How to Care for a Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
Read in: 7 min
Snake plants , also known as Sansevieria, are low-maintenance plants that require little to no watering, can thrive without constant attention, and work both indoors and outdoors. Their height, variegation (color patterns), and aesthetic make them one of the most popular houseplants .
When cared for correctly, your snake plant can bloom tubing white and yellow flowers that resemble a honeysuckle. If you’re ready to learn how to care for your snake plant so it has vibrant colors and can blossom, here’s everything you’ll need to know.
We start with where snake plants grow naturally and then go into the details about their habitats, this way you’ll know why they need specific amounts of water and when adding nutrients to their potting mix is not needed.
Table of Contents
Where Snake Plants Originate
Snake plants (Sansevieria) originally come from Africa including the Congo, Nigeria, and Madagascar, but they have been transported and now thrive in Southeast Asia including Sri Lanka and parts of India. This is because the snake plant grows best in rocky, dry habitats in tropical regions.
Although snake plants do not need a lot of water, they are tropical so people plant them in humid and moist conditions like Florida, Louisiana, or southern California in the USA, or parts of Australia where the weather stays between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When in these conditions in the wild, they overpower the local flora and deprive the natural environment of needed vegetation. While they’re considered great indoor houseplants and loved, wild sansevieria is a weed and invasive species when planted outside of its natural habitat.
To make up for the naturally dry and rocky areas snake plants originate, they have a root system called rhizomes which look more like a potato or yam rather than the stringy and hairlike roots of grass and aerial roots of the Pothos plant . The rhizomes retain water so Sansevieria can survive dry seasons and the naturally draining soil it grows in. This is why Sansevieria is an easy-to-care for and beginner level plant, you can forget to water your snake plant for weeks and it will still look lush and thrive.
Grower’s note: Sansevierias were recently reclassified into the Dracaena genus - since these plants are still commonly known as Sansevierias, we’ll continue calling them this to avoid any confusion!
Classification and Details About Snake Plants
Snake plants get their name from their leaves that look like snakes or swords, depending on who you ask. There are more than 70 species of snake plants and you can identify each Sansevieria by the variegation (the patterns on the foliage), leaf shape, and colors.
Names |
Snake plant, Sansevieria, St. George’s sword, Mother-in-laws tongue, Viper plants, Viper’s bowstring hemp |
Family |
Asparagus (Asparagaceae) |
Genus |
Dracaena |
Leaf colors |
Green, yellow, silver, white, cream, and gold |
Variegation |
Yes, multiple patterns and colors |
Fenestration |
No, snake plants do not fenestrate |
Root type |
Rhizome |
Height grown indoors |
2 - 5 feet |
Height grown outdoors |
1 - 6 feet |
Width |
1 - 2 feet |
Time to maturity |
3+ years |
Soil PH |
5.5 and 7.5 |
Soil type |
Well draining with perlite and horticultural grade charcoal |
Blooming |
Yes, annually in spring or summer when the plant reaches maturity or when it is stressed |
Flower type and color |
Small, tubular, star shapes in white, cream, pink, violet, and yellow |
Pet safe |
No |
Total species |
70+ known species of ZZ plants |
Propagation techniques |
Rhizome splitting, seeds, and clippings |
Snake Plant Care Instructions
Caring for your snake plant is easy as they need minimal maintenance, and in the right conditions you can forget about them for a month at a time. They do show signs of stress, like sprouting blooms. In these cases, you may need to repot them in a bigger planter or diagnose the underlying cause. Here’s how to care for your snake plant.
Watering
Sansvieria or snake plants need to be watered every two to three weeks only when the top three inches of soil or potting mix are dry. Using a water meter will help you determine how much moisture is in the potting mix. Because sansevieria has a rhizome root system, they can store water, so it is ok if you are a week off. You do not want to overwater snake plants for the same reason as it can lead to root rot.
Sunlight
The ideal sunlight for a snake plant is bright, indirect sunlight so placing it near a window but not directly in the sunbeams, alongside a couch or the inner area of a room where natural light is abundant, on a patio, or in an entryway with lots of windows is perfect. Sansevieria will thrive with 6 to 8 hours per day.
This houseplant can handle a few hours in direct sunlight, but it is not recommended as it can cause leaf burn and damage the foliage. Low light conditions like an office with no windows are ok, but the sansevieria may not grow as tall and it may lose the vibrancy of its color.
Humidity and Temperature
Sansevieria prefers 60 - 85°F and roughly 40% to 60% humidity which is about the average of our homes which is why they thrive as indoor plants. You won’t need any pebble trays, misting, or grouping to keep the humidity levels high.
Health Issues to Look For
The leaves may be naturally resistant to disease, but their natural habitat with dry weather and soil makes them more prone to root-borne diseases.
Root Rot
Root rot affects the rhizomes of the snake plant, turning it from firm to mushy and changing its rhizome from light tan or white to a brown color due to the lack of oxygen. The main cause of root rot is overwatering, or potting mix that is not well-draining.
To detect root rot, dig up parts of the root and look at the coloring, touch it to see if it is hard, firm, or squishy, and smell for a musky or rotting odor. Another sign of root rot in snake plants are the leaves growing shorter, turning yellow or brown, and drooping. Root rot causes the leaves of the sansevieria to become squishy, so give them a gentle squeeze.
Root rot in snake plants can be cured by:
Taking the snake plant out of its soil and rinsing the roots.
Trim any mushy and discolored sections of the rhizome (root system) off.
Disinfect the pot and replant the snake plant in a potting mix with well-draining potting mix.
A fungicide could be added if you prefer, but may not be necessary.
Potting Mix and Nutrition
Snake plants need a well-draining potting mix so make sure it has horticulture-grade charcoal, perlite, vermiculite, sand, compost, and orchid bark. Avoid potting mixes that retain moisture or trap it in like sphag moss and coconut coir.
The Types of Snake Plants
With more than 70 known species of sansevieria, it can be hard to pick the right one for your home, office, or as a gift. So we’ve selected a few of our favorite species below. Each is a staff favorite and we’ve included short growing, rare variegation, and popular species.
Black Coral
Black Coral features tall, sword-like leaves with dark green and silvery-gray banding that gives it a smoky, layered look. It's a striking variety that does well in low light and adds a moody, modern touch to any room. Its upright form and low-maintenance care make it perfect for corners or narrow spaces.Moonshine
This variety stands out with its pale, silvery-green leaves that appear almost ghostly in bright light. The smooth, matte finish gives Moonshine a sleek, clean aesthetic, making it great for minimalist or monochrome interiors. It prefers bright, indirect light but can adapt to lower-light conditions as well.Fernwood Mikado
Fernwood Mikado has slim, cylindrical leaves that fan out in a spiky, sculptural form. Its compact size and textured look make it a great choice for desktops or small shelves. Like other Sansevierias, it’s drought-tolerant and thrives in a wide range of lighting situations.Bantel’s Sensation
This elegant cultivar features narrow, upright leaves with vertical white and silver striping. It has a more refined look than standard varieties and does well in bright, indirect light. Bantel’s Sensation makes a graceful statement in tall pots or grouped with other variegated plants.Futura Superba
Futura Superba is a shorter, more compact version of the classic Laurentii, with wide leaves edged in yellow and a slightly rosette-like growth pattern. It’s ideal for small spaces where the full height of traditional varieties won’t work. Its bold coloring and easy care make it a favorite for plant lovers of all experience levels.Zeylanica
Sansevieria zeylanica features long, upright leaves with wavy, horizontal striping in deep green and silvery gray. It’s often mistaken for the classic green snake plant but has a softer, more organic pattern. Extremely tolerant of neglect, it’s great for beginners or low-light areas like bedrooms or hallways.Twisted Sister
This eye-catching variety has bright green and yellow leaves that twist and curl as they grow, giving it a playful, sculptural shape. More compact than upright varieties, Twisted Sister is perfect for small planters, side tables, or giftable arrangements. It handles lower light well and needs minimal watering.Silver Flame
Silver Flame showcases wide, upright leaves with bold silvery centers bordered by dark green margins. The high contrast gives it a dramatic, modern look, especially in bright, indirect light. It’s low-maintenance and slow-growing, making it perfect for display pots or statement shelves.
