How to grow snake plant in pots? Master these essential care tips

Snake plant, also known as mother-in-law's tongue, bowstring hemp, etc., is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Sansevieria in the family Asparagaceae, native to western Africa, cultivated throughout China, with a resolute posture, peculiar and interesting, a common indoor potted foliage plant, suitable for decorating studies, living rooms, bedrooms and other places, can be enjoyed for a long time, now let's take a look at how to grow potted snake plant well!

Cultivated varieties of snake plant

Snake plant leaves are firm and upright, the leaf surface has gray-white and dark green alternating tiger-tail-like horizontal band markings, with a resolute posture, peculiar and interesting, many varieties, plant shape and leaf color vary greatly, exquisite and unique, strong adaptability to the environment, likes warmth and humidity, tolerant of drought, likes light and also tolerant of shade, not strict about soil requirements, sandy loam with good drainage is better, its suitable growth temperature is 20-30°C, overwintering temperature is 10°C.

Propagation methods of snake plant

1. Division: First take the whole plant out of the pot, remove the old potting soil, expose the rhizome and then cut it along its direction into several plants (each plant should contain at least 2-3 leaves), 2-3 plants can be planted per pot. This method can raise seedlings all year round, but spring and summer are the best times, and it can be done in spring together with repotting.

2. Cuttings: Cut mature leaves horizontally into small sections of about 8 cm, air-dry for 1-2 days, then insert upright into clean river sand, inserting 3-4 cm is enough, pay attention not to insert upside down when cutting, in summer, the cuttings can grow adventitious roots in about a month, after which new shoots sprout from their base. After the new shoots grow leaves, they can be potted and transplanted together with the cuttings. Cuttings taken in other seasons take relatively longer to root. As long as the temperature is 15-25°C, cuttings can be taken at any time.

How to grow snake plant well?

1. Soil: Snake plant needs loose soil and requires air permeability, so when mixing soil for snake plant, be sure to use 2/3 leaf mold plus 1/3 garden soil, remember the soil must be loose and breathable, otherwise it will cause water to not evaporate easily, leading to rot of the rhizome.

2. Planting: Snake plant is a root-propagating plant, generally you only need to plant a few plants, and after a year, you can harvest a full pot, when planting, first place part of the soil at the bottom of the pot, then start planting from one side of the pot, planting evenly in the pot.

3. Sunlight: Snake plant likes light, so be sure to let it be exposed to sunlight often, preferably placed in a place where it can be directly illuminated, if conditions do not allow, then also place it in a place relatively close to sunlight, being placed in a dark place for a long time will cause the leaves to turn yellow.

4. Temperature: Snake plant has high temperature requirements, its suitable growth temperature is 20-30°C, in winter it should not be lower than 10°C at the lowest, so be sure to pay attention, especially in northern regions.

5. Watering: Snake plant also has high water requirements, generally if the soil is relatively loose, it needs watering twice a week, while in winter due to climate factors, only once is enough.

6. Pruning: The growth rate of snake plant is relatively fast compared to other home-grown green plants, so when the pot is full, artificial pruning is needed, mainly cutting off old leaves and overly dense areas, to ensure its sunlight and growth space.

7. Repotting: Snake plant is a perennial plant, generally it needs to be repotted every two years, when repotting, be sure to add nutrients to the new soil, so as to ensure its nutrient supply.

8. Fertilizing: Snake plant has low fertilizer requirements, only need to fertilize twice a month during the growing season, be careful to apply dilute fertilizer solution, so as to ensure lush growth.

9. Pests and diseases: The common diseases of snake plant are mainly leaf spot and anthracnose, at this time you can spray 50% carbendazim for treatment, the common pest is weevil damage, at this time you can use 50% fenitrothion emulsifiable concentrate 1000 times solution for spraying and killing.