Snake Plant Care Indoors
It's a fan favorite for its easy care and fun look, but there is a lot to know about the Sansevieria plant! It has a few common nicknames, so don’t be confused if you see it called a snake plant or mother-in-law's tongue online and in some stores!
The Sansevieria genus contains roughly 70 different species, and our collection has several varieties, including rotating varieties like Sansevieria hahnii (Bird’s Nest Snake Plant) Sansevieria Fernwood, and Sansevieria Laurentii.
About Sansevieria
Snake plants are very common, mostly because they are one of the easiest indoor plants to care for. Truly, they are hard to ‘mess up’ even for the newest of plant parents! It’s a slow grower, making it a great plant for small spaces, darker spaces or to give as a gift to someone who wants to get started with plants but isn’t sure how!
How much light does a snake plant need?
Snake plants can thrive in low light, which makes them great for dorm rooms, apartments, and rooms of the house that don’t get a lot of sun. They will be happiest with some bright, indirect light, but can survive without it and still show good growth. As we said above, they are slow growers, regardless of lighting, so don’t let that discourage you and make you think your plant isn’t getting enough.
How often to water snake plants?
Like lighting needs, your snake plant does not need much at all! Water Sansevieria very sparingly, similar to a succulent. Water lightly about once every 3 weeks or so when the soil is completely dry. Overwatering will lead to root rot and potentially kill your plant.
Does a snake plant need fertilizer?
You don’t need to fertilize a Snake Plant since they are prolific growers, but if you want to help encourage new growth you can fertilize once or twice in spring and/or summer with a basic houseplant fertilizer. Remember to dilute the fertilizer to half or quarter strength and to consider the fertilizing as a watering, so wait 3 weeks or so before watering again.
What is the best temperature for a snake plant?
Keep Snake Plants at room temperature, between about 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They don’t really need humidity like many other indoor houseplants, and they don’t like chilly temperatures much but can tolerate them for a short time.
Common snake plant and Sansevieria care issues
Root Rot and Overwatering
Snake Plant is known as a super easy houseplant that thrives on neglect. So, it stands to reason that the number one way to hurt it is by overwatering. Keep an eye out for soft spots on your leaves or wilting and check your roots. If the roots are sitting in water, they are prone to root rot, which needs to be caught early to make a recovery! Trim back any rotted roots and repot in well-draining soil such as a cactus/succulent mix with good drainage. If you are skeptical that you are overwatering, remove the pot that the plant is in from the decorative pot and dump out any excess watering that remains within a few hours of watering.
Drafts and Cold
Temps below 55 can cause cold damage to your Sansevieria, but mostly just for prolonged periods. This plant likes to be kept warm at room temperature, so if you take it outside for extra sunshine in the spring and summer be sure to bring it back inside if the nighttime temperatures will dip below 55. Keep away from heating and air conditioning vents too.
Pests
Keep an eye out for common pests like mealybugs and spider mites. Spider mites may also produce a web-like coating on affected leaves. Small infestations can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol or mild dish soap, while large infestations may be too far established for recovery. The leaves of your snake plant are pretty thick, so they won’t be impacted as quickly as plants with thinner leaves, but you still want to eliminate any insects sooner rather than later!
Got Questions?
Email us or find us on Instagram @wild_interiors to ask any additional questions!