How to repotting and grow Snake Plant Guide

One of the most common and resilient types of houseplants is Dracaena trifasciata, also referred to as the snake plant. It was categorized as Sansevieria trifasciata botanically up until 2017, however, there were too many similarities between it and Dracaena species to ignore. The plant can grow from six inches to eight feet tall and has rigid, sword-like leaves. Although the color of snake plants can vary, many have leaves with green bands and frequently have a yellow border. These plants are simple to grow and frequently practically unbreakable. They will flourish in areas of the house that are nearly dark or in very intense light.

In indoor lighting, snake plants typically develop slowly, but adding more light will speed up growth if the plant gets a few hours of direct sunlight. The optimal time to plant and repot is in the spring.

WARNING: Cats and dogs should avoid this plant.

Common Name	Snake plant, viper’s bowstring hemp, St. George’s sword
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

Care for Snake Plants

For novice gardeners, a snake plant is a great choice because it is tough to kill. It looks excellent in containers and thrives on the ground or in window boxes. In warm climates, snake plants flourish while they suffer in the cold. Although resistant to drought, this plant can become overwatered, which can cause root rot. 2 A plant should only be watered if the soil feels dry. In the winter, these plants may endure two months without being watered. Water no more frequently than every two weeks during the summer.

Snake plants thrive in indirect, consistent light with some direct sunlight. They can adapt to full sun exposure and can endure low light conditions.

Snake plant potting soil prefers a loose, well-drained soil mix. Sandier soils are ideal for growing this plant. Use a potting medium with little peat in it. Peat is useful in a variety of applications, however, it can get compacted and occasionally has drainage or rehydration issues. A nice option is an all-purpose cactus potting soil.

Water

In between waterings, let the soil dry. Reduce watering in the winter to once a month or whenever the soil feels dry to the touch. Water your plants sparingly; overwatering might be bad for the plant.

Thermodynamics and Humidity

If exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, snake plants will suffer since they like warm surroundings. Place the plant in an area that will shield it from draughts. It is ideal if the temperature is between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant will die from frost.

Fertilizer

During the growing season, feed your cacti with a moderate cactus fertiliser, a balanced liquid slow-release 10-10-10 fertiliser, or a 20-20-20 fertiliser that has been diluted to half strength. Winter is not the time to fertilise.

Types of snake plants

There are snake plant varieties available.

Dracaena trifasciata ‘Hahnii’, popularly known as the bird’s nest snake plant, only reaches a height of six inches. Its leaf clumps resemble a bird’s nest.

The cylindrical snake plant, Dracaena angolensi (formerly Sansevieria cylindrical), has spherical, rigid leaves that can grow to be several feet long. Outward arcing from a central crown are the leaves.

Dracaena trifasciata ‘Laurentii’ has leaf edges that are a creamy golden colour. This plant cannot be multiplied from leaf cuttings; it needs to be divided.

Dracaena trifasciata ‘Twisted Sister’ is a plant with twisted leaves that have yellow margins and horizontal stripes. It gets to a height of around 15 inches.

Dracaena trifasciata ‘Bantel’s Sensation’: This snake plant has narrow leaves with white vertical stripes and reaches a height of around three feet.

Dracaena pearsonii: This plant, sometimes known as rhino grass, is about 12 inches tall and has succulent leaves with a reddish colour.

Pruning

To promote new growth, trim off damaged or mature leaves at the soil line using sterilized pruning shears, scissors, or a sharp knife. The growing season, which is often spring or summer, is the optimal time to prune. Although pruning might stress a plant, it is ideal to perform it when the plant is actively growing. You can prune during the off-season. Remove the tallest leaves to keep your snake plant from growing too tall. Remove any damaged leaves as well. New leaf growth is stimulated by leaf removal.

Planting new snake plants

reproduce via root division:

assemble a clean pot, a sharp knife, and potting dirt for cacti.
Place the plant on a level surface after removing the root ball from the previous container. Brush the soil off the rhizome or root structure with your hand.
Divide the plant into portions using the sharp knife, being careful to preserve the roots of each section. The plant will survive being cut through.
The fresh snake plant parts should be replanted in a clean pot with cactus potting soil.
Put it in some water and some partial sun.

Reproduce using new offshoots

You can plant any additional pups or young offshoots that the plant has produced separately, if you see any.

You’ll need a sharp knife, a spotless container, and cactus potting soil, just like with root division.
Locate the offshoot’s root, cut off the pup, and plant the cut root end in the cactus potting soil after removing the root ball from the pot.
It needs water and a spot with bright indirect light.

propagation through leaf-cutting:

Cut a long, healthy leaf from your snake plant using sterilised scissors, a sharp knife, or pruning shears.
By putting the leaf cutting in a clean container of water and fully burying the cut end, you can root it there. Place it somewhere with some shade and watch for root development.
Top off the water to maintain it level every few days. To prevent the growth of germs or algae, replace the old water every two weeks and replace it with fresh water.
Plant the root end in a well-draining cactus potting mix once the roots have grown at least 1 inch long.
It needs water and an area that receives some sunlight.

You can choose not to use the water rooting technique. To pot a healthy leaf from your plant, place it cut-end down in the cactus potting mix after letting the cut end callus over for 24 hours. It can take two months before you see any new growth because this plant grows slowly.

How to Cultivate a Snake Plant From Seed

Although it is possible to grow snake plants from seeds, it is simpler, faster, and more dependable to propagate them in other ways. Snake plant seeds typically have low rates of germination. Before a seedling appears, it may take three to six weeks.

Fill a three-inch pot with a seed starting mix or well-draining cactus potting mix to start plants from seeds. The seeds should be strewn over the starting mixture. Put the container in a cozy, sunny location. To maintain warmth and humidity, wrap the pot in plastic wrap or a clear plastic dome. Remove the plastic covering as soon as you see seedling development. Throughout the germination phase, keep the soil slightly damp but not soggy or wet. When the seedling is three to four inches tall, it will be time to repot it.

Snake plant repotting and potting

Choose a strong pot material for potting because weak pots can easily crack and break strong roots. Although dracaena typically grow slowly and don’t require much repotting, if given enough sunlight, they could grow quickly and need repotting or dividing. The spring is the ideal season to repot these plants. Always use new potting soil, a cactus potting mix, or a combination of the two when repotting.

Overwintering

A tropical plant known as the snake plant is susceptible to frost damage in the winter and can perish at temperatures regularly below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Before the temperature drops that low, bring the plant indoors. Maintain the soil on the drier side and keep the snake plant in a warm, draft-free area. Snake plants stop growing and go into dormancy in the winter. You will only need to water the plant about every six weeks during the winter.

Typical Pests

Many common houseplant pests, including scales, gnats, spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies are attracted to snake plants.
3 Maintaining the health of your plant will help you prevent an insect invasion. When a plant experiences environmental problems such inadequate water levels, humidity, and air circulation, insects frequently attack the plant. If you see insects on your plant, you can either pick them off, lightly spray them with water, or use organic neem oil to repel them.

Methods for Making Snake Plant Bloom

Snake plants produce tubular, creamy-white flowers that resemble lilies. Every year, when its requirements for water, sun, and humidity are met, it blooms. However, these plants hardly ever flower when they are kept inside all year. The plant emerges from hibernation and accelerates its growth as a result of the change in seasons, specifically the arrival of spring. Like other dracaena species, it blooms at night and has aromatic flowers. These flowers don’t require deadheading because they fall off on their own.

Common Snake Plant Issues

Whether you have a green thumb or not, snake plants are one of the easiest plants to care for, propagate, and preserve for years. The main health issues with snake plants are related to irrigation. Plant illnesses like fungus infections and root rot are brought on by overwatering.

Foul-smelling Soil

It probably has root rot if the soil smells like it’s decomposing.
pick soil and smell it by putting near nose. Root rot has a bad odour. You can attempt to save the plant, but you must first look at the roots to see if the root system was successfully preserved. Exit the container with the root ball in it. Cut off any leaves or roots that are mushy or discoloured. Repot a part of a sound root rhizome in new cactus potting soil or a potting soil with good drainage. Rhizomes should be thrown away if you can’t save them. Leaf cuttings can be used to grow new snake plants.

Brown or Yellow Leaves

Green leaves with occasional silver or yellow streaks are indicative of a healthy snake plant. There are a number of situations that yellow or brown leaves can signify, such as overwatering, bugs, and root rot. If you appropriately regulate the plant’s water level, you can fix each of these issues. Root rot is brought on by overwatering, which also stresses the plant and makes it more vulnerable to pests.

Curly leaves

Curled leaves might be a symptom of the common bug infestation known as thrips.
5 Look attentively at the leaves of your plant using a magnifying glass. These little black beetles are simple to get rid of. To keep pests at bay, remove leaves that are badly curled and spray the plant with neem oil or vegetable soap. Eventually, new leaves will emerge.

Overturning or Drooping Leaves

Healthy snake plant leaves develop upward and hold upright, but excessive water, inadequate lighting, or poor potting soil can cause the leaves to droop or flop. Lack of a well-draining potting mix causes the soil to get moist, which harms the foliage. Relocate the plant to a more sunny spot, water it less frequently, and, if required, switch the soil to one with better drainage.