Hi, Sam here with the latest installment of Plants with Sam! As a reminder, I’m starting a new blog series on the care of plants to complement CrossRealms’ Let’s Grow initiative. My first post with more details can be found here.
Today I would like to talk about the snake plant. The snake plant is a part of the Sansevieria family and another common nickname for it is mother-in-law’s tongue.
Sansevierias are perfect plants for those who tend to be forgetful, and don’t always water their plants. I just recently got one of my own and love the way it looks. We have one in the office as well. They can grow to be pretty large so they make great floor plants when they are older.
Snake plants are very tolerant and can survive most conditions, including low levels of light, as well as drought and just being ignored in general.
Although it is easy to care for, here are a few tips and tricks to keep your snake plant happy:
Light
While sansevierias can handle any light and can handle low light or full sun, it is best to give it indirect light.
Water
Because snake plants are considered succulents, they can be very susceptible to rot. It’s best to not water too often, and barely any water at all during the winter. Try to let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
Soil
Most soils that drain quickly would work fine for these plants, but since they originate from the desert, sandier soils will work best.
Temperature
Temperatures between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit are best. Anything below 50 will damage the plant.
Fertilizer
Feed with a mild cactus fertilizer once during the growing season or a balanced liquid slow-release (10-10-10 fertilizer) diluted to half-strength. Don't fertilize in the winter.
