuttings are fine and have not rotted. Do I have to wait longer for roots to form? How long does it normally take to root using this method? I live in the south of India & it's summer time now. Pls suggest.