How to Grow and Care for Snake Plants

Don't let the name scare you away! These popular houseplants are guaranteed to slither right into your heart.

Place plants in low, moderate, or bright, indirect light.
Plant your snake plant with Miracle-Gro® Tropical Potting Mix.
Water when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil are dry.
Feed snake plants with Miracle-Gro® Tropical Houseplant Food.
Divide or repot snake plants when their roots have completely outgrown their container.

Snake plants are actually considered semi-succulent; they are members of the asparagus family and count agaves. Just don't try to harvest them to make tequila! They have many of the same easy-care attributes as their agave cousins: they're very forgiving if you forget to water them and will tolerate a low-light spot. Snake plants are good at removing dust and other allergens from the air and release oxygen at night–making them a great plant for the bedroom. If you're cultivating an indoor garden of houseplants, a snake plant's upright, spiky habit adds a bit of interesting texture amid the ferns, palms, and spider plants.

Where to Grow a Snake Plant

Looking for an office plant or a bit of greenery for a dark corner of the living room? A snake plant is a terrific choice. Snake plants will adapt to virtually any type of lighting that you put them in. A spot with bright, indirect light is ideal and a snake plant will reward with lots of new growth. But artificial light, medium light, and low light spots won't deter your snake plant--they just won't grow as much. The only spot to avoid is one where the sunbeams can burn its leaves.

If your snake plant is variegated (one with green and white or yellow leaves), you will want to find a spot with bright, indirect light to preserve the colors. Variegated plants in very low light conditions will often revert to green as they grow.

How to Repot a Snake Plant

We recommend using a plastic pot for snake plants. Why plastic? The roots of snake plants grow pretty aggressively and may actually crack a terracotta pot. While not a cacti, snake plants are semi-succulents and prefer a drier, fast-draining soil.

Choose a plastic container with drainage holes that's no more than 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the root ball of the plant.
Fill the container about ⅓ of the way full with fast-draining Miracle-Gro® Tropical Potting Mix.
Gently remove your snake plant from its current pot and place it in its new container, making sure the top of the root ball is about an inch below the rim to leave room for watering.
Fill in more soil around the root ball and press gently.
Water your snake plant thoroughly, and let it drain. Then set it on a plant saucer and move it to its new home.

How to Water a Snake Plant

Snake plants are used to dry growing conditions, which is why they store water in their leaves and roots. They dislike sitting in constantly wet soil, so let the soil dry down between waterings. Before watering, test the soil by feeling the top two inches with your finger. If it's dry, it's time to water. Saturate the soil thoroughly and let it drain. Thirty minutes after water, remove any excess water from the plant saucer—snake plant roots can be damaged by sitting in water for too long.

How to Feed a Snake Plant

Your snake plant will benefit from extra nutrients to help it keep growing strong during the spring and summer months. So, while your snake plant is actively growing, feed it once a week with Miracle-Gro® Tropical Houseplant Food.

How to Divide a Snake Plant

Happy snake plants will eventually fill their entire container with roots, and when that happens, it's a good time to divide them. Remove the clump from the pot and pull it apart (don't be shy!). Repot your divided sections into new containers that are slightly larger than the root clump using the planting directions above. Gift some to your friends, or space them throughout your home.

How to Handle Problems with Snake Plants

Snake plants are almost comically easy to grow, so chances are you'll encounter few problems with them. The most common problems are related to watering.

Yellowing leaves are a sign of root rot usually from overwatering your plant. Prune back leaves that have turned yellow and water less frequently.
Wrinkly leaves indicate that the moisture in your plant's leaves is drying up and you aren't watering your plant enough. Water thoroughly, then check again in a few days to see if you need to water your snake plant again.

Mostly, you can just enjoy your snake plant! We know you'll find this easy-to-grow houseplant a welcome addition to your space.