plantatiousSnake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
- Light
- Bright, indirect light
- Watering
- When the soil is completely dry
- Temperature
- 15–24°C
The snake plant, also known as viper’s bowstring hemp, is Dracaena trifasciata, a member of the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. It is native to tropical Africa, from the west of the continent to the east, and for most of its life as a houseplant it went by the name Sansevieria trifasciata, which many shops still use; botanists have since moved it into the genus Dracaena. Indoors you grow it for its stiff, upright leaves, banded in dark and light green, and for how well it puts up with dry air and the odd missed watering.
How fast does a snake plant grow?
A snake plant grows slowly: in a bright, warm spot it sends up new leaves through spring and summer, and in winter it all but stops. Each new leaf rises from the rhizome, a thick stem that creeps under the soil, and unrolls from the middle of its fan of leaves.
Light sets the pace. In bright, indirect light a snake plant grows steadily and its new leaves come up firm and upright; in a dim corner it survives, but it may go a long time without a new leaf. Warmth matters as much: in a cold room it rests, and wet, cold soil is the quickest way to lose one. It does not only grow taller, it spreads: the rhizome creeps sideways and pushes up new fans of leaves beside the old ones, so over the years one plant becomes a crowded clump that can fill, and even crack, its pot. Each leaf lasts a long time, so a healthy plant changes slowly but surely.
How to care for a snake plant
Give your snake plant bright, indirect light, water it only when the soil has dried out completely, and keep it between 15°C and 24°C. A spot near a bright window suits it best; it puts up with a dimmer corner, but grows very slowly there. Its thick leaves store water, so overwatering is the most common way to lose one: let the whole pot dry out before you water again, then water thoroughly and let the extra drain away. Use a gritty, free-draining mix and a pot with a drainage hole. Dry room air does not bother it at all, but keep it away from cold drafts and cold window glass in winter.
| Light | Bright, indirect light |
|---|---|
| Watering | When the soil is completely dry |
| Temperature | 15–24°C |
| Humidity | 5% – 24% |
| Repot every | 5 years |
| Native to | Tropical West Africa, Tropical west-central Africa, and Tropical East Africa |
| Growth form | Plant growing from a rhizome |
Sources
- How to grow sansevierias, Royal Horticultural Society
- Snake Plant: A Forgiving, Low-maintenance Houseplant, Penn State Extension
- Growing Indoor Plants with Success, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
- Dracaena trifasciata (Golden Birds Nest, Good Luck Plant, Mother-in-law's Tongue, Snake Plant), NC State Extension
- Govaerts R (ed.). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, CC BY 3.0
Tips
- Water around the edge of the pot, not into the middle of the leaves, where water can sit and cause rot.
- Water much less in winter, when it barely grows.
- Repot only every few years, in spring, when the rhizomes crowd the pot or start to bend it.
- Choose a heavy pot, such as terracotta, so tall leaves do not tip it over.
- Divide a crowded clump when you repot, giving each piece some rhizome, roots and leaves.
- Wipe dust off the leaves with a damp cloth now and then.
Are snake plants toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists the snake plant, under its old name Sansevieria trifasciata, as toxic to both cats and dogs. It contains saponins, natural substances that irritate the stomach and gut, so a cat or dog that chews it may suffer nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Keep your snake plant where pets cannot reach it, and if yours has chewed it, call your vet or an animal poison line for advice.
Snake plant care: common questions
How often should I water a snake plant?
Only when the soil has dried out completely, not on a fixed schedule. Water thoroughly, let the extra drain away, and then leave it alone; in winter it needs water only now and then. Too much water kills far more snake plants than too little.
Can a snake plant live in low light?
It copes with a dim spot better than most houseplants, but it grows very slowly there. It does best in bright, indirect light, so move it closer to a window if it has not made a new leaf in a long time.
Why are my snake plant’s leaves falling over?
Usually because of too much water: soft, bending leaves and a mushy base mean the roots or rhizome are rotting. Let the soil dry out completely, cut away rotten parts when you repot, and water less. Leaves that lean and stretch toward the window point to too little light instead.
Is a snake plant a Sansevieria?
Yes. It was known for a long time as Sansevieria trifasciata, and many shops and plant labels still use that name. Botanists have since moved the sansevierias into the genus Dracaena, so its accepted name is now Dracaena trifasciata. It is the same plant, and it needs the same care.