Introduction
This is a snake plant and in this article I’m going to share with you how to care for this stunning house plant that cleans its presence in 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 and let’s get into it.
Choosing Your Snake Plant
Okay, 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 video will be well worth it.
What to Look for When Purchasing a Snake Plant
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. Even professional Nursery men have a hard time with it, and chances are you will too, so just stay away from it. You’ll thank me later.
Lighting for Snake Plants
Okay, so now we’ve bought our plant and we brought it home, and we want to make sure it has proper lighting. Snake plants thrive in a variety of lighting conditions, which makes them easy to adapt to different areas in our homes, with optimal placement being near a window with bright indirect light. However, they can also tolerate low light conditions, making them ideal for offices or rooms with less natural light. Just keep in mind that they won’t grow as fast in the lower light. Over time, the leaves will tend to grow thinner, and if it’s a variegated variety, they’ll tend to lose the variegation.
Handling Too Much Light
In regards to too much light, they can tolerate direct sunlight, but if this is your end goal, make sure you acclimate them to this exposure. Grabbing your snake plant and letting it fend for itself against Mother Nature after being babied indoors can scorch the leaves if done too quickly. Let me know in the comments section if you’d like to know more on how to acclimate your houseplants to higher lighting conditions.
Cleaning and Inspecting the Plant
\Now, 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 also is 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.
Feeding Your Snake Plant
Okay, so how do you feed your snake plant? It’s simple. During their active growing season, typically in spring and summer, aim to fertilize your snake plant only once a month. They don’t need a constant buffet, just a balanced, measured approach to keep them nursed. When it comes to choosing a fertilizer for a snake plant, opt for a general house plant fertilizer.
Look for one with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients. This will provide a well-rounded meal for your snake plant, ensuring that its essential needs are all met and we prevent any deficiencies.I start by diluting the fertilizer according to the manufacturer’s instructions, mixing it up, and applying it over the top after I water my plant. Key here is after I water my plant, which I’ll discuss in a second how I water them.
Watering Your Snake Plant
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 too early. 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, and 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, just like you’re seeing here. To bottom water them, fill a bowl with water and gently put your snake plant in the water. Wait about 10 to 15 minutes and take it out. Make sure you tilt the pot to let any excess water drain, and that’s it.
Repotting Your Snake Plant
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.
Signs That Repotting is Necessary
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. Snake plants like the roots compact, so in a lot of cases, you might even see the pot bulging all around, like you’re starting to see here.
So here’s how you do it, and this is the next tip you want to always consider when stepping up a snake plant or any plant for that matter, so you don’t kill it: only use a pot that’s one to two inches larger in diameter than the existing pot for smaller plants, and for larger plants, just go the next size up. And here’s why: if you repot into a container that’s too large, you’ll also need a lot of soil to fill that pot. All this extra soil will remain moist
Conclusion
Snake Plant is a very low-maintenance and hardy plant that grows well even with little care. If you follow these 7 simple tips, your plant will remain healthy and beautiful. Remember, even if you forget to water at any time, it doesn’t matter, because Snake Plants tolerate even a little neglect. Just take a little care, a little love, and this plant will be happy in your home for a long time!
FAQ’S
Q: What to Look for When Purchasing a Snake Plant?
When buying a Snake Plant, make sure its leaves are healthy and green, without any stains or spots. The size of the pot should also be appropriate, so that the plant can grow well.
Q: Is snake plant poisonous?
Yes, this snake plant is a little poisonous. If you have it in your house, then keep children and pets away from it.
Q: Does a snake plant give oxygen at night?
Yes, this plant takes in carbon dioxide during the day and releases oxygen at night, which is beneficial for us.