Snake Plant is a plant which is very easy to plant at home. It is easy to identify because of its sword-like leaves. Snake plants are the plants to be planted at home because snake plants are easy to care for as they require very little water.
The plant, with tough, sword-like leaves, can grow six inches or eight feet tall. Snake plants come in many colors, but most have green-striped leaves. This plant is easy to plant and does not dry out even in difficult conditions. They can also live in very bright light or dark places.
Snake plants grow slowly in indoor light, but exposing them to sunlight for a few hours will make them grow faster. It is good to plant these during rainy days. Snake Plant is excellent for home decor. These bring you closer to nature and complete the Feng Shui of the house. Like other plants, they also have health benefits. Snake plant is also called Mother-in-Law’s Tongue because of its sharp tip! It is considered a lucky plant because it purifies the air and eliminates formaldehyde and benzene.
In this blog, information about Snake Plant Types, Snake Plant Benefits, Snake Plant Care, How to Plant Snake Plant (Snake Plant Propagate) is given.
Snake Plant Types
Mother-in-law’s tongue (Dracaena trifasciata)
This is the most common type of snake plant, with dark green, pointed leaves that have yellow, white, or gray stripes. It can grow up to 4 feet tall and produces fragrant white flowers.
African spear (Dracaena angolensis)
This type of snake plant has round, stiff leaves that grow several feet long and arch outward from a central crown. The leaves are gray-green with subtle stripes. It rarely flowers indoors.
Bird’s nest (Dracaena trifasciata ‘Hahnii’)
This is a dwarf cultivar of Dracaena trifasciata, with dark green leaves that have creamy white horizontal stripes12. The leaves form a rosette that resembles a bird’s nest3. It grows to just 6 inches tall.
Golden snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata ‘Laurentii’)
This is a variegated cultivar of Dracaena trifasciata, with dark green leaves that have bright yellow margins. The leaves are long and sword-shaped, and can grow up to 3 feet tall.
White-striped snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata ‘Bantel’s Sensation’ )
This is another variegated cultivar of Dracaena trifasciata, with dark green leaves that have thin white vertical stripes. The leaves are narrow and pointed, and can grow up to 3 feet tall.
Silver snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata ‘Moonshine’ )
This is a rare cultivar of Dracaena trifasciata, with silvery-green leaves that have a soft and velvety texture. The leaves are broad and flat, and can grow up to 2 feet tall.
Curly snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata ‘Twisted Sister’)
This is a unique cultivar of Dracaena trifasciata, with dark green leaves that have yellow edges and curl and twist in different directions. The leaves are short and wavy, and can grow up to 1 foot tall.
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Snake Plant Benefits
The air-purifying quality of the snake plant is one of the most incredible benefits of having these plants around your home. Snake plants are attacked by harmful chemicals, namely benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, trichloroethylene, toluene and carbon dioxide.
These plants overcome allergies and asthma, adept at allergy filtration. With an artistic flourish, they chase away irritations, the ephemeral dancers of sneezing, coughing and itching. These plants overcome allergies and asthma and are adept at allergy filtration. With an artistic flourish, they dance away ephemeral dances of irritation, sneezing, coughing and itching.
According to the Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui, snake plants are important for maintaining balance in the natural world and our living spaces. Snake plants are incredible plants to have in your interior space. Apart from being attractive to look at, they also have proven health benefits. They require almost no maintenance, they help in air purification inside the house and create a safe and healthy environment around you.
Snake Plant Propagation & Repotting
Snake plant propagation and repotting are two ways to grow and care for your snake plants. Snake plants are easy to propagate, as they can produce new plants from their leaves, roots, or rhizomes. Repotting snake plants can help them thrive and prevent root rot. Here are some steps and tips for snake plant propagation and repotting:
To propagate snake plants by leaf cuttings, you will need a sharp knife or scissors, a glass jar or dish with water, and optionally, a rooting hormone. Cut off a healthy leaf near the soil and dip it in the rooting hormone if you have it. Place the cut end of the leaf in water, covering about a quarter of the leaf.
Make sure to keep the leaf in the same orientation as it was in the soil, otherwise, it will not root. You can also cut the leaf into sections and place each section in water, but remember to mark the bottom end of each section. Change the water every few days and wait for roots and pups to appear.
To propagate snake plants by soil cuttings, you will need the same materials as above, except for a small pot with sandy, well-draining potting mix instead of water. Cut off a leaf and dip it in the rooting hormone if you have it. Insert the cut end of the leaf into the soil, burying about an inch of the leaf. You can also cut the leaf into sections and plant each section in soil, but remember to mark the bottom end of each section. Water sparingly and wait for roots and pups to appear.
To propagate snake plants by division, you will need a tarp or large sheet, pruning shears or a knife, and small pots with sandy, well-draining potting mix. Lay your plant on its side and remove it from its pot. If the plant is root-bound, gently squeeze the pot to loosen the root ball. Identify a clump of stems that you want to separate from the main plant and clear away as much soil as you can from the roots.
If possible, gently pull the clump away from the mother plant, untangling the roots as you go. If not, use a sharp tool to cut through the roots and separate the clump. Replant the clump in a new pot with fresh soil.
To propagate snake plants by rhizome, you will need a sharp knife or scissors, a small pot with sandy, well-draining potting mix, and optionally, a rooting hormone. Rhizomes are underground stems that grow horizontally and produce new shoots and roots. Locate a rhizome on your plant and cut off a section that has at least one shoot or bud.
Dip the cut end of the rhizome in the rooting hormone if you have it. Plant the rhizome in a new pot with fresh soil, making sure that the shoot or bud is above the soil surface.
To repot snake plants, you will need a larger pot with drainage holes, sandy, well-draining potting mix, and optionally, some compost. Snake plants do not need to be repotted often, as they like to be slightly root-bound. However, if your plant is overcrowded, has roots coming out of the drainage holes, or shows signs of root rot, you may need to repot it. Choose a pot that is one or two inches larger than the current one in diameter. Fill the new pot with some fresh soil and compost if you have it.
Carefully remove your plant from its old pot and shake off any excess soil from the roots. Trim any damaged or rotten roots with a sharp tool. Place your plant in the center of the new pot and fill in with more soil around it. Press down lightly to firm up the soil and water well.
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Snake Plant Soil & Light Requirements
Snake plants need well-drained soil that does not retain too much moisture. A cactus potting mix or one with perlite is ideal for snake plants. The soil should be slightly acidic to neutral, with a pH range of 5.5 to 7.5.
Snake plants grow in low to strong indirect light. They grow and color best in strong indirect light. Too much sunlight may limp and burn leaves, while too little can delay photosynthesis and stunt growth. Snake plants need shelter from the midday sun but may survive short direct sunshine in the morning or afternoon. Snake plants need 6–8 hours of indirect sunlight daily.
How often to water snake plant
Water a snake plant often from spring to fall, when it is growing, but don’t let it get too wet. It can’t stand standing water or dirt that is too wet, which can cause root rot. Between waterings, it’s best to let the dirt dry out. During the winter, you only need to water once every month or two.
Snake Plant Care Guidelines
Overwatering is one of the most common problems with snake plants and other succulents. When the soil is too wet, these plants tend to get root rot.
- Don’t water them too often. Between waterings, let the dirt dry out as much as possible.
- Large, flat leaves tend to get dirty, so use a wet cloth to clean them as needed.
- Snake plants grow quickly in good conditions and may need to be split every year.
- In the spring, divide and repot the plants. Cut off a piece with leaves and roots and put it in a pot with a potting mix that drains well.
- If a snake plant is stuck in a pot, it may rarely bloom. Tall spikes hold groups of fragrant, greenish-white flowers.
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Snake plant flower
On the exceptionally rare occasion that your snake plant does flower, you will see small buds scattered along the long flower stalks. This stalk can reach a height of about three feet, sometimes taller than the tips of the snake plant’s leaves. Snake plants usually do not have more than one stalk.
These stalks contain dozens of small tubular flowers that grow in clusters and have thin petals. These beautiful flowers resemble honeysuckle or small lily flowers. In some varieties stalks do not grow. Instead, their flowers bloom in large clusters at the base of the plant.
Different varieties of snake plants also have different colored flowers. Typically, these colors range from white or cream to greenish-white or even yellow. The flowers are beautiful, especially against the snake plant’s dark green leaves.
Although the flowers may be rare, when they do bloom, they make their mark with their stunning beauty and strong fragrance.
FAQ
Q. What is best soil for snake plant
A cactus potting mix or one with perlite is ideal for snake plants.
Q. How much light does a snake plant need
Snake plants need 6–8 hours of indirect sunlight daily.
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