Snake Plant
Scientific Name
Dracaena trifasciata / Sansevieria
AKA
Sansevieria, Mother-in-law's Tongue
Origins / Hardiness Zones
West Africa / 9-11 USDA
About
All snake plants are known for their long, pointy spear or sword shaped leaves, but the Laurentii variant is distinguished by the unique streaky static-like variegation and striking yellow edges.
Light Needs
Water Schedule
Temperature
Humidity Levels
Toxicity
They prefer average humidity. In general, snake plants grow best in a room where the humidity sits at 40-50%. Although it is a tough plant, if the humidity in the room rises or falls too far away from this percentage, your plant may struggle.
Snake Plant leaves are mildly toxic to pets and humans. Ingestion will cause mouth and stomach irritation and possible vomiting.
Extremely forgiving and can adapt to most light conditions. Snake plants prefer primarily bright, indirect light with a few hours of direct light for a happy, thriving plant. They can adapt to full sun conditions and will also survive dimly lit situations.
Let the soil dry between waterings. During the winter, reduce watering to monthly, or whenever the soil is dry to the touch. Err on the side of under-watering; you can go 2-4 weeks between checking up on this guy. Too much water can harm the plant.
Snake plants prefer warm conditions and will suffer if exposed to temperatures below 50°F. Set the plant in a place where it will be protected from drafts. A temperature range between 70°F and 90°F is best. Frost will kill this plant.
Snake plants are susceptible to many common houseplant pests such as scales, gnats, spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies. You can avoid an insect invasion if you keep your plant healthy. Insects usually attack a plant when it suffers from environmental issues like incorrect water levels, humidity, and air circulation. If you notice insects on your plant, remove the insects by picking them off, by using a gentle spray of water, or with an organic neem oil to keep the insects at bay.
All you need is one leaf to propagate a Snake Plant. First, you’ll cut the leaf at the base of the soil, and then you can actually cut that leaf into multiple sections horizontally. As long as you keep the leaf upright, you can place it in water, and roots will grow. Something to note, if you have a variegated Snake Plant (like a Laurentii), you'll likely lose that unique patterning and color—and end up with a baby plant that's solid green instead. If you want to keep those variegated leaves, you may consider propagating through division instead. You can separate the dense clusters of leaves into independent plants by simply making a clean cut through the rhizome (the much thicker, horizontal "root").
When potting, choose a sturdy pot material as strong roots can easily crack and break weak pots. Dracaena is a generally slow grower that rarely needs repotting, but if given ample sunshine, they might grow rapidly and require repotting or dividing. The best time to repot these plants is in the spring. When repotting, always use fresh potting soil, a cactus potting mix, or a mixture of both.
If you're not already planning to repot, you can fertilize during the spring and summer months. Once to every two months should be plenty. Feed with a mild cactus fertilizer during the growing season or a balanced liquid slow-release 10-10-10 fertilizer or a 20-20-20 fertilizer diluted to half strength. Do not fertilize in the winter.
Snake plants are one of the easiest plants to maintain, multiply, and keep for years, whether you've got a green thumb or not. The biggest snake plant health problems center around watering. Overwatering causes plant diseases like fungal infections and root rot.
Snake plant is a tropical plant that can die in temperatures consistently lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit or if affected by a wintery frost. Bring the plant indoors before temperatures drop that low. Keep the snake plant in a warm room, protected from cold drafts, and maintain the soil on the drier side. During the winter, snake plants enter dormancy and will stop growing. In the winter, you will only need to water the plant every six weeks or so.
Repotting
Propagation
Pests / Diseases
Common Problems
Pro-Tip
Fertilizer
