As you guys know, I love to integrate houseplants into my home decor. It’s great to use fake plants like this one, but I also like to use real plants when I can. There’s just something magical about bringing the outside in, that elevates a design every single time. Don’t sleep on plants guys. Especially the Snake Plant. They are beyond gorgeous and oh-so-easy to take care of. Yes, even you can do it. Yes you!.
So it got me thinking about this indoor plant, often called the “mother-in-law’s tongue. Some people may know it by its scientific name, Sansevieria trifasciata, but most people will just call it the water snake plant. I have three!.
This hardy plant can adapt to and even thrive in rougher environments. This means that getting one is a good idea if you don’t want to kill your plants by accident or even if you live in a place with little light. Still, it’s important to learn how often to water snake plants.
Fortunately, you won’t have to figure things out on your own – I gotcha. Here are thevery best snake plant care tip & trick that I use to keep my babies thriving. After reading this, you’ll know the easiest way to see to all of your snake plants’ needs. You can then buy one and take care of it without any problems.
With their upright, sword-shaped leaves and easygoing nature, snake plants are popular, versatile houseplants Also called mother-in-law’s tongue or Saint George’s sword, snake plants come in different varieties with colors ranging from green to yellow edged to fully yellow Though generally very low maintenance plants, snake plants still require proper care to thrive. One question that comes up is whether misting or spraying the leaves with water is beneficial. The simple answer is no – misting is not necessary and can actually harm snake plants.
In this article, we’ll go over why misting is not recommended for snake plants and how proper watering techniques can keep them happy and healthy.
Why You Shouldn’t Mist Snake Plants
Here are the main reasons to avoid misting your snake plant’s foliage:
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Risk of fungal disease – Snake plants have thick, fleshy leaves that don’t appreciate excess external moisture. Water drops sitting on the leaves can lead to fungal issues like leaf spot.
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Potential rot – If moisture gets trapped inside the leaf rosettes or sits at the base of the plant, it creates conditions ripe for crown and root rot.
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No benefits – Misting doesn’t provide any advantages to the plant. Snake plants don’t need extra humidity.
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Difficulty drying out – The compact leaf arrangement means any water between the leaves takes longer to evaporate, prolonging wet conditions.
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Cosmetic damage – Water spots and deposits on the leaves can detract from the snake plant’s appearance.
For all these reasons, misting does not help snake plants grow but does put them at increased risk of problems. It’s best to avoid misting altogether.
How to Water Snake Plants Properly
Rather than misting, you want to use the proper watering method for your snake plant’s needs:
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Water thoroughly but infrequently. Snake plants prefer a good drenching followed by allowing the soil to completely dry out before watering again.
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Pay attention to your specific environment – plants in hot, dry areas need more frequent watering than cool, humid climates.
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Always water until it runs from the drainage holes to soak the entire root zone.
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Let excess water drain fully after watering to prevent soggy soil.
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Only water when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. Use your finger to test moisture.
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Cut back on watering in winter when plants are dormant.
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Use room temperature water, never cold.
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Water at the base of the plant, not on leaves.
Follow these tips to maintain ideal soil moisture through the roots. Healthy roots and dry leaves are the keys to a happy snake plant.
Snake Plant Care Fundamentals
Here is a summary of the essential care snake plants need beyond proper watering:
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Light – Bright, indirect light is ideal. Some variegated types also appreciate direct sun.
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Soil – Use a well-draining potting mix. Amend dense soils with perlite.
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Fertilizer – Apply diluted liquid fertilizer monthly in the growing season.
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Pot – Repot when roots fill the container. Use a pot with drainage holes.
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Temperature – Average room temperatures between 60-80°F are suitable.
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Humidity – Low to average humidity is fine. They don’t need high humidity.
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Air flow – Decent air circulation prevents problems but avoid drafty spots.
Meeting these basic care needs will keep your snake plant thriving for years to come.
Signs of a Healthy, Happy Snake Plant
When cared for properly, including avoiding leaf misting, you can expect your snake plant to show these signs of excellent health:
- Upright, rigid leaves
- Leaves are shiny and blemish-free
- New shoots and leaves emerging
- Roots plump and white when repotting
- Minimal leaf tips browning
- No signs of pests like mealybugs
What to Do if Your Snake Plant is Struggling
If your snake plant develops issues, here are some potential causes and solutions:
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Brown leaf tips – Usually from inconsistent watering. Allow soil to dry between waterings.
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Yellow, drooping leaves – Could indicate overwatering. Check roots for rot and cut back on water.
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Mushy stems – Sign of stem or root rot due to wet soil. Cut off mushy parts and reduce water.
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Leaf spots – Can be caused by fungal disease from excess moisture. Improve watering and air flow.
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Few new leaves – Not enough light. Place in a brighter location.
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Mealybugs – Treat with insecticidal soap spray. Isolate to prevent spreading.
With some troubleshooting and adjusting care, your snake plant can get back on track. But avoiding misting from the start prevents many issues.
Consider Snake Plants for Your Home
Now that you know misting is not advised for snake plants, you can be confident caring for these easy yet dramatic looking houseplants. Their sword-shaped architectural foliage adds bold texture and contrast to any indoor space. Snake plants clean the air while requiring little maintenance when given appropriate moisture. For an exotic touch without the demanding care, add one of these botanical warriors to your plant collection. Just be sure to water wisely and skip the misting for a flourishing, healthy specimen.
Avoid Overwatering & Underwatering Your Plants
In general, infrequent waterings should be enough for these tough plants. Think once a week to ten days between watering. However, you may need to deviate slightly from this schedule depending on the factors listed above.
A plant that gets more light requires more water; a plant that gets less light requires less water.
There are two main things you want to avoid: excess water and not enough water. If your plant starts looking funky, it’s pretty easy to identify which issue your plant is having.
Your plant probably isn’t getting enough water if the soil feels dry when you touch it. This can generally be confirmed by the presence of wrinkled, curling, crunchy, brown, and/or falling leaves. Solve this right away before you get spider mites (or worse, your plant dies!).
Snake plants that get too much water will change color in the same way, but the leaves will probably feel mushy instead. You may also notice water buildup in the pot, browned roots, or mold on the soil. Also, if you water snake plants too much, all of their leaves, old and new, can fall off at the same time.
You can solve your overwatering issue simply by giving the plant less water. Remember that it’s easier to water too much in damp places like this lovely bathroom, so keep that in mind when you plan your watering times.
General Snake Plant Watering Requirements
Although these plants are commonly thought of as houseplants, they’re actually native to southern Africa. As a plant parent, this is good news because it means they’re used to warm weather and don’t need much water.
Watering these plants won’t require more than a little bit of water once a week. I give mine 2 cups a week and she is currently about 5 feet tall. Overwatering these plants is a real possibility, so you’ll want to avoid watering them daily. Too much moisture can cause root rot.
When you get a new plant, it will likely be small. Don’t be fooled, though. If left alone, this wonderful plant can get huge, almost as big as other big houseplants like this Ficus. Look how tall mine is.
Of course, not everyone will want a massive plant. As your plant gets bigger, you can prune it to make it look better and keep it from getting too tall during the growing season, which is usually spring and summer. You should avoid pruning the plant during the off-season.
When you water your snake plants, make sure the water goes below the base of the plant. We’ll talk more about this later in the article.
Pro tip: Tap water will work, but chlorine is not ideal for the perfect plant. Use purified water instead and watch your snake reach toward the sky – and quickly!.
6 snake plant care tips that you need to know!
FAQ
How often should I mist my snake plant?
What is the best way to water a snake plant?
What does an overwatered snake plant look like?
Do snake plants need full sun?
Should you mist a snake plant?
By maintaining those temperatures in the environment in which you’re growing your snake plant, it should get relative humidity at the percentage it needs. There is never any reason to mist this houseplant; in fact, we’d recommend that as one of the last things you should do for its care.
Are snake plants pest-free?
There are a lot of great things about snake plants, but they don’t come pest-free. Spider mites and mealybugs love the long, attractive leaves of the snake plant. They’ll try to make this houseplant’s pot their new home, munching on the leaves. If you notice spider mites, this is the only time it’s okay to get the snake plant’s leaves a little wet.
Do snake plants twist up?
Yes, they twist up. The edges of the houseplant look yellow with horizontal stripes. This one is even bigger than rhino grass, as the Sansevieria trifasciata twist is up to 14 inches! This snake plant is much smaller. Also known as the Sansevieria cylindrical, the indoor plant grows leaves with stripes.
Do snake plants need to be watered?
Yes, that’s right, the snake plant has special watering requirements. While some houseplants can do alright with getting water on their leaves and/or flowers, the snake plant is not one of them. When you water, it must be in the soil only. Getting the leaves wet, even when watering, can lead to rotting and possibly kill your snake plant.