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Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant

4.8 out of 5 (6 experiences)

Survivor

About Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant

Did you know the genus name Dracaena comes from the Greek for ‘female dragon’? Some plants in this genus have thick, red resin which was reminiscent of dragon blood! 🐲 Dracaenas are native to Africa, Asia, and northern Australia, and are known for being super easy to care for. Some species can go months without water, and many can grow well in low sunlight.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Dracaena hanningtonii 'Samurai Dwarf'

Genus

Dracaena

Family

Asparagaceae

Order

Asparagales

Also known as

Samurai Dwarf

How to care for Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant

💦 Water

How often to water your Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant in your home

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant can tolerate being far from a window and light source.

Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Dracaena

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

Benefits of Growing Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant →

Common Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant Problems →

💦 Water Needs

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant Water Frequency →

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant can tolerate being far from a window and light source. Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant Light Requirements →

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

💨 Humidity

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant →

When and How to Successfully Repot Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant →

💩 Fertilizer

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

🌎 Native Region

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant is native to Africa to Southern Asia and Australia.

🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant Flowers →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

How and When to Prune Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant →

🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant →

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

Care Summary for Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 6ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Survivor 5

Large, lush leaves 1

@@Viola

135 Plants

15,567 XP

Ottawa, Ontario

01/25/2022

Handsome plant- sharp tips keeps cats away. LOVE this guy/gal

Survivor

Large, lush leaves

Samurai Dwarf Snake Plant plant photo by @Viola named SamRei on Greg, the plant care app.

@@DanDeLión

50 Plants

6,772 XP

02/24/2021

This little guy, as well as my other snake plants don’t demand much. I keep him in a well lit area and water him once a month. Same with my other snake plants. They reward me with little pups every few months. Love this plant! Perfect for people with brown thumbs or little time to care for a plant. However, they DO NEED LIGHT! “Low light tolerant” just means that it won’t die immediately from lack of light. It may take months or years before you see it take a turn for the worst, but it will most definitely happen. So put yours in a well lit place and keep away from cold drafts or freezing temperatures. Cold will scar the leaves and eventually kill it.

Survivor