1: Does Sansevieria need direct sunlight? How much light do Snake plants need?
Although snake plants can tolerate full sun and low light, bright shade or a little morning / evening sun is best for a snake plant. Sansevieria can get sunburn in hot noon sun.
2: How often should I water Snake plant?
Indoor Snake plant only needs to be watered once every 2 to 4 weeks. During winter it needs only one watering every couple of months. Overwatering or using pots without drainage holes can kill your plants fast.
Check if the top 2″-3″ of soil is dry. If not, you can wait another week. Don’t over-water snake plants, or let the plant sit in water for over a day, as the plant can easily root rot.
Paradoxically, Sansevieria/snake plant can grow in water, like many of my favorite indoor plants! The reason is that soggy soil contains harmful bacteria that can cause root rot, while clean water with occasional liquid fertilizer is a good growing medium for many plants.
3: Best Temperature to grow Snake plant
Sansevieria will suffer damage and rot in very cold Winter temperatures. If the soil is dry it may survive temperatures as low as 5°C / 41°F. The best temperature to grow snake plant is between 18°C – 27°C / 65°F – 80°F
4: Soil and Fertilizer
Similar to succulents, Snake plant/ Sansevieria prefers soil or potting mix that is well draining. Most potting soil will work well. They don’t need much fertilizer but will grow a little more if it is fertilized a couple of times during the spring and summer. You can use any houseplant fertilizer that is good for foliage plants.
Do I need to repot snake plant?
Snake plants don’t mind being pot bound. Because they are slow growing, they only need repotting once every 3 to 5 years. You can also divide bigger a snake plant to create more plants, see propagation tips below!
Pests
Healthy Snake plants rarely attract pests. When Snake plants are stressed, they can get mealybugs and spider mites. The best solution is to remove these pests with a damp cloth, and give the plants better growing conditions as listed above.
Sansevieria propagation
It is super easy to propagate snake plant in water or in soil! You can even save a dying snake plant by propagating leaf cuttings from it!
Why is my Snake Plant dying?
If your Snake Plant is not shriveled in dry soil, the reason is likely over-watering or cold temperature, which can cause the roots or leaves to rot.
Extremely low light would also affect plant health. Make sure the plant gets some natural light. You can always rotate a few plants if you need one for that room without windows. There are over 70 beautiful Sansevieria varieties, many of them have variegated foliage with yellow or white stripes and interesting patterns.
Popular cultivars include Sansevieria ‘Moonshine’, ‘Compacta’, ‘Goldiana’, ‘Hahnii’, ‘Laurentii’, ‘Silbersee’, and ‘Silver Hahnii’.
Is Snake Plant safe for pets?
Snake plant contain saponins, which can cause gastrointestinal upset in pets such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea if consumed, says the ASPCA.