You can see if the snake plant can survive in low-maintenance without sunlight in our post here. Nevertheless, as houseplant lovers, we will share anything related to plenty of plants, especially snake plants.
Snake plant is also known as bowstring hemp, devil’s tongue, jinn’s tongue, snake plant tongue, mother-in-law’s tongue, and others. According to reports, snake plants require low maintenance and can thrive without sunlight. Is this true? Let’s see our explanation below to find out the truth!
Can a Snake Plant Survive with Low Maintenance?
Whether or not the snake plant can survive without sunlight and low maintenance isn’t a debatable subject. The snake plant is one of the few plants that can survive without sunlight and with low maintenance. What is the reason?
Some plants do not need direct sunlight to grow, some of them can even grow in low light or even no light at all. Those kinds of plants thrive well indoors since they can grow without sunlight.
Therefore, snake plants can grow well in both full sun and low light conditions. Snake plants can totally thrive with indirect light and most can also thrive with artificial light.
Furthermore, snake plants are tolerant of a wide variety of lighting conditions, although they prefer indirect lighting. You should let the snake plants’ soil dry in between waterings since their roots are prone to rot.
A snake plant grows to a height of over three feet and is hardy enough to survive forgetful caretakers. Additionally, even after a few weeks of neglect, they can still maintain their attractive look. It is also known for its sharp and erect leaves, making it a slow-growing plant.
Snake plants are very easy to care for as they can be left for weeks at a time. Snake plants will still look fresh due to their architectural shape and stripy leaves. Additionally, droughts and low light levels do not harm them, but they do have a few insect problems.
It is important to note that snake plants can tolerate both direct and indirect sunlight. If you have low light at home, your snake plant will thrive. It is important to keep them in a warm environment with a temperature above 50 °F (10 °C). In the winter, protect your snake plant from drafty windows.
How to Grow the Snake Plant in Low Light
Snake plants, or Sansevierias, are upright plants with yellow-edged marbling on each leaf. As a tropical plant, this type of plant requires little water and thrives in warm interiors. They can also tolerate medium-to-low light levels.
In order for snake plants to thrive in low light, it is important to reduce the amount of water that they receive. Instead, they can be watered both in quantity and frequency. The snake plants won’t use as much water when they are in lower light, since they will have fewer resources to use. Moreover, in darker, cooler areas, water evaporates much more slowly, so the key to successful snake plant planting in low light environments is to use less water.
Additionally, the sculptural plant can grow up to 4 feet tall, which is especially impressive when paired with shorter plants. For extra drama in your home, you can uplight them.
A Snake Plant’s Ideal Growing Conditions
There are a variety of environments and conditions the snake plant can grow in. This plant can, however, grow in both dimly lit rooms and bright sunlight. Furthermore, they are drought tolerant and do well in several shapes and sizes of pots and vases.
Snake plants grow best between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit when it comes to room temperature. For snake plant cultivation, a USDA zone 9 to 11 is the best location. It is certainly possible to grow them outdoors during part of the year if you live in a warm region.
Being native to southern Africa, they are well adapted to conditions similar to those in southern regions of the United States. To grow snake plants in zones 9 to 11, you need to grow any plants in containers. With the containers, you can move cool climate plants indoors during the depths of summer, when it is the hottest part of the day.
Snake Plant Care
The following tips will help you take good care of your snake plant:
Place Your Snake Plant in Bright Light
For snake plants, steady, bright and most of the time indirect sunlight is the ideal condition. Snake plants can adapt to a dark room with low light or full sun.
Use a Sandy Soil Mix
Snake plants tolerate soil well. Loamous or sandy soils suit them perfectly in this case. To get the best results, use potting soil that drains well and is slightly acidic.
Don’t Overwater the Snake Plants
Snake plants do not need to be watered frequently because they can grow well when the soil and the roots are dry. A big problem with snake plants is root rot, just like succulents.
Feed the Snake Plants Once a Year
Snake plants only need a mild cactus fertilizer during the summer and spring growing season.
Be Careful of Pests
Mealybugs and spider mites can wreak havoc on succulent plants, sucking up sap that weakens the plant and causes small wounds and leaves to drop off.