Discover the tricks to helping your snake plant thrive indoors.
One of the toughest houseplants, snake plant can tolerate most indoor conditions.
Some dwarf varieties form small rosettes of leaves.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
The most common foliage showcases shades of green with silver-gray horizontal streaks.
Some variegated varieties have cream or gold edges.
Under the right conditions, a snake plant will bloom.
Credit: Blaine Moats
While not overly showy, the flowers are borne in large clusters, usually white with a greenish tinge.
Hard-to-kill snake plant is the ideal choice for the home or office.
The top-heavy plant requires aheavy containerwith a drainage tray.
Credit: Scott Little
The best time of year to plant snake plants is in the spring.
Snake plant ishardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 1012.
However, you canpark it in a dark corner, and it’ll be fine.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Soil and Water
When the soil is dry,water the snake plantwith room temperature water.
Wait a few minutes and then discard any water that drains through to the tray under the container.
This plant is extremely drought-tolerant, but its Achilles' heel istoo much water.
Credit:Denny Schrock
Snake plant needs a well-drained potting mix that doesn’t hold a lot of water.
Fertilizer
Snake plantdoesn’t require much fertilizer.
An program of plant food for houseplants a few times a year is sufficient.
Credit:Denny Schrock
The plant is slow-growing and doesn’t mind being crowded as long as it isn’t root-bound.
If it lives in low light, it may not need to be repotted for 10 years.
A bigger problem for snake plants isroot rot.
These plants cannot tolerate overwatering.
How to Propagate Snake Plant
It is easy topropagate a snake plantwith leaf cuttings.
Cylinder Snake Plant
Sansevieria cylindricaproduces round, rigid leaves that can reach several feet in length.
Leaves arch outward from a central crown.
‘Laurentii’ Sansevieria
Sansevieria trifasciata’Laurentii' is a popular variety with creamy yellow leaf margins.
It does not come true from leaf cuttings; it reverts to the green form.
So divide the plant to make new ones just like the mother plant.
It is one of the bestplants for low-light areas.
Look closely and you’ll see a yellow halo at the edges of each leaf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most snake plants live up to 10 years.
However, some have been known to live as long as 25 years with proper care.
However, it is related to several succulents, including aloe and agave plants.
Snake plants prefer bright but indirect sunlight.
Avoid putting it in a spot that gets intense afternoon sun, as its leaves may scorch.
Yes, these plants remove common household pollutants from the air.
They also release oxygen at night.
Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, Snake Plant.
