How to water a snake plant
Sansevieria trifasciata
Quick answer
Wait until Sansevieria trifasciata’s potting mix has dried before watering. Pour onto the mix, not the center of the leaf rosette, and empty drained water.
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- Starting point (summer)
- every 11 to 17 days
- Starting point (winter)
- every 24 to 36 days, sometimes less
How to water a snake plant
When the soil has dried out completely
- 01
When to water
Wait until the potting mix has dried before watering. Check the mix each time rather than following a routine schedule.
In winter, growth slows and Sansevieria barely needs water unless it is in a particularly warm spot. Keep using the dry-mix check rather than a fixed interval.
- 02
How to water thoroughly
Water the potting mix from above while avoiding the center of the leaf rosette, then empty water that drains into the saucer or outer pot.
Use a free-draining, peat-free cactus mix in a pot with plenty of drainage holes, and do not leave the plant sitting in drained water because excess moisture encourages root rot.
- 03
Signs of too much or too little water
Overwatering is a common cause of poor health and root rot. If the whole plant leans, check the roots and drainage, but posture alone does not identify the cause.
All snake plant guides
Keep reading
Sources3 references
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Plants of the World OnlineAccepted name · homotypic synonym Sansevieria trifasciata · classification · Taxonomic synonymy · link to Dracaena trifasciata
- North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Plant ToolboxLow-light tolerance · partial sun · dry-down · winter watering · low humidity · cool temperature · pests and root rot
- Royal Horticultural Society15–24°C (59–75 °F) · low humidity · sun to light shade · free-draining compost · dry-down · pet warning · Full sun to light shade · free-draining peat-free compost · above-10°C (50 °F) warning
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