If you’ve ever said you can’t keep a houseplant alive, the snake plant is the one to prove yourself wrong. Its stiff, upright leaves come striped in shades of green, silver, and yellow. Better yet, snake plant care is about as easy as it gets. This tough tropical plant tolerates low light, dry indoor air, and weeks of neglect.
For years, snake plants went by the botanical name Sansevieria trifasciata. However, botanists now place them in the genus Dracaena as Dracaena trifasciata. You’ll still see both names at garden centers. Whatever you call it, this guide covers everything you need to keep yours healthy indoors.
Snake plants are famously tolerant of dim corners, which makes them a favorite for apartments, offices, and north-facing rooms. But “tolerates” isn’t the same as “thrives.” In very low light, they grow slowly and variegated types may lose some of their bright coloring. For the best growth, place yours a few feet from an east- or west-facing window or near a bright south-facing window with sheer curtains. A few hours of direct morning sun is fine, but sudden exposure to intense afternoon sun can scorch the leaves.
Watering is where most snake plant care goes wrong. Their thick leaves store water, and their roots rot quickly in soil that stays wet. Water only when the soil is completely dry all the way through. Push your finger or a wooden skewer a couple of inches into the pot; if it comes out with any moisture, wait.
In spring and summer, that usually means watering every two to three weeks. In fall and winter, when growth slows and light levels drop, once a month or even less is often enough. When you do water, soak the soil thoroughly until water runs out the drainage hole, then empty the saucer. Avoid pouring water into the center of the leaf rosette, where it can sit and cause rot.
Use a fast-draining potting mix made for cacti and succulents, or mix regular potting soil with an equal amount of perlite or coarse sand. Either way, a drainage hole is non-negotiable. Terra-cotta pots are a great choice because the porous clay helps soil dry out faster. Snake plants are top-heavy as they grow tall, so choose a pot that’s sturdy and wide enough not to tip over.
Snake plants are comfortable at normal household temperatures between about 60 and 85°F. However, temperatures below 50°F can damage them. So in northern winters, keep them away from drafty doors, single-pane windows, and cold entryways. Sealing those drafts is also on our checklist for how to winterize your home. Average indoor humidity is fine; there’s no need to mist them, and it can actually encourage fungal problems.
If you summer your snake plant outdoors on a patio, bring it back inside before nighttime temperatures dip into the 50s, usually by late September in the northern U.S. and Canada.
In addition, snake plants are light feeders. During spring and summer, feed once a month with a balanced houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength, or use a cactus fertilizer. Skip fertilizer entirely in fall and winter.
Snake plants like to be a little crowded and only need repotting every two to three years, or when roots start to push out of the drainage hole or crack a plastic pot. Repot in spring, moving up just one pot size (1 to 2 inches wider).
The easiest way to get new plants is by division. When repotting, slide the plant out and use a clean, sharp knife to cut through the thick rhizome, leaving each section with at least one leaf and some roots. Pot each section separately.
You can also root leaf cuttings. Cut a healthy leaf into 3-inch sections, let them callus for a day or two, then insert the bottom end (keep track of which end was down) into moist cactus mix. Note that cuttings from variegated plants like ‘Laurentii’ usually grow back plain green; division is the only way to keep the yellow edges.
Most issues come down to a few mistakes in snake plant care. Fortunately, they are easy to fix once you spot them.
In lab settings, snake plants can absorb small amounts of some airborne compounds. Still, you’d need far more plants than any home holds to change indoor air quality. Enjoy them for their looks and easy care, and rely on ventilation for clean air.
Yes. They do well in bathrooms with a window and in bedrooms. Just water sparingly and keep them away from cold drafts. If you bring other potted plants indoors for the cold months, our guide to overwintering potted plants explains how to help them adjust.
No. Snake plants contain saponins, which can cause vomiting and drooling in cats and dogs if they chew the leaves. Keep them out of reach of curious pets, and check the ASPCA’s toxic and non-toxic plants list before buying new houseplants.
Create a low maintenance front yard with tough shrubs, mulch, ground covers, and simple layouts…
Learn how to change hydrangea color with soil pH, which types can switch, and how…
Learn how to start a compost pile with the right mix of greens and browns,…
These fast growing privacy shrubs create a living screen in a few seasons. Compare height,…
Learn how to fill a raised garden bed with the right soil mix, save money…
Get tomato plant spacing right for cages, stakes, raised beds, and containers, so plants get…