light upon the tricks to aid your snake plant thrive indoors .
One of the toughest houseplants , snake plant can permit most indoor experimental condition . With its statuesque upright leafage , the Snake River plant — also called mother - in - jurisprudence ’s tongue — add together architectural form to a room and complement all styles of interior decoration .
There are no stems on the serpent flora , just tough , slurred , vertical leave , which make it anideal trading floor plant life for small spaces . Some dwarf varieties spring lowly rosettes of folio . The most uncouth foliage showcases shades of green with argent - gray horizontal streak . Some variegate varieties have cream or gold sharpness .

Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Under the correct precondition , a snake in the grass flora will bloom . While not too showy , the flowers are borne in large bunch , normally snowy with a greenish tinge . The small , vasiform flower emit a sweet flowered fragrance that can fill a room , but the Hydra flora blooms only once every several yr , not following any docket .
How and When to Plant Snake Plant
Snake plant are toxic to pets , so keep them away from the houseplant . They are also toxic to young children .
Hard - to - stamp out Hydra works is the ideal choice for the home or billet . The top - heavy plant require aheavy containerwith a drain tray . Fill the container with beneficial quality , well - debilitate potting soil , place the plant in the container , press the soil around the industrial plant and water softly . The good time of twelvemonth to engraft snake plants is in the bound .
Snake plant life ishardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 10–12 . In other orbit of the nation where it grows as a houseplant , you could move the snake plant ’s container outside for the summer and back indoors before the cold weather condition arrives .

Credit: Blaine Moats
Although it will live and develop in low light , it tolerates all light level and grows faster in bright illumination .
Snake Plant Care Tips
Light
Ideally , snake plant wish to be in bright but indirect sun . However , you canpark it in a blue corner , and it ’ll be ok . In less Inner Light , the color in someSansevieriavarieties can become wash out , and taller case can become leggy and floppy , but this is n’t usually a trouble .
Soil and Water
When the soil is dry , weewee the snake plantwith way temperature water . look a few minutes and then chuck out any water that drains through to the tray under the container . This plant is extremely drouth - resistant , but its Achilles ' list istoo much water . Snake plant needs a well - debilitate potting mix that does n’t hold a lot of weewee .
Fertilizer
Hydra plantdoesn’t take much fertilizer . An covering of plant food for houseplant a few time a year is sufficient .
Potting and Repotting
After you pot your snake flora using well - draining potting soil , it wo n’t needto be repottedfor several years . The plant is tardily - growing and does n’t take care being crowded as long as it is n’t root - confine . If the plant is site in bright light , it may demand to be repotted in three to five year . If it lives in low visible radiation , it may not require to be repot for 10 years .
Pests and Problems
Snake plants are comparatively pest - spare but can becomeinfested with mealy bug , aphids , or wanderer speck . If this go on , separate the infested industrial plant from other plant to prevent the spread of the pests and spray with insecticidal soap .
A bigger job for ophidian plants isroot putrefaction . These plants can not tolerate overwatering . Prevent root rot by watering only when you see the soil is dry , and never allow the works brook in water . If root bunkum occurs , repot the plant using a new potting spiritualist and break away as much of the sure-enough metier as potential .
How to Propagate Snake Plant
It is easy topropagate a snake plantwith foliage cutting . Here ’s how to do it :
observe that mostvarieties of snake plantwith variegated leaves are actually chimeras , a plant mutant that causes the motley foliage . Chimeras may not reliably keep their diversification or ride out " true to typecast " when propagated via leaf cuttings , therefore summit section are generally recommended .
Types of Snake Plant
Bird’s Nest Snake Plant
Sansevieria trifasciata’Hahnii ' grows to only 6 inches marvelous , make cluster of leaves that form a cup , similar to a razzing ’s nest .
Cylinder Snake Plant
Sansevieria cylindricaproduces round , rigid leaves that can reach several foot in length . leaf curve outward from a central jacket .
‘Laurentii’ Sansevieria
Sansevieria trifasciata’Laurentii ' is a popular variety with creamy yellow leaf margins . It does not follow rightful from leaf cuttings ; it reverts to the fleeceable contour . So part the works to make raw 1 just like the mother plant .
Variegated Snake Plant
Sansevieria trifasciatais grown for its dramatic upright form with leaves 2 to 4 in wide and several feet longsighted . It is one of the bestplants for down - light areas .
‘Silver Queen’ Sansevieria
Denny Schrock
The aglow sword - shaped leaves ofSansevieria trifasciata’Silver Queen ' make it an peculiarly imperial addition to your houseplant collection . Look closely and you ’ll see a yellow halo at the edges of each leafage . It ’s a slow grower , but will finally reach around 1 to 2 base tall when well cared for in bright , indirect sparkle .
‘Black Gold’ Sansevieria
Sansevieria trifasciata ' Black Gold ' is not actually black — more of a thick , dark green with variegated chicken edging — but has a dramatic appearance nonetheless . It has a strong , modeled look , especially when it reaches its full height of roughly 3 to 4 foot .
Frequently Asked Questions
Most snake plants populate up to 10 years . However , some have been known to hold out as long as 25 years with proper care .
No . However , it is related to several succulents , including aloe and agave plants .
In addition to mother - in - police ’s knife , snake industrial plant is known as viper ’s bowstring , devil ’s natural language , Hydra knife , and jinn ’s natural language .

Credit: Scott Little
Snake plants prefer bright but indirect sunshine . Avoid putting it in a spot that gets intense good afternoon sun , as its leaf may scorch .
Yes , these plants remove mutual household pollutant from the air . They also unblock O at night .
Snake Plant . ASPCA .

Credit: Jason Donnelly
female parent - in - Law ’s Tongue , Snake Plant . Kansas Poison Center .

Credit:Denny Schrock

Credit:Denny Schrock