Snake Plant is a family of succulents and is one of the most famous and popular houseplants; Popular because, despite its beauty and variety of species, it is easy to maintain and is a hardy plant. As a result, if you are new to growing houseplants, Sansevieria is definitely a good choice for you because of its easy maintenance. Continue reading this article in TooPlant in order to learn more about how to grow and care for Snake Plant.
Introduction of Snake Plant (Dracaena Trifasciata)
Before addressing how to take care of snake plant indoor, please allow us to give you a brief introduction about this houseplant.
| Name | Snake Plant |
| Family | Asparagaceae |
| Botanical Name | Dracaena Trifasciata (formerly: Sansevieria Trifasciata) |
| Toxicity |
Toxic to cats and dogs[1]American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Snake Plant. ASPCA.org., slightly toxic to human |
| Native | West Africa, notably Madagascar, southern Asia |
| Common Name(s) | Snake plant, Dracaena Trifasciata, Mother-in-Law’s Tongue |
Snake Plant is a very beautiful and hardy plant that is known by different names. Dracaena Trifasciata is an evergreen plant, has low toxicity and belongs to Africa and Asia. Plant enthusiasts often use it as an ornamental plant. Snake Plant is also an air purifier. It absorbs polluted and harmful particles into the air and turns them into harmless molecules.
Snake Plant grows well in small pots because in a small space the rhizomes are compact and the underground stems are closer together. This makes the plant grow faster. Snake Plant is propagated by special underground structures called “rhizomes”. The new plant is formed by the growth of these rhizomes. These rhizomes grow independently of the main plant so that they can eventually form new mature plants.
Although this plant is very hardy, this does not mean that they are not taken care of. Simple and concise care is enough to have a beautiful and healthy Sansevieria Trifasciata with a long life.
In this article, we want to provide you with information about how to care for Snake Plant, so stay tuned with Tooplant.
How Many Types of Sansevieria Trifasciata Are There?
Types of Sansevieria Trifasciata are as follows:
- Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Black Gold’: The leaves of this type of Sansevieria Trifasciata are dark green with a beautiful golden stripe around them.
- Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Futura Robusta’: It is the shortest type of Sansevieria Trifasciata. It has shiny green leaves and dark green streaks on its surface.
- Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Futura Superba’: This type of Sansevieria Trifasciata is like Sansevieria ‘Black Gold’. It is only slightly smaller and has wider leaves.
- Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Cylindrica’: Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Cylindrica’ is the most specific form of Sansevieria. Because its stems are round and look like a bamboo plant.
- Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Hahnii’: It is the brightest kind of Sansevieria Trifasciata. Its beautiful leaves, along with its thick golden edges and traces of light green in the middle, make it one of the most beautiful types of Sansevieria.
- Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Black Robusta’: Among its green leaves, there are streaks of silver.
- Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Black Jack’: It is very similar to Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Black Gold’ but a little shorter.
Care for Snake Plant
In this part, we will focus on the most important aspects which you need to take into consideration while treating this houseplant. The best methods of how to take care of snake plant indoor include as follows:
Snake Plant Light Requirements: What light is best for Snake Plant?
Light is among the first important issues to care for Snake Plant. Snake Plant quickly adapts to the environment; That is, it continues to grow even in very bright light; Even artificial light, such as the fluorescent light bulbs found everywhere today, can eliminate the need for censorship of light.
This makes Snake Plant a suitable houseplant and low light resistant plant, but the ideal light for this indoor plant is indirect and relatively high light.
As a result, it is better to place it near the south window, which is sunnier than other parts of the house.
Adequate light causes the excess water to evaporate to some extent and the plant will not be flooded if overwatered.
Snake Plant planted in white pots on a wooden table with copy space. So, as shown above, light plays a significant role to care for Snake Plant.
Snake Plant Watering: How often should you water a Snake Plant?
In the remaining, concerning the tips of caring for a Snake Plant, it is better to know that Snake Plant needs very little water to grow, and it is best to check the soil once every two weeks and only water it if it is very dry. Therefore, watering is another important aspect in order to care for Snake Plant.
Snake Plant Soil: What is the best soil for a Snake Plant?
Intending to care for Snake Plant, the other crucial matter is soil. Snake Plant prefers heavy soils such as sand, a mixture of sand, clay and organic matter. Therefore, when changing the pot and providing suitable conditions for its maintenance, pay attention to this point.
If you are planning to plant Dracaena Trifasciata in your garden, you need to pay attention to the soil and light it needs. The best soil pH range for censored growth is between 4.5 and 7.5.
Choose a part of the garden that is slightly shaded and at the same time has enough light. In other words, the plant should be planted in the garden in such a way that it does not receive direct sunlight.
Thus, it can be said that, soil is another basic and important issue so as to care for Snake Plant.
Snake Plant Temperature Tolerance (Do snake plants like humidity?)
In this section, we will focus on snake plant temperature tolerance and humidity which are assumed to be principal to care for snake plant in addition to light, watering and soil that are mentioned above. To find answer to the question “do snake plants like humidity?” read the following part:
Snake Plant is resistant to both temperature and humidity, and low or high humidity, as well as low or high temperatures, have little effect on its growth; But in order to provide the best conditions for the plant, it is necessary to keep it in an environment with a balanced temperature and, most importantly, with low temperature changes as well as moderate humidity. In addition, the plant should not be exposed to wind, cooling and heating devices.
Therefore, please do not forget to take snake plant temperature tolerance and humidity into consideration in order to care for snake plant in the best way.
Snake Plant Fertilizer: What is the best fertilizer for a Snake Plant?
When you want to care for Snake Plant, one of the important questions that may come to your mind is “what is the best fertilizer?” In what follows, we will address how to fertilize this plant:
Like all houseplants, if you want to see more Snake Plants grow during maintenance, you need to fertilize them. Therefore, it is better to use diluted fertilizers to strengthen the plant. Fertilizers with a ratio of 10-10-10 are suitable fertilizers for this purpose.
For Dracaena Trifasciata planted in the garden and outside the pot, choose a fertilizer similar to the fertilizer you use for pot Snake Plant with the same ratio and composition only in liquid form. Weeds will probably grow in the garden and around Sansevieria after fertilization, in which case we recommend that you prune them regularly so that they do not empty the soil of rich substances and prevent the plants from growing.
As a result, we could say that fertilizer is regarded as one of the fundamental issues when someone wants to care for Snake Plant.
What is the best size pot for a Snake plant?
Snake Plant can be planted in pots or in the garden. If you choose to keep this in a pot, you will need an earthenware pot.
The pot should be wide and almost short in height. Because the Dracaena Trifasciata root watering system works better in shallow soil.
Also pay attention to proper drainage of the pot, because the accumulation of water in the soil and around the roots, causes rot and destruction of plant roots.
Snake Plant Toxicity: Is Snake Plant poisonous to humans and pets?
In order to care for Snake Plant, toxicity is considered to be a major issue because it directly relates to your health especially children and pets. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, snake plant is poisonous to cats and dogs. So, Snake Plant is slightly toxic, but only if you eat it; It is true that Snake Plant is a good source of fiber, but never try it. Eating Snake Plant causes swelling and numbness of the tongue and is dangerous. To find answer to the question “is snake plant safe for pets?” we must say that snake plant is poisonous to cats, dogs and humans. Therefore, you need to be careful and keep it out of reach of children and pets.
How Do I Get My Snake Plant To Bloom?
In the rest, concerning the methods of caring for a Snake Plant, we will address how do I get my Dracaena Trifasciata to bloom.
Snake Plant flowers have a green to white color spectrum and are pollinated by butterflies.
Of course, Snake Plant generally does not produce many flowers.
It may grow only a few flowers on its stems, but instead grows small rhizomes around it that turn into beautiful Snake Plants over time!
Snake Plant Propagating: How to propagate Snake Plant?
When you want to care for Snake Plant, another important question that may come to your mind is “how to propagate it.”
Dracaena Trifasciata grows and propagates in a variety of ways, such as sowing seeds, cutting, or putting leaves in water. The easiest way is to plant Snake Plant seeds in the soil or culture medium you are considering. Although this method is simple, it is not used much, because it takes a long time for the seeds to germinate.
Another way is to remove some of the healthy leaves of the plant and plant them in the soil.
After a while, these leaves will take root and a new Snake Plant will grow from each root. (The root means the same as the rhizome.) In addition to these two ways, you can also use water to propagate Snake Plant.
To do this, separate a young leaf from the Sansevieria and dip it in a glass of water. Change the water every few days to see new roots after a few weeks.
Once the roots are large enough, it is time to transfer the plant to your own pot.
Common Pests and Diseases
After a description of taking care of a snake plant, we will explain the problems and their solutions:
Common Pests
The main pests that threaten Snake Plant are mealybugs and baby spiders. These pests suck the sap of the plant and gradually cause the leaves to plasticize. Therefore, if you do not destroy them in time, they can destroy the whole plant.
In addition to sucking the sap of the plant, these pests can sometimes cause the leaves to become sensitive by creating cavities and sores on the leaves; Due to the slightest pest or disease, the plant does not resist and dies.
The solution to getting rid of these pests is simple and requires a little patience and time. Regarding mealybugs, we must say that mealybugs are visible. Then examine the plant and if you see them, remove them from the plant with a napkin.
To prevent mealybugs from attacking, you can spray a little alcohol on the surface of the leaves. But in the case of baby and spider eggs, you should always keep the leaves clean. Because the baby and the spider egg are not easily visible to the lice. As a result, regularly clean the leaves of the plant and increase the humidity of the ambient air. Because it keeps insects and pests away from the plant.
Common Diseases
This plant is more prone to fungal diseases that are often caused by overwatering and humidity; If the surface of the leaves is constantly wet, the fungi will grow quickly in that place and will cause weakness, wilting and eventually redness of the leaves.
As a result, if the plant’s leaves begin to turn red and brown and white patches form on them, the white patches, which usually look like spider webs and turn brown over time, make sure the plant gets sick and needs immediate treatment. To treat the plant in this condition, it is necessary to remove the plant from the soil and remove the infected and diseased roots. Then move the plant to new, suitable soil.
Our advice to you is to always keep your plant in a condition that does not suffer from fungal diseases because fungal diseases quickly cause rot and eventually the death of the plant. To do this, always keep the Sansevieria leaves dry, water the plant well enough (neither more nor less) and allow the soil to dry and water the plant again. In addition, use well-drained soils and always keep the ambient temperature balanced to prevent excessive humidity and during the maintenance of the Snake Plant, your Snake Plant will not get fungal disease.
Caring for Snake Plant: Common Problems With Snake Plant
After a description of taking care of a Snake Plant, we will explain the problems and their solutions:
Swelling And Stench Of Snake Plant Leaves:
If you give the plant too much water, you should expect this to happen; Too much water destroys the leaf cells and eventually causes the leaves to swell and smell bad. In such cases, immediately remove the damaged leaves and correct the discharge before all the leaves are involved. While checking that the plant is not infected with fungal disease, in this case, be sure to do the same steps as we did in the previous section.
Why Are Snake Plant Leaves Turning Yellow?
As “leaves turning yellow” is one of the common problems that you may face when you want to care for Snake Plant, we will try to describe the reasons and the ways to solve it in details. Yellowing of Snake Plant leaves is due to lack of light and depletion of nutrients. To solve this problem, move the plant to a brighter place with indirect light and use suitable fertilizers to compensate for soil nutrients.
Yellowing, wilting, and dropping of Snake Plant leaves are the result of overwatering. In such cases, reduce the amount of water and the frequency of watering. Do not forget to water the Snake Plant soil until it is completely dry. If the soil is wet for a long time, it will destroy the roots. If your Sansevieria leaf is yellow, do not worry, do not water the plant for a few days and let it dry completely. After a few days, the leaves regain their freshness, while the leaves are not too yellow, otherwise, if the leaves are too yellow and the plant can not improve itself, you must remove the leaf from the plant.
Why is my snake plant drooping?
To find answer to the question “why is my snake plant drooping?” read the following part:
If you notice your snake plant is drooping, it means that something has happened down there in the soil and the root has rotted or died completely. In this case, you must remove the plant from the pot.
If the plant has become fungal and the roots have died, you must cut the plant from a few centimeters above the place where the plant has become fungal. You should cut the plant with a sterile knife or cutter and put it between newspapers for a few days.
If the contamination does not increase, plant it in light soil. The first watering should be with fungicide and you need to wait for it to take root and grow easily.
And if the plant has lost its roots due to watering, you must strengthen it so that it takes root again. You should cover the root with cocopeat and plant it. Since cocopeat dries slowly, do not water the plant too much.
Don’t forget to remove the yellow, fungal and diseased leaves from the plant and throw them away because they infect the whole plant.
Cause Of Drying Of The Tip Of The Snake Plant leaf
There are three main reasons why Snake Plant leaves dry out:
- Your plant is thirsty
- Received too much light
- The ambient temperature is high
Check the plant soil for the first reason; If you dip your finger into the soil of the pot, your plant needs watering if it is the size of a fingertip or more of dry soil. As for the second reason, check how much light your Sansevieria environment has, and if you feel the ambient light is too much, move the plant to a more balanced environment.
For the third reason, similar to the second reason, check the environment for temperature, and if the ambient temperature was high, move the plant to a lower temperature environment. You can also spray water around the plant or place a container of water near the plant to provide surface moisture to balance the plant and balance the temperature.
“Drying Snake Plant leaf ” is another common problem that you may face when you want to care for Snake Plant, so we tried to describe the reasons and the ways to solve it in details.
Cause Of Damage And Breakage Of Dracaena Trifasciata leaves
Excessive touching or tapping on the surface of the Snake Plant leaves can cause such problems for the leaves; Because Snake Plant has delicate leaves.
Therefore, it is better to place it in a place away from a lot of traffic and away from children’s playgrounds so that it does not collide with it. Also, be careful when moving and carrying it, and do not get hit or damaged while moving.
How To Increase The Humidity Around Sansevieria Trifasciata? (The essential tips in the care for Snake Plant)
Planting several plants together in one pot can be a good way to increase humidity.
This allows enough water to reach all the plants and less water to be absorbed by the soil.
You can also put two pots together. To do this, place the pot in which you planted the plant in a larger pot.
Fill the space between the two pots with enough fertilizer and keep it moist at all times.
Another way is to use humidifiers. You can place your plants in a room and use this device to increase the humidity.
Can We Control And Treat Snake Plant Using Pesticides?
The answer is no. Snake Plant diseases are often caused by improper watering that is not soluble in chemicals. Of course, you can spray a little alcohol on the leaves, but the best way to prevent the problem is to improve the irrigation method.
Make sure that enough water reaches the roots but does not accumulate in the soil. If the soil is not completely drained and does not allow excess water to pass through, it will cause the roots to rot and eventually the plant to die.
What Are The Benefits Of Keeping Snake Plant At Home?
In the remaining, concerning the tips of caring for a Snake Plant, it is better to know the benefits of keeping a Snake Plant at home are as follows:
1. Air purification
Snake Plant is an air purifier and has the ability to purify the air in your home. As you know, the air you breathe is made up of various elements such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, other gases and even dust, some of which are necessary and some of which are toxic and harmful. For example, gases such as Trichloroethylene, Benzene, Formaldehyde, Xylene and many other gases are harmful to human health.
Here are some ways to take care of Snake Plant. Consider Trichloroethylene gas, which can cause headaches, nausea, and, in acute cases, coma!
Benzene also irritates the eyes, slows the heart rate and reduces alertness.
Formaldehyde causes inflammation of the muscles and stimulates the larynx and vocal cords. Xylene also causes problems for the heart, kidneys and liver. Given this, maintaining Snake Plant is not only useful but necessary, especially if you live in a city center.
2. Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)
Crassulacean acid metabolism is one of the most important reasons why most people choose Snake Plant for their bedroom and bathroom.
CAM is a type of plant activity cycle. Plants in the CAM category absorb carbon dioxide from the air during the day and release oxygen at night. You have probably heard that you should not place too many plants around your sleeping area, as they absorb oxygen from the air for photosynthesis and reduce air quality, which is dangerous when you are asleep, but Dracaena Trifasciata is different! Snake Plant can increase the amount of oxygen in the air by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen at night and improve the air you breathe. This is why Snake Plant is recommended to increase the quality of sleep.
3. Help eliminate bad air odor
One of the most important things to keep in mind to care for Snake Plants is that no matter if you are at work or sitting at home watching your favorite show, bad breath is always annoying.
Consider a newly painted room, the smell of paint and chemicals in that room is not tolerable, especially for children; In such a situation, you should get help from Snake Plant! Dracaena Trifasciata purifies the air and at the same time eliminates the bad smell of the environment.
If you put Snake Plant in the room, you no longer have to worry about the bad smell of chemicals. So if you work in beauty salons or environments that constantly use different chemicals, it is better to place a Sansevieria near you.
4. Suitable for making handicrafts
Are you interested in making simple jewelry, a rope or even a bow for your child? Snake Plant is ready to help you again! Do not throw away any dried Snake Plant leaves. Just put them in water for 3 weeks and then peel them. Once you have removed the skin, you can use the fiber inside the leaves to make decorative accessories.
Infographic Of How To Care For Snake Plant
In this article, we tried to explain to you in an infographic the essential tips on take care of snake plant indoor, so that you can briefly and usefully learn the methods of caring for this plant.
In The End
Finally, what we said about Care for Snake Plant, It’s better to know that, Snake Plant is an attractive houseplant! You can use it beautifully in your home decoration, it both beautifies the space and purifies the air. Sansevieria is a great choice for home, work and even public environments. It is enough to provide enough light and water for it. Reproduce it easily to have more of this amazing plant or give it to your friends. Enjoy keeping and watching your beautiful Snake Plant!
In this article, we tried to provide you with the necessary information about the methods of caring for a Snake Plant.
However, if you have any questions regarding this indoor plant or you need to get advice from our houseplant experts, please share your questions with us through the comments section below.
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