HOW TO CARE FOR SNAKE PLANTS
Snake plant, Saint George's sword, mother in law's tongue and viper's bowstring hemp are some of the names given to the Sansevieria.
The snake plant is one of the best, if not the best, plant for beginners and after reading our plant blog today, you will understand why!
SANSEVIERIA MOONSHINE
CUEMARS
SANSEVIERIA TRIFASCIATA
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SNAKE PLANT ORIGIN
It is native to tropical West Africa, which will give us some clues in understanding what the best conditions are for this striking plant.
SO THEN, HOW DO YOU CARE FOR A SNAKE PLANT?
We will be talking about watering, lighting and feeding. Are you ready?
SNAKE PLANT
CUEMARS
SNAKE PLANT
CUEMARS
WATERING
Snake plants are succulents and so, they store water within their leaves.
Snake plants are a great plant for beginners for many reasons, but the main one is that they are very forgiving when it comes to watering.
We recommend you to water your Snake plant every other week during the growing season (Spring/Summer) and once every month, or every other month, during dormant season (Autumn/Winter).
In terms of humidity, the Snake plant prefers a low humidity space, which is yet another advantage! You won't need to worry about misting it or creating a humidity tray as many other indoor plants need.
The only thing that you need to keep in mind is; to avoid dust building up on the leaves, clean them when required using a soft cloth, warm water and a bit of mild soap.
LIGHTING
As previously mentioned, Snake plants are very sturdy and can live in almost any light conditions, from bright to low. However, they will thrive and grow much better in a bright spot, with a mature snake plant reaching up to 2 metres.
Some might be wondering, what about a room with no light? Can a Snake plant live in a room without a window?
Well, we have mentioned several times how sturdy Snake plants are, but even for these hardy plants, some light is required. They can definitely survive some time under zero light conditions, however, at some point, it may be months or years, the lack of light will take the best out of it.
IMPROVES AIR QUALITY
Snake plants are one of our favourite plants for several reasons, the main one being that they have great health benefits too!
They have been named by NASA as natural air purifiers and are able to remove toxic air pollutants such as Benzene; Formaldehyde; Trichloroethylene; Xylene and Toluene.
Snake plants are also one of the highest oxygen-producing indoor plants. They absorb great deals of carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis. The plant mainly releases clean air back into its surroundings during night time, making it an ideal bedroom plant.
Who would have thought that an indoor plant could give us so much?
FERTILISER
Snake plants do not really need a fertiliser. However, if you would like to give yours some extra nutrients, you can always add a heavily diluted fertiliser to the soil. You will only need to do this twice during the growing season.
Some fertilisers can be too aggressive to the Snake plants' roots, so please remember to at least halve the strength of your fertiliser. You can also opt for a gentle organic fertiliser if you prefer.
If you are a pet owner, please note that Snake plants are mildly toxic to pets and they can upset your furry friend's tummy if consumed. This is because it contains saponins, a type of chemical compound found in some plant species.
We hope that you found these tips helpful!
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions via our Social Media channels. You can visit us in our Shoreditch plant shop once we reopen but in the meantime, we are delivering house plants to UK residents. Check out our ever expanding plant collection online now, including the sturdy Snake plant!
