In case you’ve been in search of a low-maintenance addition to your indoor backyard, the snake plant is ideal for you. Its sturdy, sword-like leaves and number of colors could make an enormous assertion whereas nonetheless being a stress-free companion. In case you are or know a plant killer, you’ll love this plant. Beneath I’ll share all you want to know to maintain a snake plant completely happy in your house—anybody can do it!
Meet the Snake Plant
The snake plant, or Dracaena trifasciata, is a flowering plant native to tropical areas in Western Africa, from Nigeria to the Congo. This hearty plant can face up to a spread of circumstances and nonetheless flourish. These spiky vegetation develop wherever from six inches to eight toes tall!
Its dagger-like leaves have earned it nicknames resembling Saint George’s Sword and Mom-in-law’s Tongue (Ha! Now that’s a great one), however don’t let the nicknames idiot you. The snake plant is ideal for even starting plant-enthusiasts because it’s fairly forgiving and straightforward to look after. You possibly can even propagate the plant to have much more snake plant infants for your self or to present to buddies. Are you offered but?
This publish will cowl…
Snake Plant Care
Whereas these vegetation are very beginner-friendly and may survive most circumstances, we nonetheless need them to thrive, don’t we? With these care ideas, your snake plant shall be one completely happy little home plant.
Location
The snake plant is straightforward to please. They’ll love a shiny window, however they’ll additionally love your desk, a hallway, or a rest room, so you may place them nearly wherever in your own home.
In case you’re a frequent traveller or, like me, generally a bit forgetful of your indoor vegetation, the snake plant received’t thoughts in any respect. It’s each hearty and resilient, completely happy to hang around and do its personal factor if left alone for a short while.
Solar
Within the snake plant’s excellent world, it’ll be in shiny, oblique gentle. However don’t fear—the plant isn’t choosy. It could tolerate a little bit direct daylight and even low gentle circumstances, however you’ll see it develop quickest in a shiny room.
When you have a room that’s significantly dim, contemplate one in every of these houseplants that love low gentle.
Water
You received’t want a whole lot of water to maintain your snake plant completely happy. Whats up, water conservation! These vegetation prefer to dry out a little bit between waterings. Within the hotter months, you must solely need to water your plant as soon as each couple of weeks.
Within the winter, they’ll keep dormant for as much as two months with out water and nonetheless survive. Be sure to give your soil a fast contact take a look at to keep away from soaking the roots—the highest inch of soil ought to be dry earlier than watering—as these vegetation don’t prefer to be soggy.
Soil
A well-draining soil for houseplants shall be your snake plant’s finest buddy since these vegetation don’t like to take a seat in any water. Make certain your pot has a good drainage gap, and you ought to be all set to pot your snake plant in its new house.
Fertilizer
As a result of the snake plant doesn’t want a lot to be completely happy, it additionally received’t eat up all of your fertilizer. It solely wants fertilization a few instances throughout its rising season in spring and summer time!
Widespread Points
Snake vegetation are fairly completely happy in most circumstances, however generally issues go mistaken. In case you discover your plant begin to droop, transfer it right into a brighter spot and it ought to straighten up very quickly. In case you’ve been overwatering your plant, you’ll know by the leaves—they may go delicate and mushy if the plant is simply too moist, or they might begin to yellow.
And naturally, the dreaded brown spots. In case you discover your snake plant is browning on the leaves, don’t panic! That is probably a temperature difficulty. Each too-cold and too-warm temperatures will trigger browning in your snake plant. In case you see this occur, snip the affected leaves close to the soil with a clear pair of scissors and transfer the plant right into a colder or hotter room.
Snake Plant Propagation
The snake plant is a beneficiant multiplier and can simply propagate in two methods. To propagate from a chopping, select a comparatively younger, wholesome leaf in your plant and minimize it off with a clear pair of shears. In a small container, place the chopping cut-side down and fill the container with simply sufficient water to cowl the very backside of the chopping. Hold it in oblique gentle, altering the water each few days, and transport it into recent soil when you see roots begin to develop.
It’s also possible to propagate the snake plant by splitting or dividing it. As soon as your snake plant grows to be fairly full in its pot, you would possibly begin to discover that it seems like multiple plant. Gently take away the plant from its soil, brush soil away from the roots, and look to seek out smaller sections of the snake plant which are their very own unit.
Utilizing a pointy knife, minimize one of many smaller models free from the primary plant, maintaining a great part of roots intact on the brand new plant, and transplant it into recent soil in its personal pot. Then return the unique plant again to its pot, filling within the gap with soil.
Often Requested Questions About Snake Crops
The snake plant wants little or no gentle to remain alive, nevertheless it does choose brighter places. It’s a tropical houseplant, not not like a succulent, and can develop the quickest in shiny, oblique daylight. However don’t let that deter you when you’ve got a barely dimmer house. This plant will fortunately dwell in lower-light circumstances too!
On prime of being a low-maintenance, newbie, and plant-killer-friendly home plant, the snake plant is sweet in your air, too! These spiky vegetation can soak up and filter toxins within the air and convert CO2 to oxygen at evening.
These vegetation are poisonous when consumed. They need to be avoided nibbling pets and kids. See which different houseplants are poisonous for pets right here.
What are you ready for? Go forward and seize your self a snake plant all for your self! Let me know within the feedback down beneath when you’ve got any extra questions on caring in your new plant child.
