You might be wondering why snake plants (also commonly referred to as “mother-in-law’s tongue” or “Saint George’s sword”) would be good plants for your home. After all, every nickname they’ve ever gotten hasn’t exactly been … complimentary.
Thankfully, what remains positive is the excellent reviews plant parents give about this chill, low-maintenance houseplant. Snake plants have striking colors and twirling, spiked leaves, which is where many of their nicknames derive from. Their unique design also often makes them the plant of choice for modern, trendy homes. And due to their hardiness, snake plants have a great reputation around those who find it difficult to keep anything alive. If you tend to neglect your houseplants or travel often, this plant is for you! Here’s why:
Sun and Water
Snake plants don’t need much water to survive and can thrive in various levels of light. Just be sure it’s potted in a planter with a drainage hole and saucer. Over-watering and root rot are the most common problems in these plants. Let the soil completely dry out between each watering or about every 2-6 weeks. Like many plants, they’ll be happiest in bright, indirect light, though they won’t suffer too much with minimal sunlight. If the leaves start to droop and look dull, it’s time to give it some sun!
Pro Tip: When watering your snake plant, be careful not to get the leaves wet. They won’t mind an occasional misting though.
Temperature
Not surprisingly, snake plants aren’t too picky about the temperature. (They won’t tolerate frost or snow, but what does?) Snake plants are native to tropical climates of West Africa, so they will thrive in places (such as bathrooms) where humidity is the highest. They’ll adapt to almost any temperature above 40 degrees, however, even in low-light conditions. If you travel often and keep your home at a cooler temperature, your snake plant will still be happy.
Air Purification
All plants help purify the air, but snake plants are especially good at it. In general, plants do an excellent job of ridding the air of organic pollutants, including formaldehyde, benzene, and nitrogen oxides. Snake plants specifically, like pothos plants, are pros at removing these toxins, making the air you breathe in your home cleaner and healthier. Even if you forget about your plant for a few weeks, it’ll still be clearing your indoor air of pollutants. Not a bad trade-off!
Pro Tip: Snake plants have low toxicity to people but are dangerous for cats and dogs. Keep out of reach of your pets!
Propagation
If one snake plant in your home isn’t enough, there are three simple ways to propagate it! You can cut off a leaf at the base, then cut the leaf into 2” sections and place them bottoms-down in succulent and cactus soil. Or you can cut the leaf at its base and place either the leaf cuttings or the entire leaf in water, then repot in soil when roots form. Or you can divide your plant by taking single leaves (with good root systems) and repotting them individually in their own pots. If you’d prefer a visual reference for propagating snake plants, YouTube is a great resource!
No Green Thumb?
If you’ve been unsuccessful in keeping plants alive in the past, snake plants are a good option for you. The only thing you’ll need to worry about is over-watering, and if you’re naturally neglectful of plants, this shouldn’t be a problem. Have you owned a snake plant or think you might now? I’d love to know!
XO,
Micah
Would you recommend a snake over a pothos plant?
Good question! I think it would depend mostly on the aesthetic you’re going for. I personally love the classic elegance of pothos plants (or philodendrons in general). Certain types of snake plants have a prominent yellow color on their leaves, which may clash with home decor or furniture. Unfortunately, both snake plants and pothos plants are toxic for people and pets. So, a pothos plant up on a high shelf or hung from the ceiling could evade this issue. A snake plant often grows large enough to become a floor plant. However, during their younger years, they’d be small enough to also display on a fireplace mantle or top of the bookshelf! As far as maintenance goes, both are fairly equal in how little attention they need 🙂
This is so helpful, thank you! Aesthetic and size are practical considerations I hadn’t thought through, along with toxicity, which I somehow hadn’t realized; I’m leaning toward a pothos for all reasons now. 🙂