In this article I’m going to share with you how to care for this stunning houseplant that enhances any space. By the time this article is over, you’ll know exactly what to do to get it to thrive. I’ll share with you everything I do to care for my snake plants. Also, stick around till the end—the last two tips will make sure you never kill a snake plant.
Get ready, so first thing we want to talk about is choosing your plant at the nursery. If you start with a clean and healthy plant, it’ll save you a ton of cash, headaches, and heartache. So, whatever you do, don’t skip this step. If you already have a snake plant, just stay with me. I promise the information in this article will be well worth it.
So, when you’re looking to purchase a snake plant, one of the most important things to look for are these round blemishes. These all-too-common spots are caused by disease, and if you see this, then look elsewhere. It’s not worth the hassle to try and get rid of it. So just stay away from it—you’ll thank me later. If you see any cracks on the leaves, as long as you don’t see any black or brown coming out of them, it’s okay to purchase them. As long as you can live with a scar, just remember, plants are not plastic—they have imperfections, and these small blemishes are what make each one who they are. I guess look at them as battle scars—we all have them. So when you find one that’s just right, let’s go a little further and continue to check for pests and check the roots to make sure they’re pest-free and healthy as well. They should be a whitish-tan like these and not have any foul smell to them, which could be a sign of root rot.
OK, so presently we’ve purchased our plant and brought it home, and we need to ensure it has appropriate lighting. Snake plants flourish in an assortment of lighting conditions, which makes them simple to adjust to various regions in our homes. The ideal situation is close to a window with splendid roundabout light. Notwithstanding, they can likewise endure low light circumstances, making them ideal for workplaces or rooms with less regular light. Simply remember that they will not develop as quick in lower light. After some time, the leaves will generally develop more slender, and in the event that it’s a variegated assortment, they’ll will generally lose the variegation. On the off chance that you need your snake plant to be all it tends to be, consider putting resources into a develop light. There are a lot of them out there that not exclusively can give them the lighting they need but at the same time are reasonable and tastefully satisfying in our homes. Concerning an excess of light, they can endure direct daylight, yet assuming this is your ultimate objective, ensure you adapt them to this openness. Getting your snake plant and allowing it to battle for itself against Nature subsequent to being pampered inside can sear the leaves whenever done excessively fast.
Most snake plants grow upright, so they don’t collect as much dust as, let’s say, a monstera, but we still need to keep the leaves clean so our plant can photosynthesize and stay happy and healthy. A simple way to do this is every couple of weeks, depending on how much dust is in your home, fill a spray bottle with water, spray the leaves, and gently wipe the leaves of any dust with a microfiber cloth, making sure to dry the leaves completely. This is also a good time to inspect our plants and look for pests or disease. If you see anything, take care of it immediately. Also, take a little time to look at the roots, looking for pests there as well—root rot or even if it’s root-bound. Keeping in mind that the snake plant’s roots like to be snug in the pot, so what may be root-bound for another plant may not be for the snake plant. A clear transparent pot out in the open or even in a decorative pot will make it a little easier to see the roots and not have to remove the pot. So consider repotting them in a clear pot when it’s time.
OK, so presently we’ve purchased our plant and brought it home, and we need to ensure it has appropriate lighting. Snake plants flourish in an assortment of lighting conditions, which makes them simple to adjust to various regions in our homes. The ideal situation is close to a window with splendid roundabout light. Notwithstanding, they can likewise endure low light circumstances, making them ideal for workplaces or rooms with less regular light. Simply remember that they will not develop as quick in lower light. After some time, the leaves will generally develop more slender, and in the event that it’s a variegated assortment, they’ll will generally lose the variegation. On the off chance that you need your snake plant to be all it tends to be, consider putting resources into a develop light. There are a lot of them out there that not exclusively can give them the lighting they need but at the same time are reasonable and tastefully satisfying in our homes. Concerning an excess of light, they can endure direct daylight, yet assuming this is your ultimate objective, ensure you adapt them to this openness. Getting your snake plant and allowing it to battle for itself against Nature subsequent to being pampered inside can sear the leaves whenever done excessively fast. If you would like additional information on how to acclimate your houseplants to higher lighting conditions.
So now let’s talk watering, and this is the number one reason plant parents end up killing their snake plant, and I don’t want you to do the same—it’s overwatering, not watering too much, but rather watering too often. See, it’s okay to soak your snake plants in water. Actually, I bottom water mine every time I water, and I do the same for even my smaller rooted cuttings once roots start to appear. It’s all about timing and resisting the urge to water. Try not to be one of those helicopter plant parents with a snake plant. Instead, create a schedule, not when to water your plant, but rather one to check if it needs water, and only water when the soil is 100% dry. You can check the level of moisture by using a moisture meter and water when completely dry, or a wooden dowel works just as well. Stick it in the soil—don’t worry about the roots; they’ll be okay, there’s plenty of them. If the dowel is moist, then no need to water. If it’s dry, then saturate the soil. Like I said before, I bottom water mine to make sure the soil is completely saturated, as the traditional method of watering from the top can lead to dry pockets in the soil and your plant not receiving sufficient water.
Now, as your plant grows, it’ll need to be repotted. So let me share with you what’s worked for me. To start off with snake plants, as I said before, they like to be snug in the pot, so you won’t have to step them up as often as you will other plants. And because of this, you might only find yourself having to repot them every two to three years, but it really all depends on the environment the snake plant is being kept in and the care it’s being given. A plant that’s living in a low light area of the home will need to be repotted much less frequently than one that’s growing on a windowsill in bright indirect light. The one in the higher lighting condition will grow faster and need to be stepped up sooner. A couple of signs you want to look for when trying to determine if your snake plant needs to be repotted is that, for one, the soil has become compact, which means less aeration in the soil, which goes right along with poor drainage of the soil. If the current soil mix doesn’t have proper drainage, whether because it’s older or the wrong mix was used from the start, it can lead to issues like root rot. If you find that the soil is consistently staying wet or the plant is showing signs of overwatering, it’s a sign that repotting into a soil mix with adequate drainage is necessary. Also, if you notice that your snake plant is growing slowly or not growing at all, it’s probably time for a repot. And the best way to know for sure is to flip the plant over and remove the pot or see it through a clear pot and look to see if the roots are circling in the pot or even popping out of the drainage holes.
OK, so presently we’ve purchased our plant and brought it home, and we need to ensure it has appropriate lighting. Snake plants flourish in an assortment of lighting conditions, which makes them simple to adjust to various regions in our homes. The ideal situation is close to a window with splendid roundabout light. Notwithstanding, they can likewise endure low light circumstances, making them ideal for workplaces or rooms with less regular light. Simply remember that they will not develop as quick in lower light. After some time, the leaves will generally develop more slender, and in the event that it’s a variegated assortment, they’ll will generally lose the variegation. On the off chance that you need your snake plant to be all it tends to be, consider putting resources into a develop light. There are a lot of them out there that not exclusively can give them the lighting they need but at the same time are reasonable and tastefully satisfying in our homes. Concerning an excess of light, they can endure direct daylight, yet assuming this is your ultimate objective, ensure you adapt them to this openness. Getting your snake plant and allowing it to battle for itself against Nature subsequent to being pampered inside can sear the leaves whenever done excessively fast.
And now let’s get back to repotting. A couple of days before I actually repot, I like to water my plant so I can give it the best chance to survive this change from one environment to another. It could easily shock or even kill the plant, so every precaution counts. Next, purchase or make your own soil. I like to make my own and add coir and/or peat to hold onto the water and pine bark, perlite, and sand to provide proper drainage. Then put a small amount of soil in the bottom of the new pot, enough so that the top of the root ball is just below the top of the new pot. Take our plant out of the container, and if it’s root-bound, you can break up the root ball a bit. Continue to add soil all around, making sure that the plant is centered in the pot and slightly compacting the soil just enough to keep the plant in place. From here, I like to water the plant if the mix is dry. This will give it its first watering, and then I’ll treat it like I do other snake plants, which is to water when the soil is 100% dry.
