Snake Plant Growing Methods and Propagation Tips

Snake plant, also known as tiger tail sansevieria, brocade sansevieria, or thousand-year plant, has firm, upright leaves with white-and-green mottled patterns. It is an evergreen plant and is suitable for keeping at home. When growing snake plant, keep it in plenty of sunlight, do not apply too much fertilizer, and water according to the changing seasons. So what are the growing methods and precautions for golden-edged snake plant? Let's take a look below.



Growing Methods for Golden-Edged Snake Plant

First, soil selection

Snake plant requires loose soil with good air permeability, so when mixing soil for snake plant, be sure to use 2/3 leaf mold plus 1/3 garden soil. Remember that the soil must be loose and breathable, otherwise water will not evaporate easily, causing the roots and rhizomes to rot.

Second, sunlight requirements

Snake plant loves light, so be sure to let it receive sunlight often, preferably placed where it can be directly exposed. If conditions do not allow this, then place it somewhere close to the sunlight. Being placed in a dark place for a long time will cause the leaves to turn yellow.

Third, temperature

Snake plant has fairly high temperature requirements. Its suitable growing temperature is 20-30°C, and in winter it should not go below 10°C, so be sure to pay attention, especially in northern regions.



Fourth, watering

Snake plant also has fairly high water requirements. Generally speaking, if the soil is relatively loose, it needs watering twice a week, while in winter, due to climatic factors, only once is enough.

Fifth, pruning

Compared with other home-grown green plants, snake plant grows relatively fast, so when the pot becomes full, manual pruning is needed. This mainly involves cutting away old leaves and overly dense areas to ensure sunlight and growing space.

Sixth, repotting

Snake plant is a perennial plant. Generally speaking, it should be repotted once every two years. When repotting, be sure to add nutrients to the new soil so as to ensure its nutrient supply.



Seventh, planting method

Snake plant is a root-propagating plant. Generally speaking, 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 within the pot.

Eighth, fertilizing

Snake plant has low fertilizer requirements. It only needs fertilizing twice a month during the growing season. Be careful to apply a dilute fertilizer solution so as to ensure lush growth.

Ninth, threat of diseases and pests

The common diseases of snake plant mainly include leaf spot and anthracnose. In these cases, spray 50% carbendazim for treatment. A common pest is weevil damage. In this case, spray with a 1000-fold dilution of 50% fenitrothion emulsifiable concentrate to kill them.



Precautions for Growing Golden-Edged Snake Plant

1. If snake plant has been placed indoors for a long time, it should not suddenly be moved directly into sunlight. It should first be moved to a place with better light so it has time to adapt before being exposed to sunlight, to avoid scorching the leaves.

2. Watering should be moderate, following the principle of preferring dry over wet. Usually wipe dust from the leaf surface with clean water to keep the leaves clean and glossy. In spring, when new plants sprout at the root crown, water appropriately more to keep the potting soil moist; in the high-temperature season in summer, also keep the potting soil moist regularly; after late autumn, control the amount of watering and keep the potting soil relatively dry to enhance cold resistance.

Propagation Methods for Growing Snake Plant:

Snake plant can be propagated by cutting or division. The specific methods are as follows.

(1) Cutting propagation

Spring to summer is the suitable period. Cut the leaves into 1 segment every 15 cm, insert them into sandy soil or fine wood shavings, and keep them moist. They can take root in about 3 months. When cutting, be careful not to place them upside down; seedlings obtained by cutting often easily lose the mottled patterns on their leaves.



(2) Division propagation

After golden-edged snake plant is propagated by cutting, the golden edge disappears, so this type of variety is mostly propagated by division. A perennial mother plant can produce many side branches and grow many leaf clusters. In spring, when changing the soil, use a knife to cut off the newly sprouted young plants from the mother plant's roots at the easy-to-separate points, and plant them separately in pots. Division can be used to raise seedlings all year round, but spring and summer are best. Mature plants can send up young shoots at the base, which can be cut off and planted separately to obtain new plants.



Feng Shui Role of Snake Plant

Regarding the feng shui role of snake plant, many people say that snake plant has the feng shui effect of attracting wealth. This effect comes from the study of the five elements of plants. If a potted snake plant is placed in the living room and the front door is in the south, the south belongs to fire, so the snake plant, whose attribute belongs to wood, is very suitable for growing in the living room. It is said that this can regulate the digestive health of family members.

Place snake plant on the balcony. The balcony is where the residence takes in qi, so plants that promote prosperity and dissolve negative energy can be placed there. If outside the balcony there are beautiful mountains and waters with no form of negative energy, then plants that promote prosperity should be grown. Snake plant is exactly such a prosperity-promoting evergreen plant, very suitable for growing on the balcony or in a prosperous position, increasing the household's wealth energy, generating and boosting wealth. It is a very good feng shui plant.



Tiger tail sansevieria is a natural scavenger and can remove harmful substances from the air. Studies have shown that tiger tail sansevieria can absorb more than 80% of indoor harmful gases, has an extremely strong ability to absorb formaldehyde, and can effectively remove sulfur dioxide, chlorine, ether, ethylene, carbon monoxide, nitrogen peroxide and other harmful substances. Snake plant has very high ornamental value and can be used for potted display and flowerbed arrangement. It is suitable for decorating homes and office environments, and plays a good role in beautifying the environment and purifying the air.

Place snake plant in the office. The office is where people work every day, so it is even more necessary to create a good environment. Snake plant stays green all year round. Placed in the office, it is full of greenery and vitality, can bring people a good mood, and also has the effect of attracting wealth and gathering treasure. More importantly, it can protect against radiation, absorb toxic gases and dust, and let you work in a healthy environment all along.