Hello, I’m new to the group so it’s nice to meet you all....
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@ModelMoonwort86 it depends on the nursery and where their plants are grown, but many commercial growers use fairly moisture retaining soil because the plant won't need to be watered as often. The problem for plants like succulents and snake plants is that it often leads to root rot issues. I don't think that's what's going on with yours, but I do think it's a good idea to repot your snake plant in the near future. They prefer a gritty, well-draining soil, something like succulent/cacti soil mixed with perlite or pumice (equal parts of each). I'd also recommend a terracotta pot, which unlike plastic is porous and allows the soil to dry out faster. It's true they like to be quite snug in their pots, so choose a terracotta pot that's the same size as its current pot.
Snake plants are VERY drought tolerant. In most cases, a plant of this size will only need watering about once a month during the summer and even less frequently in the winter. Always check the soil before watering to ensure it's completely dried out all the way down to the bottom. A moisture meter will help with this, but you can also use a wooden chopstick or skewer. Even if the soil's surface is dry, it can still be very damp further down near the roots.
As for light, it can tolerate lower light conditions, but it certainly won't thrive. Contrary to most plant care guides, snake plants do best with at least some direct sunlight. An east-facing window is a good choice because it only gets direct sun in the morning, which is much gentler than afternoon sun. Don't be afraid to push it closer to some light. If possible, try to get it within 3 feet of the nearest window. The extra light will also help with the soil drying out faster, which is one of if not the most important factor when caring for a snake plant 😊
Snake plants are VERY drought tolerant. In most cases, a plant of this size will only need watering about once a month during the summer and even less frequently in the winter. Always check the soil before watering to ensure it's completely dried out all the way down to the bottom. A moisture meter will help with this, but you can also use a wooden chopstick or skewer. Even if the soil's surface is dry, it can still be very damp further down near the roots.
As for light, it can tolerate lower light conditions, but it certainly won't thrive. Contrary to most plant care guides, snake plants do best with at least some direct sunlight. An east-facing window is a good choice because it only gets direct sun in the morning, which is much gentler than afternoon sun. Don't be afraid to push it closer to some light. If possible, try to get it within 3 feet of the nearest window. The extra light will also help with the soil drying out faster, which is one of if not the most important factor when caring for a snake plant 😊
Hi Maryanna! Welcome to Greg! 😊 This is very common for snake plants, it's typically due to one of two things: overwatering or underwatering. If it's overwatered, it weakens the structural integrity of the plant starting at its base so it can no longer hold itself up. With underwatering, the leaf loses moisture to the point it can no longer support itself. So we just need to figure out which of the two is going on with your snake plant.
Can you give some insight as to its care? How often do you water, how much light does it get, soil type, etc...?
Can you give some insight as to its care? How often do you water, how much light does it get, soil type, etc...?
Hi Steph, thanks for the feedback. Here are a few details. No real direct sunlight but the room itself is well lit with natural light. It sit 4 or more feet away from the windows. It has been recently watered and fertilized. It’s still in the container that I bought it in as the nursery said the roots like to be more contained and it still as room to grow. That said I can’t speak to the soil type.
@stephonicle I really appreciate all the info and will take your advice on repotting and moving closer to a window. Funny. I actually keep a wooden chop stick next to the pot. 😄 . Regarding, repotting, is there any particular time/season that would be best? Thanks so much for your help.
@ModelMoonwort86 anytime! Glad I could help ☺️ Honestly, with indoor plants I find it doesn't really matter when you repot. They're in a controlled environment, so they don't subscribe to the seasonal guidelines and restrictions that outdoor plants do. And because snake plants are so resilient, the stress of repotting doesn't seem to affect them the way it does many other plants. It'll also be a good opportunity to inspect the roots! A healthy snake plant's roots will be bright orange or white.
One other tip for repotting: try to do it when the soil is almost completely dry. It's a lot easier to shake dry soil off the roots than wet soil 😉
One other tip for repotting: try to do it when the soil is almost completely dry. It's a lot easier to shake dry soil off the roots than wet soil 😉
@stephonicle I hope you had a great weekend. I repotted my snake plant and came to find out the soil was very wet. Now that it’s in new dry soil should I water the plant or let it continue to dry out?
