Snake plants are also known as Sansevieria, or “Mother-in-Law’s Tongue.” This succulent plant is perfect for beginners and frequent travelers for they are very forgiving.
Maintenance Level: Beginner
Light Level: Snake plants can handle a variety of light levels. While they prefer bright, indirect light, they tolerate some direct sun and shady nooks.
Water Needs: Possibly the most common problem encountered is overwatering. Allow the soil to dry out between watering. Test the moisture by carefully sticking your finger in the soil a couple of inches down. If you feel any moisture, hold off on watering. Water from the bottom of the pot if possible to encourage the roots to grow downward and help stabilize the plant. You will need to water even less in the winter than you do in the spring/summer while the plant isn’t actively growing.
Fertilizing Requirements: Snake plants don’t require much fertilizer. Using an all-purpose fertilizer once in the spring and again in the summer is all it needs.
Tips and Suggestions: Wipe the leaves as needed to clean off collected dust. Snake plants don’t need to be repotted often. They do better when they are pot bound. They can even break out of their grower pots on their own sometimes. If your snake plant is flowering, it may be pot bound. Smaller plants will not likely need to be repotted for 2-5 years, while larger plants might take 5-10 years. In the spring, divide the plant and repot in a pot with well-draining cactus/succulent potting mix.