Sansevieria is one of the most common indoor plants. It is famous among plantsmen and newbies alike due to its amazing adaptability and beautiful features. This plant has adaptations to survive in areas with low light and little water or moisture.
It is great if you’re new to the whole “green fingers” thing. Maybe you’re looking to start with something low-maintenance. Sansevieria is the right choice for you.
Perfect for your bedroom or living room, this plant will surely brighten and freshen up your space without a lot of hassle. You won’t have to worry about it every day.
Summary
The most important aspects of Sansevieria (snake plants) care are soil quality, light conditions, fertilizer, and watering. There are various types of Sansevieria, but the most common variety is the Sansevieria Trifsciata. You can propagate a Sansevieria by cutting a leaf that’s close to the base and planting it in succulent soil. Sansevierias are sensitive to overwatering
What are snake plants?
We want you to delve into the world of nurturing plants seamlessly, so we carefully crafted this guide on how to care for snake plants. Read through our list of types and some important things to consider before starting your journey of tending these. By the end, you can choose which variety of Sansevieria is perfectly suited for you and your home.
How to Care For Sansevieria
Since they are xerophytes (Gr. xeros “dry,” phuton “plant”), they have adaptations that allow them to survive in dry environments. They thrive in deserts. These adaptations make them highly resilient. It is why these are the perfect options for people who are too busy or do not want to tend to a plant frequently.
Leaving them alone for a week in their preferred environment would do them little to no harm. Some may even thrive better since these are sensitive to overwatering.
You have to remember three things when it comes to growing one. They want less water. Give them indirect sunlight. Make sure they have an adequate temperature.
Read further to know more about how fast they grow and the environmental conditions best suited for growth. You’ll find out how to propagate it if you want to expand your plant collection.
How fast do they grow?
If your Sansevieria isn’t growing noticeably, you don’t have to panic. They are one of the slowest-growing ones you can find. They might be easy to grow, requiring minimal effort in terms of watering and propagating. It doesn’t mean the process will be fast.
If you placed it in a moderate to low light place, the growth rate would be slow compared to the ones grown outdoors. If you want to boost its growth, you can put it in a well sun-lit place.
The final height and width would depend on its species or cultivar. S. trifaciata ‘Laurentii’ grows to up to 1-3 feet, depending on its environmental conditions. And as expected, compact or dwarf cultivars can only grow up to a few inches high. Examples include such as the Samurai Dwarf, which can only grow up to 6 inches tall.
If yours is not a dwarf or compact variety, there are ways to stunt its growth if you want it to fit in a small area. The first thing to do is to limit the pot’s size. They will be root-bound and prevent growth away from the base. Another way is to cut the tip of the leaves to limit the growth in their height.
You may have found a pretty snake plant and brought it home without a clue about its species. In that case, we can help you figure out what type it is.
How do I grow and take care of them?
Depending on the environmental conditions, it can either thrive or die. Luckily for everyone, they can survive in moderate to low light environments. If you want to boost its growth, it would be best to place your plant in well-lit rooms.
It allows it to receive bright and steady indirect or filtered light. Some types can produce flowers. If you want to stimulate the production of its inflorescence, you can expose it to direct sunlight.
Although they are resilient, it is important to transition gently from one setup to another. Íf you plan to transfer it from a dim room to outdoors, first place it in an area where it can receive steady indirect light. This should be done for a few weeks before transferring it outdoors.
Water and the best soil
The amount of water is significantly less than other options that may need daily watering. It ranges from once a week to once a month. Watering frequency depends on the temperature or the area they are placed in.
Less water is needed for ones situated indoors or in shaded areas. It is especially the case if the temperature is cool and the soil used is moisture retentive. The simplest way to know if it is time to water is to check dry soil. Underwatering would do little harm, but overwatering is a sure way to kill it.
This is why we prefer to put ours on a shelf, situated in a well-lit room where they can receive sufficient indirect light. Placing them outdoors where rain can reach them is not ideal.
Maybe you’re worried about mold or fungi infestation on your shelves due to the chances of it getting wet while watering the plants. I suggest you use a shelf made up of a material that won’t allow fungus growth that easily.
One example is this marine-grade plywood which can survive repeated contact with water. It is made up of high-quality wood that is cross-laminated and held together by waterproof glue. While we’re on the topic of making shelves, you might be interested in checking out wide belt sanders. They can make woodworking much easier.
Soil
They grow better in a fast-draining potting mix because snake plants are sensitive to water and are prone to root rot. A sandier mix of potting soil would be ideal to allow drainage. You can buy commercially available all-purpose cactus or succulent potting soil. It is perfect for water-sensitive plants.
Suppose you’re worried about soil-borne diseases and carrying harmful microorganisms into your home. You can opt for a soilless potting mix instead. Just make sure that the mix allows proper water drainage.
Temperature
Snakes don’t like the cold, and neither do these plants. Xerophytes are native to Africa and thrive in tropical and subtropical areas. They fare terribly at a temperature below 50 ℉, especially in freezing temperatures.
The ideal temperature is around 70-90 ℉. Make sure to never leave them outdoor during winter. They’ll surely die after a few hours of exposure to freezing temperatures.
Of course, this temperature rule extends to the water you use for them. Even if they cannot nag at you when you give them cold water, you’ll surely see the effects of exposing them to the cold. After a few days, you’ll see things such as browning and mushy leaves.
Take that extra step towards the faucet that can give you warm water. Let that tap run until you get the right temperature so that it won’t suffer during watering. If you want to remove the shortage of hot water in your home, install a good hot water recirculating pump system.
Here is a detailed table of the adequate represents:
| Maximum height | Width | Soil | Temperature | Sun exposure |
| 4-5 ft | 6-36 inches | Well draining soil mix | 60-75 Degree Fahrenheit | More than 5 hours of indirect sunlight |
