A snake plant tolerates low light and a lot of neglect, and what kills it is too much water.
Dryness is the setting this one prefers. If you forget to water it for a few weeks, it copes. If you water it every Sunday out of habit, the roots can start to rot.
How little water it wants
University of Illinois Extension, the University’s public gardening advice service, names over-watering as the main reason for failure. Its rule: let the soil dry completely between waterings.
Push a finger two inches into the mix. If it is dry down there, it probably needs water. If it is not, wait.
Water when the plant needs it, not by the calendar. Pot size, light and temperature all change how fast the soil dries.
When you do water, soak the soil, let the extra drain into the saucer, then empty the saucer so the pot never sits in water.
North Carolina State Extension puts it in seasons:
- Spring to autumn: let the soil dry between waterings.
- Winter: water only every one to two months.
Light, from dim to bright
The plant will grow in any light from a dim interior to full sun, and it tolerates very low light. Direct sun for part of the day, 2 to 6 hours, is the suggestion.
A dim corner will not kill it. Light changes how often a plant needs water, so check the soil there before you pour.
It is rated easy to grow and low maintenance, and it is one of the houseplants that suit a calm home.
Temperature is easy too. It tolerates cool temperatures around 50 degrees, and it likes moderate to warm rooms and low humidity.
The common kinds
You will see several looks on the shelf. NC State lists 14 cultivars (named varieties) and now calls the plant Dracaena trifasciata, formerly Sansevieria.
- Laurentii: dark green leaves with zigzags of lighter green and yellow edges.
- Hahnii: a dwarf plant that forms a short, funnel-shaped rosette.
- Moonshine: silvery-gray leaves with light green blotches.
The leaves are erect, 18 to 30 inches tall. One variety has four-inch leaves in a rosette.
The pot and the mix
Plant it in regular potting mix. No special blend is needed. Well-drained soil is what matters.
Unglazed clay pots dry faster. Plants in unglazed clay need water more often than those in plastic, because clay is porous.
What the leaves are telling you
What each change usually means:
- Soft, mushy leaves: suspect too much water and root rot.
- Shriveling leaves in winter: the plant needs a little water.
- Wilting leaves: check the soil before you reach for the can. Wilting often means a plant needs water, but sometimes it is a symptom of over-watering.
- Firm leaves and damp soil: leave it alone.
Check the soil first, then decide. A wilting leaf alone cannot say which problem you have.
If you are unsure, here is how to tell an overwatered plant from an underwatered one.
Monitor for mealybugs and spider mites.
Repotting and new plants
Do not rush to repot.
Wait for a sign. Signs include roots growing through the drainage holes, roots on the soil surface, a pot full of roots, or a plant that wilts between normal waterings.
Repot in spring or early summer, when the plant is actively growing. Knock it gently out of the pot and look at the roots. Then replant in fresh potting mix at the same depth it grew before.
To get a new plant, division is recommended, which means splitting a clump into separate plants.
One safety note. NC State rates the poison severity as low.
It still lists the plant as a problem for dogs and cats, with vomiting and nausea among the symptoms if eaten. The sap can also irritate skin.