How to care for and grow your Snake Plant
(Sansevieria)
Looking for a quick introduction?
We've summarized all the essentials in our short Snake Plant video, below:
Native to: Madagascar
Watering needs: Low (every 2–4 weeks)
Lighting needs: Low – tolerates most light conditions (just not total darkness!)
Difficulty: Near-unkillable
Great for: Beginners, anyone with low light, anyone who travels a lot
Pet-Safe: No
Picking The Right Spot
(Lighting, Air Conditioning, Temperature)
Caring For Your Snake Plant
(Watering, Dusting, Re-potting)
How do I choose a healthy Snake Plant?
Contrary to their name, Snake Plants should not look like colorful snakes.
It’s Alright If You See:
1. New Shoots: The more baby Snake Plants, the better.
2. Slits on Leaves: This is a sign of the plant healing itself after suffering a period of low humidity.
3. Lots of Roots: You won’t be able to see them unless you decide to take out your Snake Plant from its planter, but, ideally, there should be a good amount of roots such that the soil doesn’t crumble away.
But, Watch Out For:
1. Thin Leaves: check if your leaves are thick or thin. Snake Plants should have leaves that are thick, strong, and waxy.
2. Brown or Black Spots: indicative of fungus, bacteria, or root-rot.
3. Dull Green Leaves: your Snake Plants's leaves should be a bright, vibrant green.
Where do I place my Snake Plant?
Half of plant parenthood is choosing the perfect spot.
Lighting
Place it anywhere but total darkness
Snake Plants can tolerate almost all light conditions, but not complete darkness. The more light it gets, the quicker and taller it will grow, and the more water it will need.
To keep your Snake Plant as happy as possible, you need to provide it with as much bright indirect sunlight as possible. However, avoid more than 2-3 hours of direct sunlight per day.
When you bring it home, place it as close to a window as you can, making sure it has the largest possible view of the sky. Then, keep an eye on it for a few days; if it remains sturdy and the stems feel stiff, then it’s happy in that spot!
While Snake Plants will survive in low-light conditions (literally anywhere except total darkness), we highly recommend placing it near a window for the first month, so it gets acclimated to its new home. Once it's acclimated, you can slowly start moving it to a darker spot; keeping an eye on it along the way.
Air Conditioning
Place it away from AC vents
Find a spot away from the AC since the dry air from vents can cause the leaves of your Snake Plant to crack.
Temperature
Like most houseplants, Snake Plants are happiest between 18–30 °C.
However, they will tolerate temperatures as cold as 10 °C.
As a general rule: if you're comfortable, then your Snake Plant probably is too.
How do I care for my Snake Plant
(Watering, Dusting, Re-potting)
Watering
Water when the soil is completely dry.
Snake Plants must have their soil dry out completely between waterings. This could take anywhere between 2–4 weeks, depending on how much light it gets, or how high the temperature is (the more light or heat, the faster it will dry out).
An easy way to check if it's time to water is to insert your finger into the soil. If you feel even a little moisture, then it's best to wait a bit longer.
Dusting
Once a month, gently wipe away any dust on your plant.
Wiping your Snake Plant free of dust, with a damp rag once a month, or as often as possible, will help get rid of potential bacteria or pests.
Re-potting
Leave it in its nursery pot.
Once you receive your plant, place it in the spot you plan to keep it in (whilst still in its nursery pot) and allow it at least 6 months (ideally 12) to acclimate to your home's temperature and light levels.
Since the root system of a Snake Plants grows quite slowly, it is recommended to keep it in the same pot for up to a year before re-potting.
Don’t worry if your Snake Plant seems to push at its planter’s corners during this period, that’s perfectly natural and not harmful — in fact, Snake Plants like being a little root-bound.
When it's time to re-pot
If your Snake Plant’s pot starts to bulge outward, or you see roots trying to escape, then that means it’s time for a re-potting.
Transfer your Snake Plant into a pot that's about 1–2 inches in diameter larger than its current one (or one or two sizes up).
Snake Plants are highly susceptible to overwatering; so the right mix must have a high percentage of aggregate materials (such as perlite and pine bark) that will provide adequate drainage and prevent the soil from absorbing too much moisture and holding it for too long.
Snake Plants like soil with a lot of aeration (because they don't retain as much water/moisture). When your plant is ready for repotting, use a well-drained potting mix that includes ingredients such as perlite or lava rocks.
Pumice is best for your Snake Plant, since it can retain both air and moisture while not drowning/suffocating your plant.
Whatever you do, avoid a bag of pure peat moss. This is what you’ll get in most bags that say “potting soil” or “gardening soil”. When in doubt, reach out to our team at hello@plntd.ae, and we’ll help you identify whether the soil bag you’re considering will work for your Snake Plant.
Remember, always go for a pot with drainage holes.
Pro-tip: To keep watering simple and easy, you can simply re-pot your Snake Plant into a larger nursery pot and place that nursery pot in a larger planter.
Frequently asked questions about Sansevieria
Ask away, grasshopper.
How easy is a Snake Plant to care for?
Snake Plants are native to harsh, rocky, and dry habitats, making them nearly unkillable:
- Native to dry desert climates, they're tolerant to lower levels of humidity, as common in the UAE.
- Incredibly drought tolerant, they only need to be watered, at most, once every 2–4 weeks. In a low-light environment, some can even go up to 2 months without water.
- Native to large fluctuations in temperate, Snake Plants can do well anywhere between 7º C and 30º C – well within the range of most UAE households.
- They're highly tolerant of nearly all light levels and will be able to acclimate to anything from bright direct sunlight by a window (as long as it's indoors) to low-light.
- The greatest risk to this plant is overwatering; as long as there is a window in the room, and its drinks are infrequent, your Snake Plant will remain a companion for years to come.
Can I use UAE tap water to water my Snake Plant?
Yes. Snake Plants can be fed using UAE tap water.
However, like most indoor plants, they are sensitive to the chlorine and calcium found in the water.
To combat this, make sure to:
- Leave tap water out for 24-48hrs before using it. This allows the chlorine time to evaporate.
- When watering your Snake Plant, make sure to water through the soil until it is dripping out the bottom of the nursery pot. This flushes out any excess build-up of calcium (and other minerals) from the soil.
Finally, look out for tell-tale signs of too much chlorine or calcium:
- Scorched brown tips at the leaves = too much chlorine.
- White crystals on the soil = too much calcium.
Will AC harm my Snake Plant? What temperature should I set it to?
Snake Plants are happiest between 18 °C – 30 °C. But they will tolerate temperatures as cold as 10 °C. As a general rule: if you're comfortable, then your Snake Plant probably is too.
Do I have to re-pot my Snake Plant as soon as I receive it?
In short, no.
Once you receive your plant, place it in the spot you plan to keep it in (whilst still in its nursing pot) and allow it at least 6 months (ideally 12) to acclimate to your home's temperature and light levels.
Once acclimated, you can choose to either re-pot your plant or leave it in its nursing pot.
Some Common Problems
Don't let this list scare you — trust us, Snake Plants are easy to care for.
Black Spots
Cause: Fungus or bacteria due to overwatering
Suggestion: Cut away the leaves entirely, from the soil level. Don’t compost the discarded leaves to avoid the infection spreading to something else. Then, let your plant dry out to the point that the leaves begin showing signs of wilting, before re-watering.
Brown Spots
Cause: After-effects of cutting off a leaf
Suggestion: Just one of the characteristics of Snake Plants; brown spots are just how they react to having a leaf cut off. While not aesthetically pleasing, it’s not an indicator of poor plant health.
Burn Marks on Leaves or Dried Leaf-tips
Cause 1: Too much fertilizer or nutrients; too much salt
Suggestion: Re-pot your Snake Plant to avoid root-rot. Then, make it a habit to let water aerate for 48 hours before giving it to your Snake Plant, or use bottled water or rainwater instead
Cause 2: Too much sunlight
Suggestion: Move your plant to a place with less direct sunlight.
Cracks in Leaves
Cause: Low humidity or accidental physical damage
Suggestion: Placing it in an area with high humidity can help
Dry Brown Tips
Cause: Underwatering
Suggestion: Time for a drink! Follow the watering guide above to learn how to water your Snake Plant.
Dull Green Leaves
Cause: Too much sunlight
Suggestion: Move your plant to a place with less direct sunlight.
Flowers or Berries
Ironically, flowers or berries on your Snake Plant are not something to look forward to. This is because the flower/berry will suck up nutrients from the rest of the plant, making it look visibly unwell.
When this happens, cut off the flower from soil level, and you should be good to go.
Leaves Curling or Falling over
Cause: Overwatering
Suggestion: Allow soil time to dry out completely (sometimes this can take 2-4 weeks), then slowly re-water.
Pests
Cause: Damaged cuticles
Suggestion: Remove pests, by putting them outdoors or using pesticides. Or spray a mixture of water and pest-repellant soap on your plant.
After getting rid of the pests, investigate your plant for the reason for the damaged cuticles — which would most likely be overwatering. In that case, allow soil time to dry out completely (sometimes this can take 2-4 weeks), then slowly re-water
Soft, Mushy, Wet Leaves, with Odor
Cause: Excess water
Suggestion: Usually caused by overwatering. If it's not too bad, you can simply let the plant dry out before watering again.
If excess water has accumulated at the bottom of the pot, pull out the affected leaves, complete with roots, since it can lead to root-rot. Then, let your plant dry completely before watering again.
Thinning Leaves
Cause: Too much sunlight
Suggestion: Move your plant to a place with less direct sunlight.
Highly robust and tolerant to different environments. Snake Plants are perfect for someone looking for a low maintenance yet stylish plant.
