Gardening Houseplants Types of Houseplants

How to Grow and Care for Snake Plant

Snake plant, also called mother-in-law's tongue, is a popular and hardy houseplant with stiff, sword-like leaves. It's available in different varieties, many of which have green-banded or striped leaves with a yellow or cream border.

This attractive, easy-to-grow houseplant tolerates drought and low light, making it the go-to option for spaces like offices.

frontal shot of a snake plant in a pot

The Spruce / Alonda Baird 

Common Name Snake plant, mother-in-law plant, mother-in-law's tongue
Botanical Name Dracaena trifasciata
Family Asparagaceae
Plant Type Evergreen perennial typically grown as a houseplant
Mature Size 6 in. to 12 ft. tall in native habitat depending on variety; 2-5 ft. tall when grown as a houseplant
Sun Exposure Sun to part shade
Soil Type Sandy, well-drained
Soil pH Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline
Bloom Time Spring
Flower Color White
Hardiness Zones 9–11 (USDA) 
Native Area West Africa
Toxicity Toxic to cats and dogs

Snake Plant Care

Snake plant is a good choice for beginners because it tolerates a range of growing conditions. This low-maintenance container plant adds decorative interest when planted indoors.

closeup of a snake plant
The Spruce / Alonda Baird 
overhead view of a snake plant

The Spruce / Alonda Baird

fully grown snake plant in a sunroom

The Spruce / Candace Madonna

Light

Snake plants grow best with 8 to 10 hours of indirect sunlight or a few hours of early-morning direct sunlight. Too much direct sun causes can burn the plant and damage its leaves. Snake plants tolerate some shade, but lack of light can stunt growth and dilute the plant's color.

Soil

As a houseplant, snake plants prefer a loose, well-drained potting soil mix. They do well in sandier soil which makes all-purpose cactus potting soil a good choice. Avoid soil mixes that contain a high percentage of peat, which can retain too much water.

Water

Water your snake plant when the soil has completely dried out, being sure to water deeply. During winter, check the plant's soil mix every two weeks or so—the plant might need to be watered only once a month. If you notice its leaves are brittle and dry, water immediately.

Keep in mind that overwatering is the quickest way to kill a snake plant. Too much water or letting the plant sit in water will rot its root system. Yellowing leaves are an early sign of overwatering.

Temperature and Humidity

Snake plants grow best in warm temperatures between 70°F and 90°F. Keep plants away from cold drafts.

They won't tolerate frost, and prolonged exposure to less than 50°F can kill the plant. They'll do fine with average household humidity between 30 and 50 percent.

Fertilizer

Feed your snake plant once in spring and once in mid-summer with a balanced, slow-release 10-10-10 fertilizer diluted to half strength. Do not fertilize in winter.

How to Care for the Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)

  The Spruce / Photo Illustration by Amy Sheehan / Alonda Baird

Snake Plant Varieties

  • Dracaena trifasciata 'Hahnii': Also called bird's nest snake plant, 'Hahnii" grows to just six inches tall.
  • Dracaena angolensi: This cylindrical snake plant has round, stiff leaves several feet long. arching outward from a central crown.
  • Dracaena trifasciata 'Laurentii': This variegated cultivar has creamy yellow leaf margins.
  • Dracaena trifasciata 'Twisted Sister': Twisting leaves bear horizontal stripes with yellow variegated edges. It grows to 15 inches tall.
  • Dracaena trifasciata 'Bantel’s Sensation': Leaves are narrow with white vertical stripes on this three-foot tall variety.
  • Dracaena pearsonii: Sometimes called rhino grass, this plant features succulent red-tinted leaves and grows to 12 inches tall.
Different Types of Snake Plant

The Spruce / Melissa Ling

How to Propagate a Snake Plant

Propagate your snake plant in spring or summer by cuttings or division when plants are at least four inches tall. New shoots that emerge can also be potted independently. Here's how to propagate your snake plant.

How to Propagate Snake Plant by Division

  1. Gather a sharp clean knife, a clean pot, and potting soil that is designed for growing cacti and succulents.
  2. Remove the plant from the pot and place it on a flat surface. Brush soil from the root structure or rhizome.
  3. Use the knife to divide the plant into sections, keeping the roots for each section intact.
  4. Replant sections into clean pots filled with the potting soil.
  5. Water and place in a partly sunny location.

Offshoots or pups are baby plants emerging from the soil. Follow directions for root division to remove pups and replant each in its own pot.

How to Propagate Snake Plant from Leaf Cuttings

  1. Use a sterile cutting tool to remove a long, healthy leaf at its base.
  2. Submerge the cut end of the leaf in a clean jar of water and set the jar in a partly sunny location. Or allow the cut end to callous over for 24 hours and then pot it cut-end down.
  3. When using the water rooting method, refresh water every two weeks.
  4. Roots develop in one to four months. Once they reach one inch long, plant the cutting in cactus potting mix.
  5. Water and place in a spot with bright, indirect light.

Pruning

Prune snake plants during the growing season to encourage new growth. To control height, remove the tallest leaves at the soil line with a sterile cutting tool. Damaged leaves can be removed at any time, however, winter pruning can cause stress.

Dusting Your Snake Plant

Snake plant leaves should be dusted regularly. Dust gets in the way of the plant's ability to see the sun and photosynthesize. Use a microfiber cloth (wet or slightly damp) to carefully wipe the front and back of each spear.

Potting and Repotting Snake Plant

Repot your snake plant every three to five years, or when you see roots growing out of the holes in the bottom of the pot. Other signs that your plant needs repotting are water draining out too quickly, roots filling the entire container, or stunted growth and a dull appearance.

Type of Pot

Snake plants prefer wide, shallow pots with plenty of drainage holes. The container diameter should be roughly twice the size of the root ball. Choose a sturdy pot made from ceramic, terracotta, or clay, as strong roots can crack and break plastic pots. Terra cotta pots wick away excess moisture, which can help prevent overwatering.

When to Repot

It's time to repot again into a container two inches wider when roots become overcrowded or the plant outgrows its original pot. The best time to repot is in spring. When repotting a snake plant, place it at the same level as it was in the original pot.

How to Get Snake Plant to Bloom

Giving your plant enough sunlight and allowing it to become rootbound can encourage your snake plant to bloom indoors, though snake plants grown as houseplants rarely flower.

They can produce delicate, creamy-white, tubular flowers when growing conditions are ideal. Night-blooming flowers are fragrant and similar in appearance to lilies.

Be sure to choose a cultivar that blooms, because not all snake plant varieties will flower.

Overwintering

Snake plants don’t tolerate temperatures lower than 50°F. If you are growing the plant outdoors, bring it indoors and keep it in a warm place where it's protected from cold drafts. As the plant enters winter dormancy, reduce watering and allow soil to dry out completely before watering.

Common Pests

Snake plants are susceptible to common houseplant pests such as scales, gnats, spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Most can be removed by hand or with a gentle spray of water. Treat infestations with neem oil.

Common Problems With Snake Plant

Snake plants are one of the easiest plants to maintain and can last for many years. Most problems are caused by overwatering, which can lead to fungal infections and root rot.

Foul-smelling Soil

When soil develops a foul odor, the plant likely has root rot. Remove the plant from its pot and inspect the roots to determine if it can be saved. Cut away any brown, mushy roots and leaves, then repot the healthy portion of the rhizome.

Yellow or Brown Leaves

Healthy snake plant leaves are green with cream, yellow, or white edges. Yellow or brown leaves indicate overwatering, pests, or root rot. Avoid these conditions by maintaining a proper watering schedule only when the soil is dry.

Curling Leaves

Thrips are a common pest that can cause curling leaves. Cut away severely affected leaves and spray the plant with neem oil to keep these tiny pests at bay.

Leaves Falling Over or Drooping

Healthy snake plant leaves grow upward and stand erect, but too much water, insufficient light, or poor potting material can cause leaves to droop or flop over. Move the plant to a brighter location, reduce watering frequency, and replace the soil with a mix that drains better.

Benefits of Snake Plants

Owning a snake plant has many benefits. It's an easy and practical way to start earning your green thumb. Here are some of the best aspects of owning a snake plant.

  • Easy to care for and a great first plant for beginning gardeners
  • Unique shape adds height and interest to houseplant collections
  • Adapts to different light conditions and tolerates low-light environments
  • Plant is forgiving and almost indestructible
  • Compact growth habit fits well in small spaces
  • Drought resistant
FAQ
  • Why is it called a snake plant?

    Snake plant earned its name because of the way its long, thin leaves with distinct stripes and other markings resemble some types of snake.

  • How fast does a snake plant grow?

    Snake plants are slow growers. Seasonal change spurs development, so placing plants in a shade or partial shade location outdoors in summer often boosts growth.

  • How long does a snake plant live?

    The average lifespan of a snake plant is five to ten years; however, they can live up to 25 years or more.

  • What's the difference between Nassauvia serpens and Dracaena trifasciata?

    Although Nassauvia serpens and Dracaena trifasciata are both called snake plant, the two are unrelated. Nassauvia serpens is a perennial shrub in the aster family that's native to the Falkland Islands.

  • How big do snake plants get?

    Snake plants can grow up to around three feet tall when grown indoors.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Common houseplant insects & related pests. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.

  2. Dracaena trifasciata. North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Toobox.

  3. Does Root Rot Smell Like Sewage? National Gardening Association.

  4. Sansevieria Production Guide. University of Florida, IFAS.