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Snake Plant Care: How to Grow this Diehard Houseplant

a tall snake plant sansevieria grows in a gold urn pot

Sansevierias are popular & easy-care houseplants. Here you’ll find Snake Plant Care tips including things good to know to keep yours growing.

Sansevierias (Snake Plants) are some of the toughest plants you can find. Whether indoors, in your garden or on your balcony, these spiky beauties can put up with almost anything. They’re easy to grow, but there are a few things you should know. Keep reading for Snake Plant care as a houseplant – you’ll see how low maintenance they really are.

Snake Plant Care Tips

These plants aren’t favored by everyone because of their strong, bold look and tough, pointed leaves.  They’re definitely not the soft, “touchy-feely” kind of plants but certainly have character and present quite the striking silhouette.

I, on the other hand, love them and have quite a few of them. I’ve had many varieties, both growing in pots and in the ground in my Santa Barbara garden.

Yes, I’ve grown Snake Plants indoors and out – I like them that much!

5 small snake plants sansevierias in green grow pots sit on a wall which cactus in the background
These are my little Snake Plants, “Moonshine & Futura Superba”, soon to be transplanted into larger pots.

Their modern, edgy feel appeals to me along with how easy they are to take care of. I now live in Tucson, Arizona where I have them growing in my home along with a couple in pots outside in the bright shade on my covered patio. The strong desert sun will fry them but they handle the dry air like champs.

These evergreen perennials are very long-lived, unlike some Houseplants. If you’re looking for your own Snake Plant, there are many different species and varieties on the market with more new ones being introduced each year.

You can find them tall or short, with round, flat or concave leaves, and variegated with dark green, silver, light green, yellow, chartreuse or white.  My personal favorites are the old standbys Sansevieria trifasciata and “laurentii“, cylindrica (this is the 1 they braid), “moonshine“, “futura superba” and “gold hahnii“.

Some Of Our General Houseplant Guides For Your Reference:

Size

Snake Plants grown as houseplants average in height from 8″ to 7′. You can buy them in 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14″ grow pots.

Uses

They’re used as tabletop and narrow floor plants, as well as in dish gardens and kokedama.

Growth Rate

Sansevierias have a slow to moderate growth rate. They spread by underground stems called rhizomes which pop up as new growth.

In stronger natural light they’ll grow faster and slower in lower light.

close up of 2 types of tall snake plants sansevierias sit on a bench in a greenhouse this guide
Mixed Sansevieria pots in the greenhouse at Rancho Soledad Nurseries.

Water

Easy does it with the watering – this is essential to Snake Plant care. You want to be careful not to overdo it because your plant will rot out.  Always make sure the soil is almost completely dry before thoroughly watering again.

Water your Snake Plants every 2-8 weeks. The watering schedule will vary for you depending on your home environment, type of soil mix, and pot size.

You can read my Guide to Watering Indoor Plants to get a better idea when determining a watering schedule.

I water my Snake Plants less often in the winter months (every 8 weeks for those in large pots) when the temps are cooler and the sun is less intense. This is the time of year when your houseplants like to rest.

More on this subject: Winter Houseplant Care

Be sure not to let any water build up in the center of the leaves (where they form a cup) because this can lead to a mushy plant and ultimately rot.

So, if you travel or tend to ignore plants, this is the plant for you.

Light

Even though Sansevierias prefer medium light (which is about 10′ away from the west or south window), they’ll also tolerate low light and high light. How versatile they are!

Note: In lower light conditions, the darker leafed species and varieties ( like S. trifasciata & Sansevieria hanhnii jade) do better and are the ones you should buy. Snake Plants with brighter variegations will become less intense and patterned in low light.

Just be sure to keep Snake Plants out of the direct, hot sun (west or south window) because they’ll burn in a heartbeat.

More easy care indoor plants: Easy Care Houseplants for Low Light

Air Circulation

These plants don’t mind the dry or stale air in our homes and offices. They’ll also do well in bathrooms where the humidity tends to be much higher.  This is another versatility factor that gives this houseplant the label: “diehard”.

looking into the center of a gold flame sansevieria snake plant
My Sansevieria “Gold Flame”.

Temperature

Sansevierias will tolerate a wide range of temperatures in our homes. If your house is comfortable for you, it’ll be so for your Snake Plants. Just keep them away from cold drafts and heating or air conditioning vents.

I have 1 in a pot growing outdoors that does fine. We get very hot here in the desert in the summer and a handful of evenings can dip below freezing in the winter.

If yours is outdoors for the summer, just know they don’t tolerate frost or snow so get them indoors before the temperatures drop too low.

Pests

Snake Plants are highly pest-resistant but in poor conditions, they can get mealybugs and/or spider mites.

If yours gets mealybugs, I’ve got you covered with this post on How to Get Rid of Mealybugs and Aphids. Here you can find Spider Mites Control.

It’s best to take action as soon as you see any pest because they multiply like crazy. Pests can travel from houseplant to houseplant fast so make you get them under control as soon as you see them.

nell foster holds a snake plant sansevieria in a greenhouse with lots of other houseplants in the background
Me in the grower’s greenhouse hanging out with a Sansevieria “laurentii”.

Propagation

Once you’ve got a Snake Plant, you may never need to buy another one. They’re very easy to propagate.

When growing in the garden they’ll propagate on their own as they spread by underground stems called rhizomes. As a houseplant, division followed by leaf cuttings are the easiest ways.

You can check this post and video I did about the three ways to Propagate Sansevierias.

Soil

Snake Plants are easy-going with their soil nutrients requirements. Because root rot is one of its main issues that kill these plants,  I’d recommend a fast and well-draining soil to help prevent this.

I use succulent and cactus mix combined with potting soil in a ratio of 1:1. If the mix seems too heavy, I add in a few handfuls of pumice or perlite to up the ante on the aeration and drainage factor. I’ll also do this if the pot only has 1 or 2 smaller sized drain holes.

You can read more about the soil mix I use for Snake Plants under “Repotting”.

I now make my own mix. Here’s a Recipe for DIY Succulent and Cactus Mix.

a collage of three pictures of snake plants, some are in yellow pots and green plastic pots, some are close up, and some are in white pots

Fertilizer

I’ve never fertilized my Snake Plants up until this year (see note below). I do feed them every spring with a topping of worm compost and compost.

I give most of my houseplants a light application of worm compost with a light layer of compost over that every spring. Easy does it – 1/4 ” layer of each for a 6″ size houseplant.

Read about my Worm Compost/Compost Feeding right here.

If you prefer fertilizing, then an organic all-purpose houseplant food would be fine. Just be sure to fertilize in the spring and/or summer, twice at the most. Snake Plants aren’t that needy.

You don’t want to fertilize Houseplants in late fall or winter because that’s their time for rest. And, avoid fertilizing a houseplant that is stressed, ie. bone dry or soaking wet.

Note: I now give my Snake Plants a watering with Eleanor’s vf-11  2-3 times during the warmer months. We have a long growing season here in Tucson and the growing conditions are tougher. I also use Max Sea once or twice in between feedings with Eleanor’s.

RELATED: Here’s my updated routine for Fertilizing Indoor Plants.

a jade birds nest sansevieria snake plant in a beautiful ceramic pot sits outside

Repotting

You don’t need to rush to repot your Snake Plants. They actually do better when pot-bound and I’ve seen quite a few which have broken their grow pots. Yes, the rhizomes and roots are that tough.

Generally, I repot mine every 2-5 years at the most. If yours is growing in low light and not growing much, then transplanting every 5-10 years will be fine.

Here’s a post dedicated to repotting Snake Plants: Repotting Snake Plants: the Mix to Use & How to Do it

I’ve done a Guide to Repotting Plants which I think you’ll find helpful, especially if you’re a beginning gardener.

Safe For Pets

My cats have never ever chewed on any of my Sansevieras, indoors or out. Their leaves are pretty tough so I imagine they’re not as appealing as a crunchy leaf like a Spider Plant.  

I don’t test how toxic plants are on my kitties (thank goodness for them!) and rely on reputable sources to get info on this subject.

Snake Plants are mildly toxic to cats and dogs. I consult the ASPCA website for my info on this subject and see in what way the plant is toxic.

Most houseplants are toxic to pets in some way and I want to Share my Thoughts with you regarding this topic. Regarding this topic, I say do a little more research and come to your own conclusion.

Flowers

Yes, they do, but don’t hold your breath waiting for the flowers to appear when grown indoors. It doesn’t happen very often and seems to be hit or miss.  1 of the varieties of Snake Plants growing in my garden in Santa Barbara would flower almost every year but the others wouldn’t.

The flowers are whitish to greenish and smell oh so sweet.

close up of the white flowers of a snake plant sansevieria
The sweetly scented flower of a Sansevieria growing in my garden.

Reasons to Love Sansevierias

Sansevierias are one of the best plants when it comes to air purification because they take in toxins and give off oxygen. They’re great plants for the bedroom because they release it at night. Don’t expect 1 plant to purify your whole bedroom though – only the air immediately around it.

They’re considered to be good luck plants, most likely because of their purifying nature.

Snake Plants are available in a wide range of sizes, forms, and colors, and patterns. Mine run the gamut from 10″ tall to 5′ tall. Something to fit every decor!

Snake Plants make great office plants because they handle dry air better than most houseplants and don’t need much attention. I’ve seen them in long planters at airports, a tough environment indeed.

More easy office/desk plants: 15 Easy Care Office Plants for Your Desk

Are you a beginning houseplant gardener? Be sure to put this plant on your list. Snake Plant care is a breeze!

More great plants for beginning houseplant gardeners:

looking closely at the vibrant foliage of a sansevieria laurentii snake plant

If you’re looking for Snake Plants, here are a couple that might appeal to you: Black Coral Snake Plant and Sansevieria Laurentii.

Sources to buy houseplants online: Stores Where You Can Buy Indoor Plants Online

To Sum It Up: Snake Plant care is a snap. They’re virtually indestructible unless you have a heavy hand with the watering can or place them in a hot, sunny window. They seem to thrive on the dry air in our homes, as well as neglect. The more you ignore them, the better they seem to do.

I love Snake Plants because of their bold, architectural, sassy look. It’s a big bonus that they’re one of the easiest care houseplants. Give one a try and you’ll be hooked too!

Happy gardening,

Signed by Nell Foster

Like This Content? Here’s more on Snake Plant Care along with a few Helpful Houseplant guides:

You can also view our houseplant index here.

This post may contain affiliate links. You can read our policies here. Your cost for the products will be no higher but Joy Us garden receives a small commission. Thank you for helping us spread the word & make the world a more beautiful place!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. afaf says

    hi , I love the plant it is cool I live in saudi aurbia and man it is hot my plant will die if I put them out in the sun but snake plant can take the heat if you give them the right amount of water thank you .

  2. Nell says

    That is so true! I now live in the southern Arizona desert & quite a few of my Sansevierias live outdoors. I have them in bright shade & water them more than the ones indoors. Nell

  3. Frances says

    Hi,
    Delightful plant. I was gone from my home for almost five months. I came home to discover that the black coral sansevieria was alive and thriving. Now, I’ve acquired another. I am eager to grow several different ones.

  4. Nell says

    Hi Frances – I totally agree. I travel a lot through out the year & my Sansies look great too. There are a few other varieties I have my eye on so I’ll definitely be growing more too. Nell

  5. Terry says

    Hello, I live east of Tampa, Fl. and my sansevieria thrives. As a matter of fact I have quite a bit over 4 ft tall. They get about 5-6 hours of sun everyday and regular watering. I don’t fertilize them and they just keep spreading. A person could not ask for a better self sustaining plant.

  6. Nell says

    Terry, I live in a totally different climate than you – the Arizona desert. My Sansevierias are all doing great in this very dry climate. Proof that this is 1 tough yet versatile plant. Thanks for sharing! Nell

  7. Katma says

    Hi Terry,

    Thanks for the good info! I like Sansies too and still remember one my grandma had in her living room. It could still be alive 40 years later …!

    I hope mine will survive the re-potting I did a couple of months ago. I’m not sure if the soil is too shallow or what, but one leaf turned that icky yellow-brown and I was able to pull it off this week. I think I watered when I put them in the new pot. They also seem to be really loose in the soil, should I pack more in there?

    On the happy side, I have a friend who claims a “brown thumb” … I gave her a sansevieria for a house-warming gift and two years later, it’s still going strong … probably because they “thrive on neglect”!

  8. Nell says

    Hi – I always keep Snake Plants dry for a few days after planting to let them settle in. Here in the Arizona desert, I water them every 3 weeks. They do thrive on neglect! Yes, you can pack in more soil but just make sure it’s a light, readily draining mix. I’ve occasionally had to temporarily stake up a heavy Sansie leaf which was falling over in the pot. Nell

  9. Rosalinda says

    I am planning to get one of these plants for my office. My office does not have any windows though, would this plant make it?

  10. Nell says

    Hi Rosalinda – It’ll do fine for a while but not for the long haul. Plants need certain amounts & ratios of artificial light (blue light & red light) which office lighting doesn’t provide. If you give it a go, keep it on the dry side. Nell

  11. Sarah says

    I am so glad to have found your website! I just got into houseplants last year, and you are a GOLDMINE of information!!!! Thank you so much for these helpful, instructive, comprehensive posts!!!

  12. Michele says

    Hi Nell,
    I love to see the snake plant get deserved attention, so reading your blog post about them has been a treat. I do have a question about my laurentii. I brought it home in May from the nursery. I suspected the soil was all wrong for it because the thing didn’t dry out until September when I watered it. I have only watered it that once since May, but it appears to have signs of root rot. Some leaves are quite mushy and falling over. Can root rot be caused by not overwatering as far as frequency is concerned, but by having the plant in the wrong soil that holds water too long?

  13. mraz says

    Sarah – I’m glad you found our site too! Be sure to check back because I have a lot more houseplant posts planned for this year. Nell

  14. Mo says

    I’m hoping you can help Nell!

    I have a Sansevieria that I’ve had for 30 years and it’s over 5 feet tall, my Mom started it for me…It had been doing so well and it has flowered for me many times…It’s not the one with yellow margins it’s more of a dark green with somewhat lighter strips across…It is always indoors.

    I think I may have made a boo boo though…I think I’ve accidentally over watered it lately and some of the leaves have started to turn a pale yellow…I don’t know what I was thinking…I usually ignore it and water it maybe once a month or every 6 weeks and only a little bit…Will it come back? I have had to remove a few leaves…I have a fan blowing on the soil to try and dry it out…I will be heart broken if I lose it…

    I am in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

  15. Mo says

    Nell,

    I just realized that mine looks like the one in your first picture in the beautiful yellow pot…

  16. Courtney says

    Hi! Thanks for the great information. I just acquired a snake plant from my mother who split a large one of hers to share with me. I did not know it needed water so infrequently and have been watering it weekly. I’ve lost a couple of leaves which turned mushy brown. My question is, some of the larger ones are leaning over, they won’t stay up. What should I do? Maybe the soil is wrong? My mom used regular potting soil.

  17. LINDA Gerecht 25 c says

    Hello from the shores of Georgian Bay Ontario Canada …. minus 25c and up to plus 30 C in the summer at times … I’m way up north … looked for these for a while .. one I had died .. .I think I loved it too much ……now Ive got two big potted ones and a smaller one .. and i’m afraid to water … I love them … love lots of plants. .. and been told I have a green thumb .. I have orchids .. etc …. so I’m hoping these new babies …. hold on .. and I will try to neglect them so far … they are doing well … good information here … especially fertilizing ….. how much water should I apply when I do ? … My house is humid at times …. and I keep the heat at 68 F…… so I truly hope … all goes well … you said about 10 feet away from windows? one is in the front window behind other plants .. it faces ne and one in the back facing w … and about 10 feet away …. another wee one … seems to be doing good …

    Hugs from the shores of Georgian Bay Ontario Canada … in a little place called Port McNicoll

    Linda

  18. mraz says

    Hi Michele – Yes, root rot can certainly be caused by a mix which is too heavy. Snake Plants need excellent drainage so I always work a lot of succulent & cactus mix into the potting soil when I plant. You can always cut the mushy parts off of the leaves & propagate the non impacted portions. Nell

  19. mraz says

    Oh dear Mo. The good news is that Snake Plants are tough. You can transplant it into a fresh fast draining mix (even at this time of year) & see if it recovers. If not, cut the entire plant back & new growth should start appearing from the rhizomes. Nell

  21. mraz says

    Hi Courtney – I always use approximately 1/2 potting soil & 1/2 succulent & cactus mix when repotting Snake Plants. You want to avoid any chances of root rot. Often the taller leaves will bend as they grow due to weight. Yours are probably due to too much water. If you want, cut those leaves off, let them heal & then replant into the pot. It might be best to change the mix your using. Nell

  22. mraz says

    Hi Linda – I water my Snake Plants in the warmer months until it runs out the bottom. In the winter months I water less often & a lesser amount. They’ll burn in direct, hot sun so in a west or south window isn’t good. Mine thrive in low to medium light so they’re great for rooms that don’t have optimum light. The lower the light, the less often you water them. Nell

  23. AJ says

    Thanks so much for your information on snake plants. I love their spicy look, how they filter the air we breath, and most of all they are low maintenance. I will be purchasing my very first one soon. I want them in every room. Thanks for sharing.

  24. mraz says

    Hi AJ – I’m so happy to share because I love them too. I live in the desert (talk about dry!) & they always look good & require very little water. I have my eye out for a few more but I’m trying to find varieties I don’t already have. Nell

  25. Yazzi says

    Hi! Thanks for the useful information. I have a snake plant that I bought a few months ago. She’s very happy and started to grow baby plants along the rim of the pot. Should I remove these two babies and put them in their own pot? Thanks in advanced.

  26. Nell Foster says

    Hi Yazzi – You can remove them if they have enough roots forming. If they do, it’s your call. Snake Plants actually prefer to grow slightly tight in their pots & on the pot bound side so I don’t transplant mine too often. Nell

  27. Kelsey says

    Hello! I just got a new snake plant, and I need to repot it out of the ugly plastic nursery pot. Your article mentions a mix of succulent and regular potting mix works best. Do you mix it at 50/50, or another ratio? I’m brand new to houseplants and don’t want to mess this up. Thanks!

  29. Stephanie says

    Hi Nell, thank you so much for sharing! I’m real excited about my first snake plant, especially because so many plants had died under my care in less than 2 weeks. I’ve no idea why… Insufficient sunlight? Too much sunlight? Too much water? Too much fertilizer? I’m so sad… I love plants but why don’t they ever survive with me? Sigh… 1) I would like to know how often do you need to change the soil of the snake plant? My friend told me I should replace the soil every 6 months. Is that true? 2) Will organic soil do? 3) Is it absolutely necessary to fertilize the snake plant? How much fertilizer to use? I don’t want to kill another plant again! Please help!!!!,

  30. Nell Foster says

    Hi Stephanie – I always use organic soil / mix for all my plants. Snake Plants are scrappy & don’t need to be repotted every 6 months. In fact, they do better slightly potbound. You don’t need to fertilize a SP but you can read what I use in the post under “Fertilizer”. Hope that helps! Nell

  31. Gloriane Gail says

    Hello Nell! I have lots of Sansevierias planted on the ground and they are really easy to care for. With our tropical climate, I only water them in summer when there’s no rain for a week or two. I transferred 3 pots inside the living room last year and they all had rot spots on random leaves. I watered them once a week then. Should have waited a bit more before watering. I just moved in again some of the pretty potted ones indoors and will definitely take in your advice. I just love how they look and knowing that they purify the air makes me want to get more inside the house! Maayong adlaw from Agusan del Norte, Philippines!

  32. Nell Foster says

    Hello Gloriane & greetings from Arizona! I’ve grown Sansevierias both inside & out. Even here in the Arizona desert I water my snake plants every 3 weeks. Especially if they’re potted in potting soil rather than succulent & cactus mix (I do mine 1/2 & 1/2) you don’t want to water them too often. I love the look of them too! Nell

  33. Avenir Sun says

    I was just given one of these Sansevieria plants recently, by a friend, who is giving up, and I was looking for care instructions. Thank you for the very informative and clear video. I feel that I need to look no further. I think that they will like it up here in the City of Terrace, West Coast British Columbia, Canada (just south of Alaska). I grow all tropicals outside from May to October and bring them into a non-freeze greenhouse or our home sunroom for the freezing months. People are a little surprised to see palm trees and Brugmansia growing here, but it’s so much fun to have the Hawaii feeling in our extreme northern climate. I think I will be able to make the Sansevieria a nice home. Well done, Nell.

  34. Diana says

    Hey Nell – I have a moonshine sansevieria and just found a sticky brown spot on one of the leaves. Can you tell me what caused it and how to treat the plant? It’s defin thriving because I see new growth. Please let me know!

  35. Nell Foster says

    Thank you so much Avenir! I now live in Arizona but grew up in New England. My dad built a greenhouse off our dining room so we had the “tropical plant effect” all winter long too. I’ve lived in NYC, San Francisco & Santa Barbara. Snake Plants have done extremely well in all those different environs & a couple have made the move with me. I love them here in Tucson because they don’t need as frequent watering as other houseplants do here. Nell

  36. Nell Foster says

    Hi Diana – It’s hard to say without seeing it. Here are 3 things it could be: a bacteria, fungus or scale. You can do some research & see which looks like what is on the leaf. Nell

  37. Patty says

    I have one that was propagated from one my mom had since before I was born. Seriously, this thing has been in my family with its own little babies for almost 40 years. It’s gotten almost 5 feet tall, so I must be doing something right!

  38. Heather says

    Hi Nell, I’ve had my plant for over 5 years now (I’m great at neglecting it!) and a few of the tall leaves are bending over. Should I cut them and if so, how low should I go? Thanks!

  39. Carole says

    Good afternoon from a previous Arizona resident ! I have had the mother-in-law plant for a long time.
    I see no growth. It’s healthy, but, again, no growth. What should I try?

  40. Nell Foster says

    Hi Patty – I said they’re diehard but yours really is proof of that! 5′ tall is impressive for a Snake Plant so you are doing something right. Thanks so much for sharing this. Now others can see how long live they are. Nell

  41. ogn dulk says

    mine doesn’t look like that and half of it looks like it’s trying to escape by growing sideways over the edge of the pot. from what i read one cup of water each week is too much. 2/3 of the plant just came out of the ground and fell over when i first got it.
    i’ve had the “mother-in-law’s tongue plants and they grew straight up.

  42. Bogdan says

    Hello and thank you for this article,
    A few months back I’ve surely overwatered my snakeplants on multiple occasions, and right now they still haven’t fully recovered. Apart from the brown spots on their leaves, areas were their leaves interwine seem to have rotten and it doesn’t heal. It also stoppen the new sprout from growing. Below is an image (the adult plants have a similar problem on the tips of the small leaves from

  44. Martha says

    What a nice website! I love Snake Plants too. I’ve had two of them for 8 years or so and they have always been easy to care for. They are about 2 1/2 feet high now and have always looked great. But they have such extremely shallow roots that when I picked up the pots recently to take them to the sink and water them (which I do about once a month), the plants toppled right out of the pots. I’ve divided them and am trying to repot them, but am not sure how to encourage at least slightly more root growth? I watched your video about repotting snake plants and the rhizomes and root ball on yours is much deeper than on my plants, probably 3 times as big! Also, I’ve seen people say that they should be in low, wide pots, but the roots on mine will not hold the tall plants up in that kind of pot. Another website suggested tall thin pots? Temporarily I have put the new divisions in one gallon pots, with the soil filling only about 3/4 of the pot so there are pot sides to help hold the plant up. I have had to stake them and put rocks on top of the soil to try to hold the plants in. Any advice?

  45. Nell Foster says

    Hi Heather – That happens as the plant ages & grows taller. The leaves can get heavier at the top than the base. It’s happened to me many times. Cut the leaves all the way down to the soil line. You can them propagate that leaf. Nell

  46. Kathy says

    Just a warning forolder folks or those with thinner skin. The pointed ends of these plants can be very dangerous! I reached into the center of mine to remove some dead leaves, and one of the points tore a large patch of skin from my forearm. Lots of stitches later, I wear long sleeves and gloves to clean mine out now!

  47. Nell Foster says

    Hi Carole – It depends on what level of light you have it in. Plants in lower light grow slower. Sometimes when plants get oder, their growth rate can slow. Although SPs like being tight in their pots, being too potbound will slow growth. Those are just a few of the most common reasons. Nell

  49. Nell Foster says

    Hi Bogdan – You’re very welcome. Once Snake Plants, or any houseplants for that matter, get repeatedly over watered it’s hard to bring them back. The rot won’t heal by the way. It looks like there a whitish substance near the base but it’s hard to tell from the pic. Could be mealy bugs. If you’d like, cut the plants back & transplant the rhizomes & roots into fresh succulent & cactus mix. New growth will eventually appear. Nell

  50. Nell Foster says

    Hi Martha – I’ve grown Snake Plants in all types & sizes of pots. The rhizomes are shallow & the roots don’t go down too terribly deep. Make sure the soil is holding the leaves up. Also, it could be over or under watering. Nell

  52. Jonathan says

    New to plants, and just purchased a Laurentii. I was a little nervous because I’m horrible with plants but after this article, I feel much more confident. Thanks!

  54. Gerri Conarello says

    My snake plant is at least 35 years old, with some leaves 4′ tall. It has bloomed many times and I am always amazed by the flower’s beautiful scent.

    I recently needed to repot it, as it was just too big and ungainly. I broke it up into 7 new plants. I wanted to let them summer outdoors. I live in the northeast and deer are a big problem. Will they eat the snake plants, or might I be lucky enough that they are deer resistant? Here’s hoping!

  55. Nell Foster says

    Gerri – I don’t know about that. I grow a couple of snake plants outdoors year-round but I don’t live in an area where deer are an issue. Snake Plants are typically grown as houseplants so I’m not sure if you’ll find concrete info on that. Good luck! Nell

  56. MCs says

    Hello everyone after looking through sites to leave my reply on temperatures, I found this one.

    I wanted everyone to know that your snake plants can thrive in excess of 100 degree weather! I kid you not! My window glass magnifies the 2pm-6pm sunlight and the windowsill was getting to 140°F ! (Room temperature was around 90°F. (This is on 2 different hygrometer measurements so it’s accurate.

    The cuttings of mine actually flourished in the extreme heat! For my own enjoyment of my room I ran 2 fans and recently installed a bamboo patio cover to block half the light now the windowsill is 80-88°F and the room is about 75-80°F at this halfway point of spring.

    Again I just want to say snake plants are really an enduring plant! They can take an extremely high temperature. Every now and then you just want to throughly drench them and let the excess water drain out. Otherwise for my 10 inch pot plants I just give then 1 ¾ cup of water every week or so.

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