Think you can’t successfully grow houseplants? Maybe you just have the wrong ones. Once upon a time I thought I wasn’t a houseplant person. My roses and vegetables and crepe myrtles and bushes thrived in the garden but my houseplants were…not so lucky. Then my mom split hers and gave me a pot with a tiny three-leaf snake plant and now I can proudly say: I’m a houseplant person. Here’s why I love snake plants (and how to grow them)!
What is a snake plant?
Snake plants have tall, stiff, sword-like leaves that look like snakes, hence the name. It’s an evergreen plant (meaning it always looks lovely) that’s typically grown indoors. They can easily reach 3-4 feet tall and fill a space nicely. There are quite a few varieties, some of which have a cream or yellow border. It’s a showy plant that’s known for being exceptionally easy to grow.
Are snake plants good for you?
Yes! Fun fact: snake plants release oxygen at night, cleansing the air like a natural purifier, making this one of the best houseplants you can grow! How cool is that? That makes them extra beneficial to have in your bedroom, as they’ll purify the air, enhancing your sleep. I’m a quest to have one in every room for this reason.
The importance of lighting
The biggest misconception about gardening is that watering is most people’s problem. The truth is, lighting is most people’s problem. They put roses in the shade and hydrangeas in the sun, which is the exact opposite of where those should be. And they die. The same is true of houseplants. I don’t have a particularly bright and sunny house, which is great because my home stays nice and cool during the hottest parts of summer. But that also means that I can’t successfully grow a lot of houseplants that require bright light. Snake plants however are super forgiving and can thrive in a ton of lighting conditions, making them a popular houseplant for so many.
Why I love snake plants
Snake plants are just about as hardy as a houseplant can get. My snake plant has never given me a lick of trouble in the six or seven years that I’ve owned it. It doubled and tripled and tripled again and before you knew it, it was so big that I had to split it (more on that later) and then I had two snake plants. And now I have three! Just look at how big and showy they are. They light up the room!
Are snake plants hard to grow?
Nope! Snake plants are a GREAT choice for beginner gardeners because they tolerate all sorts of light conditions. It’s very low maintenance. Snake plants do best with 6-8 hours of indirect sunlight. They do flower in their native West Africa but are unlikely to flower indoors.
How often should you water snake plants?
I water mine once a week and my snake plants could not be happier.
Should you fertilize snake plants?
Honestly I didn’t in the beginning and my first snake plant still thrived and grew big enough for me to split it into two! Now I do feed it with a simple Miracle Gro houseplant fertilize (you just add a scoop to your watering can!) once a month. That’s a lie. I rarely remember every month. Let’s say I do it 6-8 months a year!
Are snake plants toxic to dogs?
Yes, they are. As are most plants. You might be wondering, “But Katie-Rose! You have a dog!” I’ve never had a dog who’s been the type to eat houseplants and snake plants don’t drop leaves so it’s fine. However, if you have a puppy or a particularly mischievous dog who does eat houseplants, perhaps grow a palm or spider plant instead.
How do you split a snake plant?
You’ll want to remove the snake plant from its existing pot and use a small trowel to gently separate some of the spears at the root. You may even be able to just pull an outer spear or two away from the base. Don’t be scared! Carefully arrange the new spears together in a second pot filled with indoor potting soil. Be warned: snake plants can easily topple over when you first split them. I recommend setting your pot in a sunny corner to help stabilize it for a few weeks until the spears really take root and stabilize.
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