Snake plants have a unique upright growth of their spear-shaped leaves that grow vertically. They have a growth pattern that makes them very suitable for narrow spaces. There are several kinds of snake plants, each with a different color of leaves, vertical patterning, and variegation.
The snake plant might need repotting if you notice that its pot is bulging uncomfortably or the foliage is suffering. In reality, it is not a difficult task. You can divide or repot your snake plant at the same time, making a second one.
How to Repot A Snake Plant
You will need the following supplies to repot your snake plant:
- Cactus Potting Soil
- A bigger pot than your existing one
- Protect your work surface with plastic or newspaper
- The gloves
- Knife or box cutter that is sterile
Repotted snake plants can be replanted as follows:
First Step
Start by gathering all supplies and protecting your work surface with plastic or newspaper. Once you start doing this, you will need to repot your snake plant. With one hand, gently hold the leaves, and with the other hand, tug at the plastic or ceramic pot. The soil and roots will simply have to be loosened by gently squeezing the pot so you can pull it off. If it gets stuck, try cutting the plastic pot carefully using a box cutter. Repotting from a ceramic container will require you to loosen the soil around the perimeter with a chopstick or pencil, taking care not to damage the roots. The plant should now be freed.
Second Step
In order to expose the root system, you must remove most of the soil from the root ball with your fingers. You will be able to see the pups if you divide your plant. Then you can remove any old mushy roots if you are only repotting. Once the soil has been cleared away, you will need to look for an L-shaped or J-shaped protrusion from the main plant. Rhizomes are what we call pups. We will cut it away from the main plant.
Third Step
You can now isolate a pup whose roots have already begun to form on the rhizome. Puppies with the best success rate are likely to be those. Slice the rhizome properly with a sterile knife or box cutter in order to preserve as many small roots as possible on the pups half. Do not forget to thin out a few more pups as you work around the plant. In order to not shock the plants, you can do about 1/3 of the plants’ total mass.
Fourth Step
After preparing your pots with the Cactus soil, we suggest you leave about an inch from the top of your pots. Then you must repot the main plant into its old container or into the new container you have chosen. Don’t mound soil too far up the leaves. Make sure the soil level matches the old soil to prevent rot. In order to secure the plant in the soil, you need to gently press the soil down. When the plant starts to lean, you can support it with a bamboo stake until the roots reestablish. You have the option to repot your pups individually or cluster them together in a bigger pot for a more full appearance right now. As with the main plant, you should not plant the pups too deeply, only enough to secure them into the soil with a firm press.
Fifth Step
Lastly, you need to water the plants to moisten the soil in the pots. Put them in a location with medium light (not direct sunlight or indirect light near a window). Indirect sunlight, however, will work similarly when viewed through a window facing North. This is because you want the roots to grow, and high light can stress the plant as it recovers.
Best Time to Repot Snake Plant
Research suggests that the best time to repot the snake plant is late winter or very early spring. Plants will be able to transplant during a time when they are not in active growth mode. The procedure can, however, be performed at any time of the year if necessary. When the roots make their way through the drainage holes in your pot, you’ll know it’s time. Eventually, plastic pots will bulge a bit. Water will seem to flow straight through the soil when watering, but nothing will stay there.
It is possible to gently turn the plant on its side, while holding the plant’s base. Look at the bottom of the pot to see if you see roots spreading out. Are you able to slide the snake plant out of its pot easily or seems stuck? It’s definitely time to get it into something a bit bigger if it’s stuck. Snake plants like to get a bit rootbound, but when all that’s left in the pot are roots, they don’t do well. Repotting your snake plant at that point, or after any other sign shows up, is the best strategy. When you repot your snake plants, you can divide them if you’d like to propagate them further.