How to care for snake plants: watering, repotting and where to position them

If you are a serial houseplant killer, the snake plant could be the answer to all your prayers because it's almost indestructible.
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George Hudson15 February 2021

The jagged horizontal markings across each leaf give a striped appearance resembling scales on a snake's back.

Coincidentally in the wild, the snake plant shares its habitat with snakes and is found growing in the grasslands, prairies and woodland edges of central Africa.

The most commonly seen snake plant has golden yellow bars along each leaf edge, but the plant takes many shapes, colours and forms, all equally tough.

Its long, sharp leaves are also behind the unkind and derogatory alias, 'mother-in-law's tongue'.

Known well to many by its old latin name Sansevieria, for the cool kids in modern science — and to keep everyone on their green toes — it now goes by the name Dracaena.

Yes like Dracaena, the dragon tree, another popular houseplant, though that's where the similarities end.

Caring for a snake plant

The snake plant is not a demanding plant.

If you are hit and miss with your watering, not a fan of the mess repotting plants makes or are desperate to put a plant in the darkest spot in your home, the snake plant fits the bill.

Just don’t expect much back in return.

Your plant will be surviving, but could look the same 12 months down the line. If you want to watch your snake plant grow (who doesn’t?) make sure it's in a place with bright to indirect light, Sansevieria are happy even in full sun.

As it happens, most snake plants available in the UK have been grown in much warmer, sunnier climes before reaching your local plant shop or garden centre.

Water regularly through spring and summer, allowing the compost to dry out between watering — if you are good with cacti and succulents, you’ll find the snake plant a walk in the park.

Keep the watering to a minimum through the cooler winter months and keep the compost on the dry side.

Propagation

When it comes to propagation, snake plants are an unbelievable wonder of the houseplant world.

You’ll need at least one healthy Draecaena leaf, a plant pot or plastic tray (a supermarket mushroom punnet with a few holes in the bottom will serve the same purpose) and a free draining potting mix, peat-free organic compost mixed with a handful of horticultural sand and grit is ideal. 

Here is the interesting part: a snake plant leaf will root from sections of the leaf itself. Use scissors or a knife to cut the leaf into horizontal sections that are no smaller than 5cm.

If you are using a kitchen knife, clean thoroughly afterwards as the sap in a snake plant leaf is toxic to humans and animals.

Place the leaf sections in a container that is two-thirds full of compost. Add more compost until at least one third of the leaf is buried, then firm to secure in place.

Keep somewhere warm, bright and water sparingly. After a few months, at the base of each leaf a new shoot should emerge.

George Hudson is head of plants and education at Walworth Garden. Follow the garden on Instagram @walworthgarden