Snake plants, also known as “Mother-in-Law’s Tongue” and Sansevieria, are one of the easiest houseplants to take care of. This succulent plant is very forgiving and perfect for beginners. Here’s how to care for a snake plant in your home!
Too much water and freezing temperatures are two of the few things that can really affect this plant. Soggy soil will cause root rot.
Native to southern Africa, snake plants are well adapted to conditions similar to those in southern regions of the United States. Because of this, they may be grown outdoors for part of all of the year in USDA zones 8 and warmer. However, they spread by sending out underground runners and may become invasive, so treat snake plants like you would bamboo; plant it only in contained areas or pots.
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sansevieria
Why are the leaves of my snake plant curling?
Snake Plant Propogation
I tried propagating Snake Plant cuttings through the water method. The cuttings, each 2 inches long, were allowed to callus for a day & then the cut ends were placed in water. It is over 40 days and I see no root formation. But the cuttings are fine and have not rotted. Do I have to wait longer for roots to form? How long does it normally take to root using this method? I live in the south of India & it's summer time now. Pls suggest.
snake plant
My leaves are about 2.5 to 3 feet. Why are they starting to droop?
Drooping Leaves
Sometimes older leaves that get tall just happen to start leaning—the snake plant’s dense leaves aren’t necessarily the most structurally sound past a certain height! That said, if the leaves are soft or are starting to really bend in half, then that points to an issue, potentially.
safe for pets?
I wish it would add in the description if these plants are safe to have around your dog and cats. I only buy, both for outdoor and indoor, plants that are safe for my fur babies. Does anyone know if this one is ok to have with animals around?
40+ years and getting stronger
I've always heard it called mother-in-law's tongue, and I bought a pot of it for my husband shortly after we got married :-)
There were 3 or 4 plants in the pot, and they've always done just OK; once in a long while a new crown erupts. I've always kept it in moderate light, not too near windows. We moved a couple of years ago, and I installed it in a niche in the master bath near a western window. After about a year it suddenly took off. I guess it likes this particular indoor environment!
I didn't even know the plant could bloom, but a few months ago it surprised me. I didn't notice much fragrance, but FYI, the blooms were extremely sticky, which spread to all the nearby leaves. One of these days I'll set it in the bathtub and give it a shower.
I mistakenly thought it was a Bromeliad, so I've always watered into the center of the crowns. Doesn't seem to have hurt it!
care questions
I have a plant that I received at my fathers funeral in 1996 which I have transplanted into larger pots and it is now about five tall. Every spring I set it outside in a semi sunny area and every fall I bring in back into the house. I water it about once every ten days and do nothing more to it - should I be feeding it? Since I have never seen it flower does that mean it is not root bound?
Snake Plants
I have three from one plant that I divided a while ago. When I repotted them, the organic potting soil supposedly kept them fed for a few months. I've now bought a liquid fertilizer, but I'm unsure whether to start that now, in the winter, or wait until spring. The spring seems a more natural time to do so, but maybe indoor plants acclimate to an artificial (indoor) environment such that normal rules don't apply. Any thoughts?