Snake plant care: expert tips on fertilising, repotting & more
In order to enjoy your green roommate in the long term, it should be given the right care. Here you can learn all about snake plant care.
The snake plant (Sansevieria) is low maintenance, making it a wonderful houseplant. Even if you are often on the road and only a little at home, you do not have to worry with him. Snake plant can withstand little care. So that you know how to proceed, we have summarised the most important snake plant care measures for you here.
Too much, the snake plant does not like it at all. As a minimalist, he is a real trendsetter because with him the modern principle applies: less is more. The snake plant, regardless of the species, you create the best environment by making it inhospitable: Little water, little fertiliser, a lot of sun. However, snake plant does not mind a little summer freshness outdoors in a sunny and dry place.
Watering snake plants
The issue of watering is relaxed with the snake plant. From its home in the semi-deserts and dry savannahs of Africa and Asia, it is used to longer dry periods. This has the advantage that he will not immediately hold it against you if you forget him once. As a rule, you can water the plant about once every two weeks, but please do not be too generous. Allow the soil to dry thoroughly before the next watering. In winter, when the plant has a little less light, you should also give the plant less water. So at this time of year you can water without a guilty conscience only once a month. The amount of water may also be reduced.
Tip: Important when watering is that no water stands in the rosettes of the plant because this could lead to rotting.
Fertilising
Too much fertiliser does more harm than good to the snake plant. It prefers it low in nutrients. If the plant has just been repotted in new substrate, it will not need fertiliser again until next year. The best option is commercially available liquid fertiliser for cacti, which you can add to the watering water. Our Plantura Liquid Houseplant Food is also a good choice for snake plant. However, it is enough if you apply only half as much as indicated on the package. In general, you should fertilise only during the summer half-year, that is, in the period from mid-March to the end of August.
- Perfect for a wide variety of houseplants & foliage plants
- Liquid fertiliser for robust plants & healthy growth
- Quick & easy application - child & pet friendly
Repotting snake plant
Due to the slow growth of the snake plant need only every be repotted a few years. But its strong roots want more space, then they may well blow up their pot. In that case the signal clear: The snake plant wants to be repotted. It is best to do this in the early spring, before the plant starts the new season. Pay attention to the choice of the pot on a drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. To achieve the drainage effect to improve, you can put a few shards of clay in the bottom of the pot. On it add a little of the substrate mixture before you put the plant in the pot. Now you only need to fill the pot with substrate, the soil lightly press on and water the plant a little.
By the way, repotting is also an excellent opportunity to gain offshoots. Learn more about propagating snake plants here.
Snake plant care: the right soil
Snake plant naturally lives in sandy and dry soils that contain few nutrients. Therefore, as a substrate is suitable simple cactus soil. Or you can mix sand and organic universal soil in equal parts. The main thing is that the substrate is not too rich in nutrients and well-drained. Snake plant prefers a pH in the neutral or slightly acidic range, i.e. between 6.0 and 7.0.
If you want to learn more about snake plants you will find all the important information here.
