How to repot Sansevieria trifasciata

Repot when roots and leaves fill the container or make it buckle, not on an annual schedule. Choose a slightly larger pot with drainage holes.

Plant coveredSansevieria trifasciataSnake plant · Mother-in-law's tongue · indoor container

Check the roots, mix and drainage

When to repot

What to inspect

Repot only when roots and leaves have filled the existing container or are causing it to buckle. RHS says the plant is generally content in its original container for the first few years.

What changes it

Spring is the generally preferred time for repotting as growth resumes, but use the root-fill trigger and plant condition rather than making it an annual task.

Use the smallest practical size increase

Choosing the next pot

Choose a pot only slightly larger than the previous one and with plenty of drainage holes. A much larger pot keeps spare compost damp longer and raises root-rot risk.

Move the rootball without unnecessary damage

How to repot

Use free-draining peat-free cactus compost, or mix two parts peat-free loam-based compost with one part horticultural grit or fine gravel. Set the plant without burying the leaf base.

Keep light, water and support steady

After repotting

Water the fresh compost through the drainage holes and empty collected water, then return to the dry-compost check because excess moisture commonly causes poor health and root rot in Sansevieria.

Sources