How to care for Sansevieria (sansevieria laurentii, variegated snake plant, mother in laws tongue)

 

This is an easy plant to look after as Snake Plants thrive from neglect. You will only need to water infrequently and be sure to let the soil dry out regularly to keep your plant in great health 

We like this plant for its beautiful architectural leaves and form, it makes a beautiful contrast to stunning tropicals but is much safer than spiky cactus.

Caring for Sansevieria, also known as Snake Plant or Mother-in-law's Tongue, is easy and low maintenance. Here are some tips to help you keep your Sansevieria healthy and thriving. 

Sansevieria Zeylanica

Our Top Snake Plant Tips:

Light: Sansevieria thrives in bright, indirect light but can tolerate low-light conditions. If you place your plant in a low-light area, it will grow slower and have fewer leaves.

Watering: Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering your Sansevieria. Over-watering can lead to root rot, so let the soil dry out completely before watering again. Watering once every two weeks is typically enough.

Soil: Sansevieria prefers well-draining soil. You can use a cactus or succulent potting mix or a regular potting mix with added perlite to improve drainage.

Humidity: Sansevieria can tolerate low humidity levels, but it is best to keep the humidity level around the plant consistent.

Fertilizer: Sansevieria does not require regular fertilizing, but you can feed it once every three to four months with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer like our organic Original Vegan Cactus & Succulent Food which is made from Seaweed, harvested sustainably.

Seaweed provides a delicate blend of growth hormones and micronutrients that is perfect for all indoor plants. Houseplants grow throughout spring, summer and autumn, so they will benefit from organic fertiliser during this time to encourage flowering and keep them healthy and well. 

When developing our original Happy Houseplants’ Vegan Cactus & Succulent Food, we decided not to tinker with it too much, so you'll find no chemical supplements in this 100% cruelty-free vegan product. Our indoor plant fertiliser is handmade on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in Devon, exclusively for Happy Houseplants. The team has developed it at Happy Houseplants with expert horticulturists with decades of experience. Many people struggle to understand how to feed houseplants, but our original vegan plant food has been designed to make feeding Cacti simple. 

Pruning: Pruning your Sansevieria is unnecessary, but if you want to keep it compact and maintain its shape, you can prune it back.

With these simple care tips, your Sansevieria should thrive and bring life to your home or office.


3 comments


  • Jenny

    Just bought a snake plant as I read it clears the air indoors. Hoping it will thrive. This article helped me understand how to take care of my plant. Thank you.


  • Vickie Dell

    I’m no expert. I have around 25 house plants. Sometimes they’re thriving Sometimes near death. I do think if you are getting new growth or babies it’s doing well. I think a flowering plant is doing amazing. The only flowering Sansevieria I’ve seen was my mother’s plant probably over 30 yrs ago. I’ve had that plant almost 20 yrs now since her passing and has never flowered.


  • Margaret Palmer

    I have a sansiveria that is putting out flower buds. Is this normal


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