Snake Plant Care Guide

The Perfect Plant for the Modern Home

I guarantee that the plant we’re featuring this month has been seen by all of you at some point! You can find them in malls, offices, hotel lobbies, just about anywhere! They’re a houseplant staple with their striking foliage and laid back care routine. Basically indestructible we think everyone needs to add this classic plant to their collection. Today we’ll give you all the information necessary to make that possible. 

Introducing… The Snake Plant

Plant Level: Easy

Cost: $5-$35

Winner of the strongest plant ever (awarded by us)

Snake Plant

Snake plants originate from West Africa and are a member of the Asparagacea family. Their scientific name is Sansevieria trifasciata, although recently it’s actually being considered a Dracaena instead of a Sansevieria. However, I’m not ready to accept this change so for me, it’s still a Sansevieria! The snake plant does have some nicknames like Viper’s Bowstring Hemp, and St. George’s Sword. It’s most infamous nickname is ‘Mother-in-Law’s Tongue,’ because it’s of it’s sharp, pointed leaves but we definitely don’t recommend gifting this one to your mother-in-law.

A major plus of this plant is its ability to clean the air in your home! it removes harmful toxins and releases fresh oxygen for you and your family. This unique plant also releases oxygen during the night so place it right on your nightstand and enjoy a more restful sleep!

Light:

The reason this plant is so popular is its ability to thrive in pretty much any light condition. It can adapt to full sun all the way to low light settings. The snake plant is typically a slow to moderate grower.

Growth slows down in lower light so to increase growth you’ll need to increase light. Some snake plant varieties have variegation or light-colored leaves that will require more light to retain their unique coloring. Add a grow light to your space if you need to supplement it.

Water:

The snake plant is a drought-tolerant houseplant. This means that one of the few ways you can kill it is to overwater. Water when the soil is completely dry. Check on your plant every 2-3 weeks, but sometimes they won’t need to be watered for over a month! We recommend getting a moisture meter to help you determine when it’s time to water your plants.

When you water your snake plant aim to water around the outside of the plant instead of pouring water into the center of the plant. If water gets caught in the middle of the plant it can lead to rotted leaves. Another trick is to bottom water your plant. Fill up your sink with some water and allow your snake plant to sit in the water for 15-20 minutes until it has had enough time to drink up all the water it needs.

Soil:

Use a well-draining quality houseplant soil. Since one of the few problems snake plants are susceptible to is root rot try using or adding in some cactus/succulent soil to your plant.

Humidity:

These plants thrive in average household humidity. Another plus for the snake plant!

Fertilizer:

Fertilize sparingly with quality houseplant fertilizer in spring and summer. One or two applications during this time are usually plenty and optional for this plant. Another benefit of this easy grower!

Toxicity:

Mildy toxic, keep this plant out of the mouth of curious pets and tiny humans.

Special Considerations:

Repotting:

Snake plants do not need to be repotted very often. They are slow/moderate growers that tend to do better when slightly rootbound. They can live happily in the same pot anywhere from 2-10 years.

Propagation:

This plant is easily propagated through division. As you care for your snake plant you’ll start to see new pups emerging out of the soil. When you repot your plant you can easily create new plants through division. Simply separate these pups and create a whole new snake plant! You can also propagate leaf cuttings in water.

Varieties:

Snake plants come in many different varieties. Different sizes, colors, patterns, and forms make it easy to fit into any space and any decor style.

If you’re new to houseplants this is the perfect plant to start with! The more you forget about it, the better it will do! This makes it the perfect plant to help turn that black thumb green!

Get your Snake Plant here

Our favorite way to display the snake plant is in an extra tall planter!

Looking for more houseplant care guides? Check out our favorite plants. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss out on a new plant you need for your home!

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