If there is a plant that embodies the look of minimalism in modern apartments or offices then it would be the Sansevieria.
The snake plant, or sansevieria, is an evergreen perennial that originates from the steppe, tropical parts of West Africa, Madagascar, and South Asia.
Sanseveria belongs to the genus Dracaena which includes other common houseplants such as the corn plant.
The snake plant received its botanical name Sansevieria in honor of the Italian nobleman Raimondo di Sangro, prince of Sansevieria, but it can also be found under other names such as Snake plant, Mother-in-law’s tongue, Devil’s tongue, or Indian feather.
Snake Plant Profile
Sansevieria has characteristic fleshy, long, saber-shaped, and erect leaves that grow from a basic rosette. They are dark green and interspersed with transverse gray-green stripes.
The leaves can reach a length of two to three feet in height and 1.5 to 2 inches wide.
The plant has a rhizome root that can appear on the soil surface as the plant grows.
The Snake plant will sprout new shoots that grow densely next to each other, so the arrangement of leaves form a geometrical pattern that is rarely seen in house plants (apart from succulents).
There are dwarf, medium, and high sansevieria, and their leaves differ in patterns and colors depending on the species, with yellow or silver-white stripes on the leaf margins.
Varieties: What Are The Most Common Types Of Sansevieria?
Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurenti’ is the most popular cultivar among the high sansevieria. The leaves are bordered with a wide yellow stripe, which gives the plant a special decorative effect.
Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’ – is a lower variety (eight inches tall) with short, wider, elliptical, and dark green standing leaves that form a wide rosette.
Sansevieria cylindrica is an exceptional variety that looks more like a modernist installation than a living plant. It has thick, cylindrical leaves that are green in color with transverse dark green stripes. The leaves grow 2.5 to 4 feet tall and 1 inch wide, which look like billiard cues, wider at the base and narrowed towards the top. Three or four leaves usually develop from a single root, but a few plants planted together are a spectacular and unusual sight.
How To Grow Snake Plants
Sansevieria (Snake Plants) are hardy plants that can thrive in environments that would be unsuitable for other tropical houseplants. This makes the snake plant a great beginner friendly houseplant since snake plants can tolerate sporadic watering, dry air, small pots, and even shady locations.
Water: How Much Water Does A Snake Plant Need?
Sansevieria are native to arid areas so snake plants need to be water less frequently than other tropical house plants.
The snake plant’s substrate or soil must be completely dry in between waterings. This means the snake plant only needs to be watered once every 1-2 weeks during summer and once a month during the winter.
Snake plants are drought tolerant so underwatering will not cause serious issues for this plant until it has not received water for an extremely long period of time.
However, snake plants cannot tolerate excessive watering so do not overwater this plant.
How To Water A Snake Plant
Follow these steps in order to properly water a snake plant:
- Water the sansevieria along the pot’s edge.
- Never water directly around the leaf rosette and avoid wetting the snake plant’s leaves.
- Ten minutes after watering, drain any excess water that accumulates in the tray.
Excess moisture or water is the biggest risk to a snake plant.
So make sure to allow a snake plant to thoroughly dry in between waterings and that the plant is not sitting in wet soil.
Soil: What Substrate Should I Choose For A Snake Plant?
Sanseveria thrives best in light, arid soil that has the nutrients the plant needs.
So a good substrate mixture for snake plants contain pumice for drainage and peat moss for moisture retention.
If the substrate or soil is not draining fast enough then add pumice, sand, or gravel to help the water drain faster.
The best ready-made mixture for succulents will usually work well with snake plants.
Snake Plant Substrate Mixture
If the garden center does not have any pre-made mixtures for snake plants or succulents then you can make your own.
Follow these ratios to create a substrate mixture for snake plants:
- One part garden soil (for nutrients and water retention)
- One part peat moss
- Two parts perlite or pumice
You can also add fertilizer instead of garden soil in this ratio to provide the snake plant the nutrients it needs.
Just remember the final substrate should be light, airy and drain well.
Repotting: How Often Should I Transplant My Sansevieria?
The snake plant should be transplanted every two to three years or when the roots fill the pot and are visible on the substrate surface.
The reason why its best to skip a year or two before repotting a snake plant is because sansevieria prefer to be root bound.
As the rhizome becomes more compressed it will start growing more shoots.
The cramped space often stimulates the appearance of new shoots along the very edge of the pot, but don’t rush to transplant it.
Only when the new shoots entirely fill the container and begin emerging from the substrate or soil should you transplant the snake plant.
What Pot Is Suitable For Sansevieria?
Wide and shallow pots are ideal for growing sansevieria.
The snake plant’s roots spread horizontally so the substrate in the deep flower pot will not benefit the plant.
Deeper pots will cause the substrate to stay moist longer which can cause more harm to a snake plant.
Terracotta or baked clay pots are ideal pots for snake plants because they are natural materials that partially absorb moisture and help prevent root rot.
Temperature: Snake Plant Temperature Requirements
Snake plants are not resistant to frost and are grown at temperatures ranging from 55°F to 85°F.
However, snake plants are hardy plants and can withstand temperatures as low as 41°F for a few weeks. Snake plants can also tolerate temperature higher than 85°F for a few weeks as well as long as the plant is not exposed to direct sunlight.
Humidity: Should I Mist The Snake Plant?
Unlike most tropical house plants, snake plants do not need to be misted. Similar to cacti and succulents, snake plants will thrive in the less humid environments found in most homes.
So make sure not to frequently mist a snake plant and do not place this plant near a humidifier. The excess humidity can cause health issues if the leaves remain wet for too long.
Light: Does Sansevieria Tolerate Shade?
Another great feature of the snake plant is how this plant can tolerate bright light and also shady locations.
Although the botanical recommendation states that the plant prefers medium light (which is about 10′ away from the west or south facing windows), you can keep it practically anywhere except in complete darkness or all-day sun.
Inadequate lighting will not destroy the plant, but it will affect its overall appearance and growth.
Typically a snake plant that does not receive enough light will grow even slower than the plant already does.
Fertilizing: Does Sansevieria Need Additional Feeding?
During the active growth phase, add half the recommended dose of fertilizer to the snake plant no more than once a month.
You can either mix fertilizer into the plant’s water before watering the snake plant or use granular slow-release fertilizer.
Just make sure to use a balance fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 20-20-20.
Alternative Feeding
If you prefer to rely on natural components in growing plants then you can add a thin layer of worm castings or compost to the top layer.
For a 6 inch tall snake plant, the layer of worm castings or compost should be 1/4 inch.
If you have previously added compost to the potting mix then do not apply extra compost. The plant will not need any additional topdressing until the next growing season.
Propagating: How To Get New Snake Plants?
Everything that has to do with this exceptional plant seems unrealistically easy and effortless.
Propagation a snake plant is no exception to this rule.
Here are three common methods for propagating a new snake plant.
1. Plant Dividing
For a snake plant variety with leaves that have yellow borders, dividing is the only method of propagation if you want to get an identical plant.
Any snake plants propagated by cuttings will give new shoots that may not have the same marginal coloration, which is an exceptional phenomenon in the botanical world.
Follow these steps in order to divide a snake plant:
- In early spring, if the plant has grown densely enough, take it out of the container
- Separate the shoots so that each one has some parts of the root system
- Transplant each of the shoots into a smaller pot
Now you will have multiple snake plants that have the same patterned leaves.
2. Leaf Cuttings In Soil
Another common method is to use leaf cuttings of the snake plant and place them into soil.
Follow these steps in order to propagate a snake plant from leaf cuttings in soil:
- Cut off a healthy, mature sansevieria leaf one inch under the soil level.
- Lay the leaf on a hard surface and cut it horizontally into pieces 2 to 3 inches long and leave it for a few hours to dry.
- Stab each leaf part into a prepared sand and soil mix, with the lower cut in the ground to a depth of one inch.
- Do not move the leaf cuttings. If you accidentally turn the plant over, the roots will not form.
Wait anywhere from 1 to 2 months before the roots set and about 6 to 7 months before new shoots appear.
3. Leaf Cuttings In Water
The procedure is identical to propagating snake plant leaf cuttings in soil except that you will use a shallow container with water instead of soil or substrate.
Follow these steps in order to propagate a snake plant from leaf cuttings in water:
- Cut off a healthy, mature sansevieria leaf one inch under the soil level.
- Lay the leaf on a hard surface and cut it horizontally into pieces at least 4 inches long and leave it for a few hours to dry.
- Place the leaves into the container of water so that 3/4 of the cutting is above water.
Wait 2 to 3 months before the roots emerge. Occasionally refill the container with more water to maintain the same water level.
When roots have emerged from the cuttings then transplant the cuttings into soil or substrate.
Problems: Is My Snake Plant Dying?
Snake plants are hardy plants, however, continual neglect can cause serious health issues for this plant.
Below we will cover the most common problems and solutions when growing a snake plant.
Q: Why Are The Leaves Curling On My Snake Plant?
A: If you leave your plant without water for weeks then the leaves of a snake plant will begin to curl inward. Other common causes for curling leaves on snake plants are low temperature or not enough light. Thankfully, curling leaves can be fixed as long as the plant’s conditions are improved.
Q: Why Sansevieria Has Dark Green Monochromatic Leaves?
A: Sansevieria that grows in the shade has thinner and more elongated leaves that are almost monochromatic and dark green. For the famous silver transverse pattern that slightly resembles the ECG curve, the snake plant will need brighter light.
Q: Why Are My Snake Plant Leaves Turning Brown?
A: Brown tips on a snake plant are the first sign of overwatering. Adjust the watering schedule and cut off the brown tips of the leaves since they cannot recover.
Q: How To Know When A Snake Plant Is Dying?
A: The snake plant is a hardy plant so it should be obvious when the snake plant is running into serious health issues. If the heart of the rosette becomes water, soft, and mushy then the sansevieria is most likely suffering from root rot. If the leaves begin turning brown or start falling over then the conditions are not suitable for the snake plant.
Q: Can A Snake Plant With Rotten Roots Be Saved?
A: Snake plants with a minimal amount of root rot can be saved. First remove the plant from the moist substrate, let the plant dry for a few hours, and remove all the affected roots and leaves. Plant the remaining snake plant and do not water for about ten days. If the roots are not fully destroyed then there is a possibility that new shoots will still develop from the healthy roots
Pests: What Are The Tiny Bugs On My Snake Plant?
Common pests such as mealybugs and spider mites might attack the snake plant. But this rarely happens because the hard, leathery leaves of this plant are not particularly attractive to sap-sucking insects. However, if you notice them, try removing them with a lukewarm shower. Thoroughly dry the leaves after rinsing them off. If rinsing with water does not work then create a homemade insecticidal spray that is safe to use near pets and kids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does The Sansevieria Bloom?
A: Sansevieria is a flowering plant, but unfortunately, flowering is quite rare indoors. In spring, the flowers appear along a stalk that can be as high as 3 feet. The flowers are a white or creamy color and resemble lilies. The flowers have a sweet scent that intensifies at night when the flowers open.
Q: Can Sansevieria Grow Outside?
A: In zones 9b to 11, sansevieria can be planted in the garden as a perennial. In other zones, it is grown as a houseplant that can spend the summer outside, sheltered from the sun during the hottest part of the day.
Q: Do Snake Plants Purify The Air?
A: According to NASA research on plants that positively affect the air quality we breathe, the snake plant holds the second position among twelve recommended plants. So when you bring sansevieria into your living space, you get a little air purifier that both produces oxygen and eliminates toxins from the air. Moreover, snake plants are one of the few plants that release oxygen during the night, which makes it a perfect plant for the bedroom.
Q: How Fast Does Sansevieria Grow?
A: The snake plant has a slow to the moderate growth rate. The speed at which the tall species grow directly depends on the amount of light they receive. More light means faster growth.
Final Thoughts
From the eighteenth century, when it was introduced to Europe to the present day, sansevieria has not lost its popularity.
Moreover, snake plants have become an all-time classic that equally fits into any home or office feng shui.
This modest, valuable, long-lasting, and hard-to-kill plant brings the color and the structure in your home that will last for years. And all the care it requires from you is not to care about it too much!
