The snake plant is a beautiful evergreen plant. It’s one of those air-purifying house plants that improve indoor air quality through the passive absorption of many bad things, such as nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, and other toxins. Yes, your snake plant will actually absorb these things and reduce or eliminate them from the air you breathe! That is one of the many reasons this plant has become so popular in homes across the globe.

How To Grow And Care For Snake Plant

Light

Place Sansevierias in moderately bright or filtered light. Good locations include a spot in front of a north-facing window or in front of a bright, sunny window covered by a sheer curtain (find out more about these windows from here) . Although the plant tolerates low light, bright light brings out the colors in the leaves. However, intense light may cause the edges of the leaves to turn yellow.

Water

Over-watering is the main reason Sansevieria Plants die. Allow the soil to completely dry out before watering Snake Plants. During the winter, in a low light area, a sansevieria needs water only once a month. When in doubt, do not water Sansevierias.

Temperature

Place Sansevieria in average room temperatures. Protect the plant from drafts and cold temperatures as it is damaged at temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).

Fertilizing

Since snake plants are slow growers, this makes them light feeders, so they don’t require much fertilization. Starting in the spring, feed your snake plant either every 3 weeks using a good, low-nitrogen houseplant fertilizer diluted to half the normal strength or every 4 weeks using regular strength fertilizer made for succulents. During the winter months, when their metabolism really slows down, you don’t need to feed your snake plant at all.

Propagation

The best way to propagate Sansevieria Plants is by plant division or leaf cuttings. When using leaf cuttings to propagate a Snake Plant, allow the cut end of the leaf to dry out for a few days before planting it.

Flowering

Sansevieria Plants may produce flowers ever few years during the summer months. Flower production on a Sansevieria Plant occurs when the plant is sitting in bright light and experiencing some stress. Stress provoking conditions for a Sansevieria Plant might be severely dry soil or if it’s very root-bound. The flowers of a sansevieria plant which appear as clusters on long spikes are fragrant but not particularly pretty.

Pests and Diseases

The main pests to look out for are spider mites and mealybugs, which will both suck sap from the leaves of your snake plant, leaving rough spots or small wounds. As long as you catch the infestation early, you can remove spider mites by wiping them off with a moist cloth, while mealybugs can be dabbed with alcohol. If they’re allowed to proliferate, however, you may not be able to save your plant. Snake plant diseases are typically the result of rotting caused by too much water. Soft, squishy, or droopy leaves are signs of over-watering. Here again, if you catch the problem early, you can save the plant. Cut off damaged leaves with clean gardening shears as soon as you notice them. And consider repotting the plant in fresh, well-draining potting medium, if the growing medium the plant is in is soggy. Just be sure to cut away any rotting roots if you do this. Another option is to take cuttings of healthy plant material to propagate new plants. And of course, be sure to allow your snake plant to fully dry out between waterings going forward. The other water-related problem to look out for is rust spots, which indicate rot caused by water on the leaves.To remove such blemishes, cut the leaf at the bottom and remove it completely.