5 Steps to Growing Snake Plants (Sansevieria)
- Select a suitable sized pot with good drainage
- Add a layer of indoor plant mix to plant into
- Choose a spot in bright, indirect, low or direct light
- Water sansevieria once or twice a month
- Apply a general purpose fertiliser once a month
Follow our full guide and plant care tips to growing snake plants below.
Sansevieria, also known as Snake Plant or Mother in Laws Tongue is one of the most tolerant, easy-care indoor plants to grow. Featuring predominantly spikey foliage and striped green leaves, it adds an interesting and dramatic feature to your indoor spaces. Snake Plant's are air cleansers and also dry-tolerant.
Snake Plants grow tall and upright can grow anywhere from 50cm to 1m tall, depending on the variety of plant and the size of the pot.
prepare
The better the soil, the better your indoor plants will grow. Healthy soil is especially important when growing in a limited area. Choose a potting mix that is free draining like Tui Indoor Plant Mix, specially formulated with the right blend of nutrients to give your indoor plants in pots and containers the best start.
Select a container that is a suitable size for your plants. Ensure the container has enough capacity to house the roots of the plants you want to grow. Drainage is also essential, so keep this in mind when choosing your perfect pot.
plant
Check plant labels for individual planting instructions.
- Water plants thoroughly before potting and allow to drain.
- Partly fill your container with Tui Indoor Plant Mix.
- Gently take the plant from the current container, loosen the root ball and remove any loose or dead plant material and roots.
- Position the plant in the centre of the new container and fill with Tui Indoor Plant Mix up to 3cm from the top.
- Gently firm the mix around the plant. The mix should be at the same level on the plant as it was in the previous container.
Light
The right plant in the right place is the secret to healthy indoor plants. Sansevieria will do the best in bright, indirect light. However they’re not fussy, they'll also tolerate direct light, all the way through to low light.
nourish
Watering
In terms of watering and feeding, Snake Plant's require minimal effort. Don't water sansevierias too frequently, and let the soil completely dry out between each water. Once a month is enough in the winter, and a bit more during spring and summer.
Feeding
Tui Indoor Plant Mix contains a starter fertiliser to provide instant nutrients and prevent transplant shock, along with a controlled release fertiliser for sustained feeding for up to six months, however continuing to replenish nutrients will ensure your plants remain healthy. Sansevierias aren't very heavy feeders, apply a general purpose fertiliser like Tui Enrich Pour & Feed Indoor Plant Liquid Fertiliser once every 3 weeks during spring and summer, or for a sustained feed for up to 6 months use Tui Enrich Pots & Containers. Be careful not to apply too much fertiliser as this could cause the leaves to fall over.
Common problems
Root rot can be a common issue with sansevierias due to overwatering, so it's a good idea to keep the soil on the drier side. Allow the soil to completely dry out between watering.
Well nourished and cared for plants will be more resilient to common problems including temperature fluctuations, pests and diseases.
Pet friendly
This plant is considered toxic, so keep away from pets or small children.