Snake Plants: A Favorite Houseplant of Every Gardener
Snake plants are one of the most popular houseplants in every region in the country, and it’s no different here in Louisiana. They are often the first houseplant for aspiring plant enthusiasts because of the relaxed care-routine and versatility. Of course, snake plants also look stunning in just about any pot you use, and any place you set them in your home. Let’s take a closer look at exactly how to care for your snake plant, how to propagate it, and how – if at all – those things change based on Louisiana’s climate.
Snake Plants Come From A BIG Family
For starters, Sansevieria is a family of plants that vary wildly from one another. Even at our local garden center, we have plants that can range from 4-inches tall to 6 or more feet tall, all with the Sansevieria label.
(As of 2017, plant taxonomists have determined the Sansevieria to be a part of the Dracaena species, but you may find them interchangeably labelled and discussed)
Characteristics that are more or less universal include stiff and slender leaves (almost sword-like), different shades of green bands coloring the foliage, and often a yellow border on those leaves.
How to Care for Your Indoor Showpiece
Snake plants are notoriously low maintenance, needing watering so irregularly that one cannot typically rely on a set schedule. This is especially true in the winter months when moisture evaporates more slowly. While that may sound amazing for the busy gardeners out there, watering is actually the most common way people end up losing a snake plant. Louisiana residents know that we often are watering much more than those in colder year-round climates, so it’s a bit of a seat change. That’s why I recommend a moisture meter for anyone looking to get into houseplants.
Tools of the Trade
Moisture meters have long stems that can reach deep into the pot and let you know exactly how much water is still trapped in the soil. I’ve seen large snake plants go 3 weeks without watering next to very bright windows. The top layer of soil was bone-dry, but a quick check with a moisture meter determined that it could go another week before water was needed. I recommend always being on the safe side and letting the pot dry out for another couple days, rather than adding water which can rot the roots. (Read our full Moisture Meter article ‘here‘)
Sun or Shade?
Snake plants can handle a surprising amount of shade, but will grow faster (and produce more new leaves) if given some sunlight. Many snake plant owners keep them in an outdoor patio for the warmer months and bring them in before frosts. For the safest bet, keep careful track of the sunlight exposure of different parts of your home / patio. This way, you’ll know BEFORE any major damage is caused if the plant is burning from direct sunlight, or holding moisture too long from not enough sunlight. This is the “versatility” part of the snake plant. There is a extremely large margin for success, but every plant has an ideal condition.
Propagation
Propagating snake plants is easy if you have the patience for it. For the quickest path to success, your cutting should be from the lowest point on the leaf above the soil. Most all propagation from cuttings must scab over before planting in a new pot, so we recommend using our rooting powder from Fertilome. Rooting powder help speed up the scabbing process to about 36-48 hours. Once the cut is scabbed over, you can plant the leaf in a new pot of dirt. While it is possible to place cutting in a clean cup of water, this might lead to rotting and therefore isn’t as successful. The slowest part of propagating is the production of new roots from the scab. Again, rooting powder will streamline rooting. Because of the snake plant’s sword-like leaves, you’ll likely wait a month or more before the plant can root and become established in its new home.
Want to find out more about the snake plant and our other house plants? Check out our houseplants page on our website!
Thanks for reading.
