Is the pot for your snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) too big? Does the foliage look like it’s suffering? Your plant might be in a place where its roots are so many that the soil can’t hold water. If so, it may be time to think about how repotting snake plant is done.
Getting your snake plant re-potted is not a difficult task. Your snake plant may be old enough that you can divide it at the same time, making a second plant.
If you want to move your plant often and it’s been a few years, you might need to get a bigger pot. It’s time to start over with your snake plant! Watch my video on how to repot snake plants—it’s THAT easy!
Mother in law’s tongue, also known as snake plant or Sansevieria, is a popular and easy to care for houseplant. With its upright sword-shaped leaves, it adds an architectural and tropical look to any indoor space.
Though mother in law’s tongue is quite hardy, it does need repotting every 2-3 years to refresh the soil and give the plant room to grow Repotting is easy if you follow a few simple tips
When to Repot Mother In Law’s Tongue
The best time to repot mother in law’s tongue is in early spring, before the growing season begins. This gives the plant time to recover before it starts actively growing again.
Signs your plant needs repotting:
- Roots are coming out of the drainage holes
- Soil dries out very quickly after watering
- Plant is top heavy or pot looks deformed from root growth
- Lower leaves are yellowing or drooping
If you see these signs, it’s time to repot your plant into a bigger container.
Supplies Needed
Gather these supplies before repotting:
- New pot 1-2 inches wider than the current pot
- Potting mix – Use a light, porous blend like potting soil plus 1/3 sand or perlite and up to 1/3 peat moss
- Trowel or small shovel
- Pruners (optional)
How to Repot Mother In Law’s Tongue Step-by-Step
Follow these steps for successful repotting:
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Water the plant thoroughly 1-2 days before repotting. This makes removal easier.
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Remove the plant from its pot. Turn it upside down and gently slide it out. If roots are tangled, you may need to loosen the root ball or even trim away excess roots.
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Examine the root ball and prune any diseased, dead or circling roots. This encourages new growth.
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Place a layer of potting mix in the new container. Set the plant inside so the top of the root ball is level with the rim of the pot.
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Fill around the roots with more fresh, dry potting mix. Firm it down gently but don’t pack too tight.
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Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom. Allow excess water to drain away.
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Place the repotted plant in bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sun for 2-3 weeks while it adjusts.
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Hold off on fertilizer for a month to prevent root damage.
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Check soil regularly and water when the top 1-2 inches become dry. Avoid overwatering.
Be patient with your plant after repotting. It may take a few weeks to adjust and resume normal growth. But with proper care, your mother in law’s tongue will soon be thriving in its roomy new pot!
Tips for Repotting Mother In Law’s Tongue
Follow these tips for the best results:
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Use a wide, shallow pot rather than a deep narrow one. This prevents tipping.
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Don’t increase the pot size by more than 1-2 inches. Too large a pot can lead to root rot.
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Loosen tangled roots but don’t damage the root ball. Healthy roots help the plant recover faster.
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Prune damaged roots but don’t over-prune. This can stress the plant.
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Water sparingly after repotting until new growth appears. Too much moisture can cause root rot.
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Keep the plant out of direct sun while it establishes new roots and regains strength.
How to Divide Mother In Law’s Tongue
Once a mother in law’s tongue fills its pot, you can divide it to make new plants. Here’s how:
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Remove the plant from its pot and gently loosen the roots.
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Identify division points where the plant naturally separates into smaller connected plants.
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Using a sharp, sterile knife, slice down through the roots and rhizomes to divide them into smaller plants.
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Pot up each new division, keeping 2-3 shoots per pot. Add fresh potting mix.
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Water well and place in indirect light while new roots form.
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Resume normal care once plants are established.
Dividing mother in law’s tongue is an easy way to get more plants without buying new ones! Just be sure each division has a good root system and a few shoots.
Common Questions about Repotting Sansevieria
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
What type of pot is best? Use a wide, shallow pot. Plastic or terracotta both work well. Ensure it has drainage holes.
Should I fertilize after repotting? Avoid fertilizer for 4-6 weeks after repotting to prevent root damage.
How long does it take to recover? It takes 2-3 weeks for the plant to settle in the new pot. Wait for signs of new growth before resuming normal care.
Why are the leaves drooping? Drooping leaves after repotting are normal. The plant is stressed and adjusting to its new soil environment. Proper care will help it perk up again.
Can I divide a large plant into many plants? It’s best to limit divisions to 2-3 plants each with several shoots. Dividing into too many pieces can stress and potentially kill the plant.
When will new growth appear? New leaves may emerge in 2-4 weeks after repotting. Wait until you see signs of growth before fertilizing or returning to a normal care routine.
With the right techniques and aftercare, repotting and dividing mother in law’s tongue is an easy process. In its new roomy container, this low maintenance plant will continue gracing your indoor space for years to come!
Transplanting After Repotting Snake Plants
Okay, now that you know when to move a snake plant to a new pot, let’s talk about how to do it in a single pot.
First in your quest for repotting a snake plant: select a new pot. Because of the tall leaves, the mother in law’s tongue can become quite top-heavy. Snake plants like new pots that are wider than they are deep so that the plant’s heavy leaves don’t cause the pot to fall over.
Try to find a plastic pot which is about 1-2″ wider than its current pot. Don’t increase the size too dramatically. Extra indoor potting mix may create air pockets full of moisture that can cause root rot to form.
As a general rule, snake plants prefer a potting mix which is extremely well-draining. Snake plants do best in soil made for tropical houseplants because they like it a little dry. You can also amend a standard potting soil with some succulent or cactus soil to increase its drainage.
An African violet soil mix with a little sand added for drainage works best for me. One part garden soil, one part peat moss or coco coir, and two parts perlite or builder’s sand can also be used.
While adding a little compost is good, avoid adding too much. Compost tends to hold moisture, which may create a risk for the snake plant’s root system. A little bit goes a long way when you repot snake plants.
Turn the plant upside down to get it out of its old pot, being careful not to damage the root ball. Once it’s free, examine the roots. If you see dark or mushy spots on the roots, those have developed rot. Use a clean, sterile knife to cut rotten portions away.
If there are big roots that go all the way around the root ball, cut those too with your knife. This means your plant is root bound. You shouldn’t need to cut it more than once for best results. The goal is to stop the roots from preventing your plant’s growth.
Add some succulent mix to your potting mix and put it in the new pot. Then, put the plant on top of it. Place it in the new pot at the same depth as the old one, but no more than 2 inches above the edge of the pot. Remove or add soil to get it to the right depth.
You do not have to tamp the soil down too firmly. Gently press to ensure it’s in there well enough to support the plant, then water it in. If the soil falls down after you water it, you can raise it by adding more soil around the edges. Then wait for the top few inches to dry before fully watering again. Remember not to add too much water.
See? Repotting your snake plant is actually very easy!
When Should I Repot a Snake Plant?
For snake plants, the best time to move them is in late winter or early spring, when they are not growing. This puts the transplant during the time of year that the plant’s not in active growth mode.
But if needed, you can repot a snake plant in a bigger pot at any time of year. When the roots get too big for the pot and start growing through the holes in the bottom, it’s time to swap pots. Plastic pots may start to bulge a bit. A clay pot can crack if your plant needs repotting. It will look like all the water is going straight through when you water, and the soil won’t be able to hold water.
Grasp the base of the plant to support it and gently turn it over. Check to see if the roots are spreading out the bottom of the pot or the drainage holes. Does the plant seem to be stuck in the pot, or does it easily slide out? If it’s stuck, it’s time to move it to a bigger pot.
The mother-in-law’s tongue plant likes to have roots that are tangled up, but it doesn’t do well when there are only roots left in the pot. It will be time to do it when that point is reached or when one of the other signs shows up!
You can also propagate snake plants if you’d like through division when your snake plant needs repotting. We’ll talk more about that further onward.
