As a very popular houseplant, snake plant care is not a difficult task; the snake plant is a succulent plant and is one of the famous and popular houseplants. It is popular because it is easy to keep and apart from its beauty and variety of species, it is one of the die-hard and resistant plants. As a result, the snake plant is the right choice for you if you are starting to grow indoor plants or if you don’t have a green thumb.
After choosing and buying your desired plant, if you have selected the snake plant or have this plant in your home, the most important thing you should do is to keep it correctly; Precisely what we will explain in this article so you can get to know it completely.
Description of the snake plant
The snake plant is one of the air-purifying plants announced by NASA (therefore, it is one of plants that can absorb air-polluting particles such as nitrogen and formaldehyde). Also snake plant in feng shui play an important rule because it is considered as a houseplant of wealth. Due to its high resistance and long life, the snake plant can be a good option for those who have little light at home and want to start keeping flowers and plants. Many people know this plant as the mother’s tongue plant.
It is interesting to know that until 2017, it was botanically classified as Sansevieria trifasciata, but it had a lot in common with the Dracaena species, and since then, it has been known as Dracaena trifasciata. This plant belongs to the Asparagaceae family and is native to the tropical regions of South Africa, such as Nigeria and Congo. It is interesting to know that it is also called the immortal plant.
It is an evergreen plant with dark green, long, pointed, and sword-like leaves, sometimes called a sword plant, which can grow between six to eight inches. The snake plant has more than 70 species that you can get in various colors and sizes. You can get complete information about it from the specification table below:
Common Name | Snake plant |
Botanical Name | Dracaena trifasciata (formerly Sansevieria trifasciata) |
Family | Asparagaceae |
Plant Type | Evergreen, perennial |
Mature Size | Six inches to 8 feet tall |
Sun Exposure | Shade to partial sun |
Soil Type | Sandy, well-drained |
Soil pH | Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline |
Bloom Time | Spring (blooms are rare) |
Flower Color | White |
Hardiness Zones | 9–11 (USDA) |
Native Area | West Africa (tropical) |
Toxicity | Toxic to cats and dogs |
In addition, the snake plant is used in feng shui, which we discussed in the article where to place snake plant in home.
snake plant care
As we said at the beginning of the article, the snake plant is one of the best for beginners. We indeed said that this plant is one of the resistant plants, but if you want it to grow well, you must provide it with the right conditions. In short, it snake plant light should be indirect , moderate watering, high drainage soil, a temperature of 65 to 77 Fahrenheit, and average room humidity for growth. Indeed, it is one of the plants whose leaves should be cleaned every once in a while, using a damp cloth.
how much light snake plant need ?
The snake plant quickly adapts to the environment; Which means that it continues to grow even in a lot of light; Even artificial lights, such as the light of fluorescent lamps, which can be found everywhere today, solve the need for light for The snake plant. This issue has made The snake plant a suitable apartment plant and one of the plants resistant to low light, but the ideal light for this plant is indirect and relatively high. As a result, it is better to place it near the south window, which receives more light than other parts of the house. Sufficient light makes the excess water evaporate to some extent in case of excessive watering.
This plant tolerates low light, but to keep the snake plant at home, try to provide it with filtered and good light, a distance of about 1-2 meters from the window, or place it in a window with a curtain. Just be careful that direct light will cause problems for the leaves.
How much water snake plant need?
The first point in the snake plant care is how and when to water snake plants. The snake plant is a plant that needs little watering; So, so when watering, make sure that the surface of the pot is dry. This plant is sensitive to excessive watering; For this reason, wet soil always causes this plant to rot. Watering about once a week in summer and once every two weeks in winter is enough for this plant. This amount will vary depending on the plant’s storage environment, temperature, and the amount of light it receives. If you travel a lot or forget to water your plants, this plant will be your best choice. This plant is resistant to a lack of water, but it will only survive and will not grow well in this condition.
This plant likes moderate watering so that the soil in the pot dries to a depth of 2-3 cm and then starts watering. Be careful excess water does not remain under the pot because it will cause snake plant root rot and stem rot. So, check the drainage once a month to remove the excess water and throw away the water. Of course, you can put pebbles under the pot to make it look like an island.
What soil is suitable for the snake plant?
The snake plant likes heavy soil, such as gravel, sand, clay, and organic matter. Also, soil drainage is critical, so I suggest you use the ready-made soil available in the market. To prepare the soil at home, mix a little garden soil with leaf and perlite. But again, if you don’t have experience, use ready-made light soils. If you want to plant a snake plant in your garden, you should pay attention to the soil and light it needs. The best PH range for the growth of the snake plant is between 4.5 and 7.5. Choose a part of the garden that is a little shady and, at the same time, has enough light. In other words, the plant should be planted in the garden so that direct sunlight does not shine.
What is the best temperature for snake plant care ?
This plant tolerates a wide range of temperatures at home. Just be careful not to expose it to rain or snow. If you keep it outdoors, move it indoors for the winter. This plant tolerates well up to 25-59 Fahrenheit, and the ideal temperature for it is 64-77 Fahrenheit, but with the increase in temperature, be careful that the humidity and the amount of watering should increase.
The humidity required by the snake plant
snake plant humidity or dryness of the air is not important. This plant can even be stored in the bathroom (which has very high humidity). This is another reason for the hardiness of this plant. But if the environment’s moisture is above 50%, it can improve your plant’s growth.
Fertilizer suitable for strengthening the snake plant
This plant, like other houseplants, needs nutrition so that it can grow well and finally see its flowering. Use complete water-soluble fertilizers every two to three weeks in the growing season (spring and summer). For this purpose, it is better to use diluted fertilizers to strengthen the plant. Fertilizers with a ratio of 10-10-10 are suitable fertilizers for this purpose.
For the snake plant planted in the garden and outside the pot, choose the same fertilizer you use for the potted snake plant with the same ratio and composition, only in liquid form. After fertilizing, weeds will probably grow in the garden and around the snake plant; in such a situation, we recommend pruning them regularly so that they do not empty the soil of rich materials and prevent the growth of plants.
The right time to repot Sansevieria
Every plant needs to be repotted after a while, and the best time for this plant is 2-3 years. it is very important to learn about repotting snake plants; When you see snake plant new pups are decreasing, know that the pot is too small, and you should replace it.
Snake plant bloom
If you take good care of this plant and provide it with fertilizer and good light, after reaching maturity, it will give beautiful flowers that are extremely attractive. Snake plant blooms have a range of colors from green to white, and butterflies do their pollination. Of course, the snake plant generally does not produce many flowers. It may only grow a minimal number of flowers on its stems, but instead, it grows small rhizomes around itself, which over time, become a beautiful snake plant!
What should we do to make the snake plant flower?
The first condition for the snake plant to flower is to reach maturity, then be careful in choosing a pot because a pot larger or smaller than the size of the plant will prevent flowering. In addition to these things, providing full light and watering on time are other flowering conditions that can make you successful in this task with proper nutrition. Be sure to read the snake plant flowering article and the conditions that can cause this.
Suitable pot for keeping snake plant
Snake plants can be planted in both pots and gardens. choosing a pot for a snake plant is one of the main tips in caring this beautiful plant. You will need a clay pot if you choose to keep this in a pot. The pot should be wide and almost short in height. Because the water supply system of snake plant root works better in shallow soil. In addition to paying attention to the proper drainage of the pot, the accumulation of water in the soil and around the root will cause the plant’s root to rot and die.
Snake plant propagation methods
This plant can be propagated in 4 ways: cuttings, planting seeds, cuttings, and dividing the plant. Propagation through seed planting is time-consuming and specialized, so regular and home users should not use this method.
Propagation through grafting: It is one of the most common methods. This plant will start growing when the conditions of care mentioned above are provided, one of which is that the pot size is proportional to the plant, and you can propagate your plant by separating it and placing it in a new pot.
Divide the plant: You can divide the plant into several parts in early spring when you want to change the pot and plant each in a separate pot; just be careful not to damage the roots when dividing the plant. Cutting method: Another common way is to use cuttings. To do this, separate the healthy leaves from the mother plant and root them in water or soil. If you put them in water, make sure to add pebbles to the bottom of the water and keep in mind that the cuttings will start to germinate from the lower part of the plant.
Snake plant problems and diseases
Pests
The main pests that threaten the snake plant are mealybugs and spider mites. These pests suck the sap of the plant and gradually cause the leaves to shrivel. Therefore, if you do not destroy them in time, they can destroy the whole plant. In addition to sucking plant sap, these pests may also cause leaves to become sensitive by creating holes and wounds on the leaves so that due to the smallest pest or disease, the plant does not resist and is destroyed.
The solution to getting rid of these pests is simple and requires a little patience and time. Regarding the mealybugs, we must say that the mealybugs are visible. So check the plant, and if you see them, remove them from the plant with a tissue. To prevent a mealybug attack, you can spray a little alcohol on the surface of the leaves.
But in the case of spider mites and eggs, you should always keep the leaves clean because the spider’s baby and eggs are not easy to see. As a result, regularly clean the leaves of the plant and increase the air humidity because moisture keeps insects and pests away from the plant.
diseases
This plant is more prone to fungal diseases, often caused by irrigation and high humidity. So, if the surface of the leaves is constantly wet, the fungi will grow quickly in that place and will cause the leaves to become weak, shriveled, and eventually red.
As a result, if the leaves of the plant start to turn red and brown and white parts are formed on them (white parts that usually look like spider webs and turn brown over time), be sure that the plant is sick and needs immediate treatment. To treat the plant in this condition, it is necessary to remove the plant from the soil and remove the infected and diseased roots. Then transfer the plant to new and suitable soil.
Our advice to you is to keep your plant in a condition that does not suffer from fungal diseases because fungal diseases quickly cause the plant to rot and eventually die. For this purpose, always keep the leaves of the snake plant dry, water the plant sufficiently (no more and no less), and let the soil dry and water the plant again.
In addition, use soils with proper drainage and always keep the environment’s temperature balanced so that the environment is not excessively humid and your plant does not suffer from fungal disease during the maintenance of the snake plant.
The benefits of keeping snake plant at home
- filter indoor air
- may help boost mental health
- remove toxic pollutants
- easy to care
- effective against allergies
- may help enhance the “energy” of a space, according to feng shui
- can help with minor ailments
The snake plant and Purify the air
The snake plant is one of the air-purifying plants and can purify the air in your home. As you know, the air you breathe is made up of various elements such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, other gases, and even dust, some of which are necessary and some toxic and harmful. For example, gases such as trichloroethane, benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene harm human health. Let us name some of the disadvantages of these gases; Consider trichloroethane gas; this gas can cause problems such as headaches and nausea, and in severe cases, it can cause people to go into a coma! Benzene also causes eye irritation, slows the heart rate, and reduces alertness. Formaldehyde causes muscle swelling and irritates the larynx and vocal cords. Xylen also causes problems for the heart, kidneys, and liver. Considering these things, caring for the snake plant is useful and necessary, especially if you live in the center of cities.
Help to eliminate the bad smell of the air
It doesn’t matter if you are at work or sitting at home watching your favorite program; unpleasant odors are always annoying. Consider a room that has just been painted; the smell of paint and chemicals in that room is unbearable, especially for children; In such a situation, you should get help from a snake plant! Snake plant purifies the air and, at the same time, eliminates the bad smell of the environment. If you put a snake plant in the room, you no longer have to worry about the smell of chemicals. So, if you work in beauty salons or environments where various chemicals are used continuously, placing a snake plant near you is better.
Frequently asked questions about the snake plant
In the following, we will examine some questions you may have about snake plant care.
what is the reason for swollen and smelly leaves of snake plant?
If you give the plant too much water, you should expect this to happen; Too much water destroys the leaf cells and eventually causes the leaves to swell and smell bad. In such cases, quickly remove the affected leaves and correct the watering before all the leaves are affected. In addition to checking that the plant has not suffered from a fungal disease, in this case, be sure to perform the measures we mentioned in the previous section about the plant.
What cause yellowing and fading of snake plant leaves?
The yellowing of the snake plant leaves is due to the lack of light and the emptying of the soil from nutrients. To solve this problem, move the plant to a brighter place with indirect light and use suitable fertilizers to compensate for the nutrients in the soil.
What is the reason for pale leaves?
This problem can be due to the lack of nutrients in the soil and low light, which can be solved according to the storage conditions.
What is the reason for brown spots on the leaves?
This problem can be caused by too much watering, so let the potting soil dry between two waterings.
what causes dry leaves of snake plant?
This problem is due to a need for irrigation and watering the plant thoroughly.
why do lower leaves of snake plant get rotted?
This problem is a sign that there is too much watering or your pot does not have proper drainage, so fix the issue as soon as possible; otherwise, it will cause the death of the plant.
what does create cottony white spots on snake plant leaves?
This problem shows that your plant is affected by pests, and you should spray the plant once a week using systematic poisons.
What is the reason for watery new leaves?
If the new leaves suffer from this problem, it is a sign of excessive fertilizing, but if the leaves are old and old, the plant is located in a place with low temperature, so it should be moved to a warm place.
The reason for the drying of the tips of the snake plants’ leaves
There are 3 main reasons for snake plant brown tips and drying the t:
1. Your plant is thirsty
2. Received too much light
3. The ambient temperature is high
Regarding the first reason, check the soil of the plant; By dipping your finger into the pot’s soil; if the soil’s surface is dry by as much as a knuckle or more, your plant needs to be watered. Regarding the second reason, check how much light is in the environment of keeping your snake plant, and if you feel that the light is too much, move the plant to an environment with more balanced light. Regarding the third reason, like the second one, check the environment’s temperature, and if the temperature is high, move the plant to an environment with a lower temperature. You can also spray water around the plant or place a container of water near the plant so that the moisture of the plant is supplied by surface evaporation and the temperature is balanced.
Cause of damage and breakage of snake plant leaves
In case of excessive touching or hitting the surface of snake plant leaves, such problems will be created for its leaves; Because snake plan has tender and sensitive leaves. So it is better to place it away from high traffic and children’s play area so that it does not come into contact with it. Also, be careful in moving and carrying it so that it does not get hit or damaged during moving.
How to increase the air humidity around the snake plant?
Planting several plants together in a pot can be an excellent way to increase humidity; This will make water reach all the plants sufficiently, and the soil will absorb less water. You can also put two pots inside each other. To do this, place the pot in which you planted the plant in a larger pot. Fill the space between the two pots with enough fertilizer and keep it moist all the time. Another way is to use air humidifiers. You can put your plants in a room and use this device to increase humidity.
Can we use particular poisons to control and treat snake plant diseases?
The answer is negative. Snake plant diseases are often caused by improper watering, which cannot be solved with chemicals. Of course, you can spray some alcohol on the leaves, but the best way to prevent the problem is to modify the watering method. Ensure enough water reaches the roots but does not pool in the soil. If the soil is not completely drained and does not pass the excess water, it will cause the root to rot, and eventually, the plant will die.
Is the snake plant poisonous and dangerous?
Yes, a small amount is poisonous, but only if you eat it; It is true that the snake plant is a good source of fiber, but never try its taste. Eating snake plants causes swelling and numbness of the tongue and is dangerous. So we recommend keeping it away from children and animals that might chew its leaves.
I suggest you read the article Is sansevieria toxic to pets
Why does the snake plant turn yellow?
The yellowing, withering, and shedding of the snake plant leaves result from excessive watering. In such a situation, reduce the amount of water and watering frequency. Remember only to water the snake plant once the soil is arid. If the soil is wet for a long time, it will cause the root to die. If the leaves of your snake plant turn yellow, don’t worry, don’t water the plant for a few days and let it dry completely. After a few days, the leaves will regain their freshness if the leaves are not too yellow; otherwise, if the leaves are too yellow and the plant cannot heal itself, you should remove that leaf from the plant.
Conclusion on How to care for Snake Plant
Keeping a snake plant is a simple job. So enjoy its beauty by buying and caring for snake plants. The snake plant is one of the effective plants in air purification; this plant absorbs toxins such as formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the environment to improve the air quality around you. This feature makes the snake plant a suitable plant for the bedroom. Because increasing the oxygen in the space helps you sleep better. If you are a beginner and interested in flowers and plants, you should buy this plant because it needs medium and low watering, filtered light (it is also resistant to low light), and light soil, which can be provided in any home. Just pay attention not to water too much and do not expose it to direct light.