Before we answer your question about how old does a snake plant live to be, let me introduce you to these amazing plants properly. The snake plant (Sansevieria zeylanica) is native to tropical Africa. Snake plants are grown primarily as ornamental plants, both as outdoor plants and indoor plants in cooler climates. Snake plants clean the air by removing toxins like nitrogen oxide and formaldehyde.
The Amazing Life Cycle Of Snake Plants
Snake plants have a simple but fascinating life cycle that makes them one of the most unusual plants. They differ from other plants. Start from the way they growing roots, having pups, and their ability to propagate.
Roots
The snake plant usually begins its life as a small starter plant, cutting, or root. In hotter climates, they can be planted in containers of three to six inches as well as in the ground.
Leaf Pups
Yes, your snake plants have pups! A pup is a small leaf cutting from a snake plant. All-green pups are produced from cuttings of variegated snake plants. New variegated plants can be created by dividing a mother plant at its roots (rhizomes).
Slow Growth
Unlike other plants, snake plants grow slowly. Usually, snake plants grow in pots, but if they grow too big for their pot or if they burst their sides, they should be transplanted. Taking care of snake plants should be easy. you only need to water them sparingly and provide them with medium to bright light. Yet, you should pay attention to how often you water. It is possible for roots to rot if they are overwatered. Sometimes, they need extra care during certain seasons. For example, you should keep snake plants watered just enough to keep the soil from drying out in the winter.
Reproduction
Snake plants can reach heights of three to four feet. You can propagate them by cutting the leaves into horizontal sections after they have grown tall and produced multiple leaves. A new shoot emerges from the plant’s underground rhizomes, appearing as small spikes at the end of each leaf. You can divide these plants from their mother plants and pot them separately.
Flowering During Midlife
There is a wide variety of foliage in snake plants, and many have green bands. A mature snake plant produces fragrant yellow or whitish-green flowers. But don’t be sad if your snake plants have no sign of flowering. The flowering process, however, is unpredictable. In most cases, potted plants should be potbound to flower.
How Old Does A Snake Plant Live To Be?
Here we are. A snake plant lives between five and ten years on average, but with proper care, it can live much longer. Some snake plants even live for up to 25 years! You can take care of your snake plant and find out how long it lives with you!
How To Care For Snake Plants
Since snake plants are easy to care for, there are only a few essential things you need to pay attention to. Things like water, light, food, and humidity should always be considered. It is not that difficult, because snake plants do well when you almost forget about them.
Allow soil to dry between waterings and take extra special care not to overwater in winter. Try to avoid getting leaves wet when you water. Place your snake plants in indirect light (although they are tolerant of a variety of light conditions) and fertilize during the growing season with a portion of all-purpose plant food.
Sum Up
Have you got the answer to how old does a snake plant live to be? Yes, a snake plant can have a very, very long life. It’s up to 25 years! Still, you have to take care of it properly if you want this lovely evergreen friend of yours to accompany you for years. Learn about how to water, feed them, and make sure they aren’t infected by any disease and pests.