Is your favourite plant the snake plant? It has lots of benefits that are why many people love to have it inside their home or outside. You may want to know about some of the tips to grow this lush plant. Here you can know all the details about it.
The snake plant is known by its scientific name Sansevierias and it is one of the toughest plants. You can keep it on your balcony, garden, in your hall, bedroom and more. These plants look like a snake as they are thin and spiky and they are from Southern Africa. They are easy to grow and very robust as they can make do with only little resources to grow. If you are a beginner you can try growing the snake plant as it is easy to maintain.
How To Grow Snake Plants?
The snake plants have a bold look and they look simple so you can take care of them better, unlike the other gentle plant varieties. You can keep the plant inside your home and they will never look out of place and blend in with the background.
First of all, choose a pot with a hole in the bottom so the water you pour onto it will drain away. The best kind of pots is the terra cotta pots that are great to grow snake plants. Plus it is easier to use than plastic pots.
Now use a well-draining pot mix which is particularly made for “cacti and succulents”. It will be more resistant to water oversaturation.
If you are trying to report the snake plants don’t bury them inside the pot too deep. It should be planted as deep as it was in the previous container.
How To Choose The Perfect Location For Snake Plant?
The snake plants will grow well with the bright indirect light and they need only a little sunlight to grow. If there is a lot of sunlight the plant can get shocked. So when you are changing the plant from a darker spot to a lighter spot you can do it slowly. Then expose it to the bright light slowly.
You also must not forget its watering habits as it is good to stick to a perfect time. The plants will need more water when it is in a brighter area.
You have to keep the plant in a warm spot which is temperatures above 50°F (10°C). Then during the winter be sure to keep it away from the draft areas.
How To Water Snake Plants?
One of the common problems that people face when having snake plants is their water requirement. Most often than not people tend to overwater the plants so the soil gets soggy which results in root rot. Here are some of the following steps you have to take to water the plants.
You should not water the plants too frequently. Let the soil dry out in between the watering. If you want to know when it is time for you to water you should not only rely on the surface of the soil. But you have to stick your finger or a stick on the soil a couple of inches. If you detect moisture then wait for some time and water it.
You have to water the plant from the bottom of the pot if you can. It will allow the roots to grow downward and deep so it will result in thick, tall leaves.
In the winter when the plant is now actively growing you have to water the plant less than in the spring or summer.
How To Care For The Snake Plant?
The large and long leaves of the snake plant can collect dust so you have to wipe them down with a damp cloth now and then.
The snake plants are fast growers so you have to divide them annually.
You can divide and repot the plant during the spring. Cut out a section that has both leaves and roots and place them in a pot with a well-draining pot mix.
If you are growing a snake plant it in the pot and if it is pot-bound it may grow flowers from time to time. You will white fragrant, greenish-white blooms appear on the spikes.
What Are The Popular Varieties Of Snake Plants?
- Sansevieria trifasciata
It is the most common type of snake plant. It comes with tall, dark green leaves along with light greyish-green horizontal stripes.
- ‘Bantel’s Sensation’
These are the narrow leaves that have white vertical stripes and they grow about 3 feet long. Also, these types of varieties are very hard to find.
- Sansevieria hahnii
These are also called bird’s nests and these have wide leaves in dark and light green colours. Also, they form a tight nest shape which looks like a bromeliad. These only grow six to eight inches long and these do not need a lot of light to thrive.
Another type of Sansevieria hahnii type of snake plant is the ‘Golden Hahnii’. It’s the standard plant with leaves variegated and its edges are yellow.
- Sansevieria cylindrical
The cylindrical Snake Plant is one of the species that is cylindrical. It ends with a fierce point.
The Starfish Snake Plant type of variety has cylindrical leaves that fan out from the base. It gives it a stars-ship-sized shape.
- Sansevieria masoniana
The whale fin is an interesting type of snake plant which have large wide leaves. It resembles the fin that breaches the water surface.
Interesting Facts About The Snake Plant
- Snake plants are very effective to clean the air so they are known as natural air purifiers. They are one of the best plants with this aspect along with spider plants and peace lilies. Plus they also remove toxins like formaldehyde.
- Snake plants have strong fibres so they were used in Africa with bow strings for hunting. They are known by the name “Bowstring Hemp”.
- One main killer of the snake plant is overwatering.
Conclusion
Snake plants are one of the best parts of the fauna world. You can take care of the plant using the guide here.
Also read: Top 7 Indoor Plants That Produce Oxygen and Purify Air: Why You Should Plant Them at Home?
