Snake Plant
4.9 out of 5 (1839 experiences)
Survivor
Fast grower
About Snake Plant
Records of Dracaena fossils have been found in Europe and North Africa, near the site of the Tethys Ocean, which existed 252 to 66 million years ago. More recently, snake plant leaves and stems have been used to treat fever, pain, bleeding, and inflammation throughout many cultures in Africa and India. 🤒
Taxonomy
Dracaena trifasciata
Dracaena
Asparagaceae
Asparagales
Also known as
Mother-in-law's Tongue, Viper's Bowstring Hemp, Dracaena Star Canyon Granite, Sansevieria trifasciata, Sansevieria jacquinii and Ghost Snake Plant
How to care for Snake Plant
Water
How often to water your Snake Plant
every 12
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
Light
Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.
Select a city to check sunlight intensity
Finding light for Snake Plant in your home
a window
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 Snake Plant in your home 🏡.
Nutrients
How to fertilize Snake Plant
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 Snake Plant after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
FAQs
Snake Plant is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!
Water Needs
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.
Sunlight Needs
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 🏡.
Toxicity
Snake Plant is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.
Humidity
Snake Plant prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.
Soil
Snake Plant does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!
Fertilizer
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!
Dormancy
It’s common for 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
Snake Plant is native to Africa to Southern Asia and Australia.
Flowers
Snake Plant produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.
Growth Pattern
Snake Plant is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Snake Plant can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Propagation
Snake Plant can be propagated by the leaf method. To propagate:
- Remove a leaf by gently twisting until it pops off.
- To get the leaf to root, you can either:
- Place the leaf in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the leaf directly into well-draining soil
Common Issues
Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with 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 Snake Plant
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 1413
Fast grower 582
Large, lush leaves 504
Easy to propagate 398
Blooms easily 75
Browns easily 56
Pest magnet 26
06/22/2022
Easy peasy. Hard to kill.
Survivor
05/15/2022
Idk man they’re just cool
Survivor
04/17/2022
Super easy to take care of!
Survivor
04/07/2022
I like the looks of it.
04/06/2022
My plant is lovely
04/05/2022
It’s a very easy plan to take care of it doesn’t need to much attention
Survivor
Browns easily
04/03/2022
put it in a room with indirect light and leave it alone!
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
03/24/2022
Even I can keep this plant alive. That should tell you just how easy this plant is to take care of and enjoy.
Easy to propagate
Survivor
03/19/2022
Good
Large, lush leaves
03/16/2022
funky, hardy big guys. can get pretty goshdarned tall.
Survivor
03/04/2022
They’re very responsive when transported and if you take care of them well, they have lots of babies and turn into many plants!
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Blooms easily
Survivor
03/03/2022
Hardy plant that handles any environment well with the right care
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
02/24/2022
Such an easy plant to look after, I rarely water mine and yet I have new growth.
Survivor
02/19/2022
I love snake plants they are so easy to care for. Literally set and forget. They don’t like to be overwatered and are very forgiving when you forget to water for a week or two 😉
Easy to propagate
Survivor
Large, lush leaves
02/18/2022
Great plant, very minimal care!
Survivor
02/17/2022
Super easy to care for 🪴.
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
02/16/2022
This was the first plant I was able to keep alive for a while! It’s great at shooting off little baby versions of itself— and is gorgeous to have in the house.
Survivor
Easy to propagate
02/16/2022
Beautiful and hardy plant
Easy to propagate
Survivor
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
02/13/2022
Easy to care for
Survivor
02/09/2022
Super easy plant to care for, I let mine go for weeks even a month at a time from watering and it’s growing and thriving 🔆
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
